December 2011

Research Results

New Research Study of Tuition Assistance Programs Validates Benefits for Organizations Investing in Continuing Education for Employees
EdLink, ROI Institute and Capella University partnered to conduct the survey
A recent study of the benefits of tuition assistance programs shows that the vast majority of employees who have advanced their education through such corporate-sponsored programs report that their job satisfaction, efficiency, quality and productivity were positively influenced, and that the knowledge they acquired was useful in their jobs.
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Do Online Courses Stack Up?
New Study Shows Little Difference Between Online and On-Campus Course Outcomes
Although annual online college enrollment has grown 20 times faster than overall higher education enrollment since 2002 and is expected to account for 60% of total enrollment by 2020, many employers still question the value of online degrees. To shed light on how online and traditional classroom courses relate to workplace outcomes, EdLink partnered with Apollo Research Institute^SM (formerly University of Phoenix Research Institute) to study data on tuition assistance program (TAP) participants from 40 companies in diverse industries. The findings show little difference between online and on-campus enrollees when it comes to employment status, degree completion rates, and time needed to earn a degree.
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New Developments

Introducing EdLink's Learning Resource Network
EdLink proactively looks for new and innovative ways to help our clients manage their tuition program as an investment. Several years ago we created the Featured Provider Network (FPN), an expanding network of regionally accredited colleges and universities, to help our clients manage the rising cost of education.

Most recently, we have added a complimentary network, The Learning Resource Network (LRN), to manage expenses in addition to tuition.
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Ideas and Trends

The Potential of Tuition Assistance: Getting the Most Value from Your Tuition Program
Your educational investment can support and advance your company’s strategic goals. Research shows that employees enrolled in a tuition program have improved job satisfaction, increased levels of engagement and increased organizational commitment. At EdLink, we view tuition assistance as an investment in human capital and proactively help clients gain more strategic value for this investment.
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EdLink Featured in Human Resource Executive Magazine
A recent study from Compdata found the number of companies offering tuition reimbursement to all of their employees has grown significantly in the last three years. Human Resources Executive Magazine chose to interview John Zappa, CEO of EdLink, to get his insights on how corporations are using their tuition reimbursement programs to get targeted outcomes.
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From Change Magazine:
The Transformation of Higher Education Through Prior Learning Assessment
By Anya Kamenetz
Providing college credit for prior learning is nothing new. The American Council on Education's Credit Recommendation Service (CREDIT), the largest national program making credit recommendations for workplace and other training, dates to 1974. Several colleges that specialize in the practice—Excelsior and Empire State in New York, Thomas Edison in New Jersey, Charter Oak in Connecticut—were similarly founded in the early 1970s.

But granting credit for prior learning through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) has never really caught on. Nominally, thousands of colleges grant credit by portfolio, accept the recommendations of CREDIT, and honor the College Board's College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and the military's Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) examinations, but in practice, the portion of students who actually get these credits on their transcript is very small.
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Featured Provider Network

New Additions to the Featured Provider Network
EdLink's Featured Provider Network continues to grow with the recent addition of Goldey-Beacom University, Herzing University, Indiana School of Business and Maryville University.   
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Upcoming Events

ACT Workforce 2012
Tomorrow's Workforce Starts Here
ACT Workforce 2012: Tomorrow's Workforce Starts Here will be held April 11-13 at the Westin Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. For more information, click here.

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www.edlinktuition.com