Have we got a deal for you!
Chrysler made a surprise announcement, one that could make 118,000
very happy employees:
On Monday, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced that all 118,000 U.S. dealership employees at its U.S. dealerships will get the opportunity for free college tuition.
Alright! That's the good news. Now for the not-so-great news:
The degrees will be offered as a benefit at no-cost to employees, including books and other expenses, at the 2,400 Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and Fiat dealerships through Strayer University, a private for-profit institution whose entire bachelor degree program can be finished online.
Although the thought is a good one, Chrysler is only giving employees one option for their education. Unfortunately, a quick search shows that Stayer University, like a lot of online, for-profit schools, has
hundreds of complaints from former students, like this one:
I attended Strayer from October 2011 - September 2014. I graduated in October 2014. I attended Strayer too after losing my job back in March of 2011 in hopes of furthering my career. I have an Associate in Medical Lab Technology, an Associate in Liberal Arts and now a BA in Health Service Administration. My last semester at Strayer, I received a scholarship for $5,000 that only covered tuition. I got student loans and did self-pay. On the last day to order cap and gown for graduation I called the school to make sure I did not owe any money for anything and was told all debts was completed. So I order my cap and gown, charged $385 for reserving a suite for my family and I for graduation.
Here it is now January 2015. I have not received my diploma nor do I have a job, and student loan repayments are due. I called the school to inquire about the diploma and if they offer assistance with job placement. They tell me that in order to get the diploma I must pay them $150. I was welcome to visit their campus site for help in resume writing or visit a website that offers government jobs call Pathways. What a joke! After paying all that money for tuition why do I have to pay for my diploma? I was truly hurt.
And:
Strayer University is a member of the academic community and promotes higher level of learning for all students, so they promote the concept while the students are in the classrooms that once upon graduation there will be the $50,000.00 yearly salaries plus for their students. Honestly, their degree is useless and pretty much not recognized. I have been out of work, consistently, since 2009. While even documenting 10 job applications per week for many years. Due to the loss of my apartment, I was thus homeless. Strayer University is one of the worst business and organizations. If you think the degree and the classes are worth your time, you will find out that Strayer University is not worth the paper it is printed upon.
So, while we celebrate the concept of Chrysler sending their employees to college, perhaps we should be asking why Strayer University is the only option available? Judging by the reviews online, employees would be better off going a more traditional route.