Uber and ASU announced a new partnership offering free online ASU tuition for eligible drivers earlier this month, adding another prominent corporate partner for ASU's online program.
Similar to ASU's prominent partnership with Starbucks, the new partnership will also allow eligibility to transfer to a driver's family member rather than just for the driver.
This is Uber's first full-tuition partnership with a university.
Communications manager for Uber Nathan Hambley, said in an email that the unique partnership between ASU and UberPro developed over the course of several months.
"In designing this program, we conducted research with drivers to understand their motivations for driving," Hambley said. "Many drivers also told us they wanted to start a business, improve their skills or send their kids to college, which helped inform the creation of the tuition-free higher education element of the Uber Pro program."
Hambley said that drivers would also be able to transfer tuition coverage to a spouse, domestic partner, child, sibling or parent.
Eligible drivers will be able to choose from more than 80 undergraduate degrees, and tuition will be 100 percent covered, according to a statement from Uber.
Carrie Lingenfelter, manager of media relations for EdPlus at ASU, said in an email statement that the profile of college students has changed, meaning fewer students fit the traditional model.
"We, as leaders in higher education modeling and delivery, must foster flexible structures that expand access to higher education for the 31 million Americans who have some college credit but no degree," she said. "At Arizona State University, we’re exploring new pathways to reach the changing demographics of today’s students."
Drivers who have completed 3,000 rides and reached the platinum or above status with UberPro will be eligible to receive a fully funded education at ASU, either for themselves or a family member.
Lingenfelter said that the partnership will begin with a pilot program for eligible drivers in eight locations: New Jersey as well as Phoenix, Chicago, Orlando, Seattle, Tampa, Denver and New Orleans.
"Both Uber and ASU are dynamic, entrepreneurial enterprises that have embraced new technologies and influenced this changing world," Lingenfelter said. "Both are committed to pioneering new opportunities to help workers get ahead and provide for themselves and their families. We are doing this out of a shared belief that flexibility, adaptability and the capacity to learn new skills are critical qualities to advance and succeed, today and in the future."
Reach the reporter at adunn11@asu.edu or follow @adrienne_dunn on Twitter.
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