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BURBANK, CA., June 14, 2022—Disney Aspire, The Walt Disney Company’s education investment and career development program that offers 100% tuition paid upfront, has welcomed Johnson & Wales University to its growing network of educational providers.
Johnson & Wales University is the only accredited U.S. institution offering 100% online culinary programming through a unique multimedia environment. It’s also the first in-network offering joining Disney Aspire with a sole focus on the culinary arts.
“As we celebrate 50 years of culinary excellence at Johnson & Wales, we honor our foundation in tradition while looking ahead to constantly evolve to meet today’s changing world,” said Jason Evans, Ph.D., dean of the College of Food Innovation and Technology at Johnson & Wales University. “Our world-class chefs create their curriculum with our fast-paced industry in mind, truly setting our students up for success in the real world.”
From pastry to fine dining and catering to counter service, there are more than 600 food and beverage locations across domestic Walt Disney Parks and Resorts alone. This is a timely addition to the Disney Aspire network and one that may lead to tangible career outcomes for hourly employees of The Walt Disney Company, who anticipate ongoing opportunities to join the culinary team in a variety of roles over the next two years.
“Much like Disney, Johnson & Wales is committed to being cutting-edge, staying on top of trends, and ensuring what their students learn today are things they can put into practice tomorrow,” said Chris Trout, vice president of learning and development at The Walt Disney Company. “Their dedication to being innovative global leaders in the culinary space is the exact sort of momentum we need to help inspire culinary career mobility at our company.”
In partnership with Guild, Disney Aspire enables more than 82,000 hourly part-time and full-time employees and cast members across the United States to return to school as a working adult, with more than 13,000 employees currently enrolled. The program offers extensive post-graduate support to help employees’ career aspirations come true, whether at Disney or beyond.
Disney Aspire removes barriers to education and contributes to the Company’s strong pipeline of talent by:
- Covering 100% of tuition upfront, as well as reimbursements for required books and fees
- Offering an enhanced program and degree catalog that aligns with predicted future of work trends
- Providing individual student success coaching from start to finish through Guild
- Enabling graduates to prepare for career growth through the Disney Aspire Alumni Association and other extensive post-graduate support
