Xavier launches corporate professional development initiative
A new Xavier initiative provides employers with educational advancement and development opportunities to help employees meet their professional goals.
This month, Xavier launched a corporate partnership initiative that grants partner organizations access to Xavier’s full suite of educational offerings designed specifically for working adults. Through the partnership, organizations may provide their employees a wide range of professional development offerings, including bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, certificates and career development programs – all at a discounted rate.
“We started this initiative with the hopes of helping working adults access the programs they need to reach their full potential,” said Zachary MacMillan, Xavier’s Corporate Partners Program Liaison. “No matter where your employees are along their professional journey, Xavier has something for them.”
For employees looking to start or finish their bachelor’s degree, Xavier offers online and evening classes specifically tailored for working adults through its Adult and Professional Education at Xavier (APEX) program. Bachelor’s degree programs are flexible, allowing employees to customize degrees by selecting minors that meet their professional needs.
Jake Shinkle enrolled at Xavier through APEX while working nearly 50 hours a week as a program manager in the finance industry. Shinkle, who is currently pursuing a degree in organizational leadership in the APEX Accelerated Degree Completion program, said the APEX program allowed him to schedule classes around his job commitments – a benefit that helped him earn his degree without falling short of meeting his deliverables at work.
“The organizational leadership degree offered plenty of benefits and gave me the flexibility I needed,” Shinkle said. “Without that flexibility, I don’t know if I would be as far in my degree program as I am.”
For individuals interested in furthering their education through a master’s or doctorate degree program, Xavier offers more than 30 world-class graduate programs across a wide variety of disciplines.
Xavier’s graduate programs rank among some of the top programs in the country, according to a 2023 rankings study conducted by U.S. News & World Report. Xavier’s graduate programs for healthcare finance, entrepreneurship and business analytics rank among the top 50 such programs in the country, with several other programs receiving national recognition.
“Xavier is a widely recognized and prestigious school,” Shinkle said. “A degree from Xavier will carry more weight than other schools might. A Xavier degree will show potential employers that I received the education they’re looking for.”
In addition to degree-granting programs, Xavier offers one-day and certificate programs that will give adults a competitive edge in their professional development journey. Through the Xavier Leadership Center (XLC), employees can attend single and multi-day workshops and seminars designed to sharpen skills that directly apply to their jobs, participate in custom learning solutions tailored to the organization’s needs, take online asynchronous programs.
Courses offered address topics such as mentorship, employee engagement, building trust in the workplace, improving culture, project management and change leadership.
“Every organization has different needs and we understand that,” MacMillian said. “Through the Xavier Leadership Center, we can work with you to find the professional development program that makes the most sense for your organization.”
MacMillian noted that unlike other industry partnerships, Xavier offers customized solutions for its partners based on the unique needs of each organization. After an initial needs discovery meeting, Xavier will work with organizations to provide a full spectrum of personalized services including but not limited to the creation of organization-specific courses or certificates, a review of educational pathways for targeted employee advancement and a review of internship opportunities to support a talent pipeline.
Xavier’s new corporate partnership initiative can help streamline educational and professional development offerings for organizations of all sizes.
Contact Zachary MacMillian at macmillianz@xavier.edu or visit the Corporate Partnerships page for additional information.