Live Better U celebrates its 5th Anniversary
Vermont Business Magazine Walmart’s Live Better U (LBU) education program is celebrating its fifth anniversary. Over the past five years, the company has saved associates nearly half a billion in education costs, reflecting the company’s commitment to create a path for everyone to learn and grow. This year, Walmart will add the University of Arkansas to its academic partner list and expand LBU to its associates in Canada. To date, more than 104,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club associates have participated in LBU in the United States. In Vermont, 85 Walmart associates took part in the LBU program. Walmart has six retail stores across the Green Mountain State and employs more than 1,200 associates.
Since LBU launched in 2018 in partnership with Guild, Walmart has removed several barriers to education, including the primary barrier: cost. Walmart pays 100% of college tuition and books for part-time and full-time Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, starting on their first day of work.
“Walmart is proud to be unlocking pathways for adult working learners,” said Lorraine Stomski, senior vice president, Associate Learning and Leadership at Walmart. “We've evolved Live Better U over the last five years based on important lessons learned and by listening to our associates, expanding our LBU offerings to include more than 70 programs today. For instance, we removed the initial $1 a day fee for associates in 2021 and saw a 66% increase in enrollment year over year. We’ve also added more certificates and short-form programs, which are growing faster in popularity than our college degree options, to support growth in high demand areas, such as supply chain.”
The LBU program is designed to meet associates wherever they are on their education journey. From foundational offerings like high school completion to short-form programs, including Business Analytics and Project Management, to college degrees, associates can access academic programs from 25 of the nation’s leading academic partners with proven track records of serving working adults.
In Arkansas, where Walmart was founded and is headquartered, LBU is expanding this fall to include the state’s flagship university, the University of Arkansas. Three bachelor’s degrees will be available through the partnership: 1) business administration, 2) supply chain management, and 3) business with a focus on marketing. Additionally, four short-form programs from Global Campus will be available.
"The University of Arkansas is thrilled to partner with Walmart and Guild to provide associates in our home state and across the country access to transformational learning programs to help advance their careers," said Charles Robinson, chancellor of the University of Arkansas.
“LBU is just one ingredient in the culture of learning and opportunity at Walmart,” said Stomski. “Whether it’s a part-time associate who wants to earn a degree, a supply chain associate looking to become a Walmart driver, or a store manager who wants to build their leadership skills, Walmart is creating a path of opportunity for all associates.”
For more information on Live Better U, visit livebetteru.com.
Source: Bentonville, Arkansas, May 25, 2023 – Walmart. Photo. Walmart store in Williston, Vermont. VermontBiz file photo.
