Cook Group To Offer Employees WGU Tuition Discount

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Cook Group announced a new partnership with Western Governors University (WGU), a nonprofit online university. All U.S. Cook employees will be eligible for a five percent tuition discount for bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in IT, business, teacher education and health professions, including nursing. The discount will allow employees who enroll at WGU to spend as little as $500 for a bachelor’s degree or $800 for a master’s degree per year with the help of Cook’s tuition assistance program.

“With our My Cook Pathway program, Cook has made it a priority to invest in employees through education,” said Pete Yonkman, president of Cook Group and Cook Medical. “Tuition assistance and partnerships with universities like WGU make it possible for more Cook employees to reach their full potential in their careers and in their lives.”

The partnership is an expansion of the award-winning My Cook Pathway program, a workforce initiative started by Cook in 2016. My Cook Pathway also includes partnerships with Ivy Tech Community College’s Achieve Your Degree program and Monroe County Community School Corporation’s Adult Education program through Broadview Learning Center.

Cook employees who enroll in any of WGU’s degree programs will receive a five percent discount toward WGU’s tuition of approximately $6,000 annually. Cook provides employees $5,250 up-front on an annual basis for all degree programs approved for tuition assistance.

“We are committed to expanding access to quality higher education and the partnership between WGU and Cook makes that possible,” said Warren Junium, III, WGU’s vice president for partnership development. “WGU’s competency-based education model prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the workplace. This approach changes the lives of working adults and is a great avenue for them to earn their degrees.”

About Cook Medical

Since 1963 Cook Medical has worked closely with physicians to develop technologies that eliminate the need for open surgery. Today we are combining medical devices, biologic materials and cellular therapies to help the world's healthcare systems deliver better outcomes more efficiently. We have always remained family owned so that we have the freedom to focus on what we care about: patients, our employees and our communities. Find out more at www.cookmedical.com, and for the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About WGU

Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves 82,000 students and 87,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 20 years, the university has become a leading force in changing lives through education. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. Learn more at www.wgu.edu.