UNO Launches Partnership Easing Access to Degrees for BCBSNE Employees

Employees at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) will have the opportunity to pursue a degree at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) without paying upfront tuition costs thanks to a new innovative corporate partnership.

This partnership removes any barriers related to cost or affordability by enabling BCBSNE employees to take courses without worrying about covering the cost of tuition, which differs from traditional employer reimbursement programs that first require students to pay for classes out-of-pocket.

“We are proud to partner with UNO to make higher education more accessible for our workforce,” said Steve Grandfield, BCBSNE president, and CEO. “UNO is helping us remove barriers and empower employees to pursue professional growth opportunities.”

BCBSNE employees may apply to UNO and enroll in courses beginning with the Fall 2021 semester to take courses for professional development purposes or in pursuit of a degree. Undergraduate and graduate courses are available for employees in fields like business, IT, math, data analytics, human resources, and communications.

“UNO is ‘Omaha’s campus,’ and is committed to workforce development for the betterment of Nebraskans as well as Nebraska-based corporations that contribute to the vitality of our community,” says UNO Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. “A core part of our mission is the kind of life-long learning that BCBSNE is fostering for its employees.”

UNO’s connection to the community as Omaha’s metropolitan university and its reputation for academic excellence make it an ideal partner for BCBSNE. Since 1908, UNO has grown with the Omaha area to offer more than 200 academic programs across six colleges. This partnership provides BCBSNE employees with the opportunity to learn and grow through nationally recognized programs such as UNO’s AACSB-accredited business school or its National Security Agency-accredited program in cybersecurity.

Courses are delivered through a variety of modalities including on-campus, online, and everything in between. BCBSNE employees and learners at all stages have the opportunity to further their skills and develop professionally through whichever course delivery option works best for them.