Chipotle Mexican Grill will offer debt-free degrees in agriculture, culinary and hospitality to all eligible employees in partnership with Guild Education, an education and up-skilling company. After only 120 days of employment, employees are eligible to pursue degrees from nonprofit, accredited universities, including The University of Arizona, Bellevue University, Brandman University, Paul Quinn College, Southern New Hampshire University, Wilmington University, the University of Denver and, soon, Johnson & Wales University and Oregon State University.
Starting April 13, eligible Chipotle employees will be able to pursue a Bachelor of Science in agricultural sciences or rangeland Sciences online from Oregon State University, one of the top-ranked U.S. colleges for agriculture.
According to the latest Census of Agriculture from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there are more than six times as many farmers age 65 and older as farmers age 34 and younger, challenging future of small and mid-sized farms throughout the country. Chipotle has committed $5 million over five years to help remove barriers and enable the next generation of farmers and ranchers to succeed. Last year, the brand spent more than $300 million in food premiums to purchase supplies that are responsibly sourced, humanely raised and often locally grown.
Chipotle will be the first of Guild’s employer partners to offer debt-free culinary education through culinary institution, Johnson & Wales University (JWU), later this year. The brand will work collaboratively with JWU and Guild to bring associate and bachelors’ culinary arts degrees online, as well as an additional Bachelor of Science degree in food industry compliance management. The associate degree in culinary arts will include an experiential education component to give students hands-on opportunities to build their culinary skills. In addition, Chipotle employees will have the opportunity to pursue a selection of bachelor’s degree programs in hospitality from Bellevue University, JWU or Oregon State University.
Later this year, Chipotle will also offer an expanded selection of supply chain programs from Oregon State University and the University of Denver. The company currently offers supply chain degrees from Bellevue University, Brandman University, and Southern New Hampshire University.
“Diversifying our debt-free degree program with new majors and partner universities makes our educational benefits even more inclusive,” said Marissa Andrada, chief diversity, inclusion and people officer at Chipotle. “Through our partnership with Guild, we are committed to accelerating our employees’ professional growth and helping them achieve personal success by offering opportunities to pursue career paths in their particular area of interest.”
In 2019, Chipotle announced it will cover 100% of tuition costs up front for 75 different business and technology degrees through its partnership with Guild. Chipotle added this employee benefit to give employees the chance to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the evolving 21st century job market.
