LOS ANGELES – April 22, 2024 – InStride, a human capital management company providing strategic education benefits, today announced a hybrid education model that empowers healthcare organizations to fill critical roles by developing talent from within. InStride’s hybrid clinical cohorts combine online learning with in-hospital training, enabling providers to rapidly fill critical roles such as medical assistants, surgical technologists, and radiologic technologists. With over 400 employee participants across multiple states, InStride’s model is operating at an unprecedented scale in the industry—delivering both workforce and financial impact. Already, two major healthcare systems have saved over $10 million by using this model to train surgical technologists, cutting contingent labor costs.

“Healthcare systems find their hands tied, as they can’t hire their way out of today’s clinical workforce shortages,” said Craig Maloney, CEO at InStride. “Together with our partners, we’re changing that by making it easier than ever to identify and develop that talent from within. Our hybrid clinical cohorts are a scalable and cost-effective way to fill these high-need roles, and our hands-on program support ensures both employees and organizations see results.”

Addressing critical healthcare workforce shortages

Allied health professionals make up over 60% of the healthcare workforce, yet many of these roles face significant shortages. For example, radiology technologist vacancies have surged to 18%, nearly triple the rate from three years ago, delaying imaging services and prolonging hospital stays. Healthcare organizations must find solutions to train and retain this talent internally rather than relying solely on external hiring.

InStride’s hybrid, cohort-based approach

Unlike traditional training models, InStride partners with healthcare providers to develop clinical cohorts tailored to address specific workforce needs. By combining structured online learning with hands-on experience, these programs are designed for efficiency, higher completion rates, and real-world impact.

Key features of hybrid clinical cohorts include:

Cohort-based learning: Employees progress through structured programs together, fostering peer support and improved completion rates.

Custom pathways for high-demand roles: Programs cover medical assistants, surgical technologists, and emerging pathways for radiologic technologists and cytologists.

On-the-job training: Integration with onsite hospital training programs ensures learners gain real-world experience while earning credentials.

InStride’s clinical cohorts ease strain on healthcare teams by delivering end-to-end support that sets employees up for success. From cohort design to clinical training, InStride works closely with healthcare leaders and academic partners to ensure the right participants are enrolled and fully supported. With clear visibility into employee progress, organizations can confidently fill high-need roles with employees who are ready to step in and make an impact.

Franklin University, one of InStride’s academic partners collaborating to deliver clinical cohorts,  offers a clear view of the model’s success:

“We have seen firsthand how these clinical cohorts drive stronger learner outcomes," said Jonathan McCombs, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Health and Public Administration at Franklin University.  "Learners consistently achieve higher pass rates on certification exams—23 percentage points above the national average on the NCCT TS-C exam—thanks to the combined strength of the program's structure, practitioner faculty, close support, and our close alignment with workforce needs."

By providing a clear pathway to certification, InStride’s cohort-based approach bridges the gap between education and employment in high-demand clinical fields. With stronger outcomes and ongoing support, healthcare providers build a steady pipeline of skilled professionals, reducing turnover, lowering hiring costs, and addressing workforce shortages in roles like surgical technology and beyond.

InStride is a human capital management company that solves corporate talent challenges through strategic education benefits and skills development solutions. By breaking down barriers to learning, fostering career growth aligned with organizational goals, and simplifying program management, InStride delivers lasting impact. Partnering with forward-thinking companies like Labcorp, Adidas, and SSM Health, InStride drives meaningful social and business outcomes by providing access to life-changing education. Visit instride.com or follow InStride on LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news.

Providing a new model for healthcare systems to address critical workforce shortages

InStride’s Hybrid Clinical Cohorts Fill High-Need Roles in Healthcare

AUSTIN, TX — April 4, 2025 — Interplay Learning, the leader in immersive skilled trades training, today announced a partnership with InStride, a public benefit company that enables corporate partners to provide career-aligned, debt-free education to their workforce. Through this collaboration, Interplay Academy’s job-ready certificate programs will be available via InStride’s Career Education Paths, expanding access to high-quality skilled trades training for employees at leading companies nationwide. 

InStride’s corporate partners, including Medtronic and Ascension, are offering their employees access to Interplay’s industry-recognized training at no cost. By investing in their employees, these corporate partners will enable their teams to build in-demand skills, advance their careers, and contribute more effectively to the company. At the same time, they benefit from a stronger, more skilled workforce while reinforcing their commitment to employee growth and reducing barriers to education, including the financial strain of student loan debt.

Interplay Academy’s expert-created career-readiness pathways feature immersive 3D simulations, expert-led videos, and knowledge checks to support a diverse range of learners in building job-ready skills. By providing self-paced, hands-on practice in a safe, engaging, and virtual environment, Interplay Academy helps learners develop skills more efficiently and earn industry-recognized credentials faster. 

"Together with InStride, we're creating opportunities for thousands of people around the country to explore a career in the skilled trades, to develop new, highly in-demand skills, and to continue growing their careers," said Doug Donovan, CEO and founder of Interplay Learning. "This partnership represents the future of workforce development and the powerful potential of expanded access to education." 

InStride’s corporate partners will now be able to offer training from Interplay in several in-demand skilled trades disciplines, including appliance repair, building maintenance, electrical, HVAC, multifamily maintenance, plumbing, and residential construction. 

Craig Maloney, CEO of InStride, commented, “Right now, both our corporate partners and their employees are hungry for education that gets them real, usable skills—skills that translate into being job ready, fast. Interplay's immersive, VR-powered programs deliver on that need with hands-on training in the skilled trades. This partnership lets us meet employees where they are and stay ahead of the curve in how people actually want to learn and grow their careers.”

For more information about Interplay Learning, visit www.interplaylearning.com.

Interplay Learning, the leader in immersive learning for the skilled trades, now includes Industrial Training International (ITI), the global leader in specialized industrial learning solutions. Leveraging instructor-led training, online simulations, AI and VR, Interplay helps organizations and educational institutions upskill faster, reduce risk and increase operational readiness. With nearly 600,000 people trained, Interplay is shaping the future of workforce development, building better careers and better lives.

Recent accolades include Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024, AHR’s 2024 Innovation Award, IACET 2024 Innovation of the Year Award, NFMT 2024 Vision Awards and Forbes’ 2023 America’s Best Startup Employers.

Visit www.interplaylearning.com to learn more.

InStride is a human capital management company that helps organizations attract and retain talent, upskill employees, and fill critical workforce roles through education programs. By breaking down barriers to learning, fostering career growth aligned with organizational goals, and simplifying program management, InStride delivers lasting impact. Partnering with forward-thinking companies like Labcorp, Adidas, and SSM Health, InStride drives meaningful social and business outcomes by providing access to life-changing education. Visit instride.com or follow InStride on LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news.

The new partnership will give employees around the country free access to Interplay Learning’s job-ready certificate programs for the skilled trades

Interplay Learning Partners with InStride to Offer Skilled Trades Training Through Employer-Sponsored Education

LOS ANGELES – February 11, 2025 – InStride, a human capital management company providing workforce education solutions, today announced the launch of its Capability Accelerators. This solution, developed in partnership with some of America’s most innovative companies and leading academic institutions, delivers tailored, role-specific learning paths aligned with business strategy. By combining academic rigor with practical application, these cohort-based programs help top talent build skills that directly impact business performance.

“L&D leaders are searching for education programs that deliver real business outcomes that they can measure,” said Craig Maloney, CEO of InStride. “InStride’s Capability Accelerators are co-designed with employers and academic partners to take employees through cohort- and role-based learning that helps advance their careers as it ties directly to business strategy.”

InStride’s solution addresses critical skills gaps and workforce demands.

Contextualized and role-specific academies: Customizable learning tracks built in collaboration with business leaders for specific roles, including first-line managers, manufacturing operations leaders, and early and mid-career healthcare leaders.

Interactive, cohort-based learning: Learners collaborate in dynamic, applied scenarios while receiving personalized coaching and feedback delivered by real experts and enhanced by advanced AI tools, ensuring rapid skill application and measurable improvement.

University content with real-world relevance: Programs blend rigorous academic insights with practical tools, equipping employees to tackle today’s challenges and drive innovation.

“InStride is transforming workforce education by building a bridge between rigorous learning and the real-world, corporate context, making these programs highly relevant and impactful,” said Jeff Schulz, VP of Professional Services at InStride. “By focusing on role-specific capabilities and contextualized learning, we’re empowering organizations to build stronger talent pipelines specific to their unique context and prepare future leaders for success.”

InStride’s Capability Accelerators are already making strides in reshaping leadership and talent development:

Plant Management Accelerator: Created for a Fortune 500 global automotive technology company, this accelerator prepares aspiring plant leaders with skills in financial acumen, manufacturing innovation, and supply chain management, ensuring readiness for critical leadership roles.

Healthcare Frontline Leadership Accelerators: Designed for a multi-state health system with 40,000 employees and aimed at high-potential individual contributors and first-line managers, these programs build critical patient-centered leadership capabilities, strengthening manager and team performance, and driving internal talent retention and growth.

These early examples illustrate how InStride’s customizable Capability Accelerators address businesses’ unique workforce challenges and strategic goals, offering an alternative to off-the-shelf leadership skill training.

The unique value of these programs lies in their ability to tackle the most common pain points faced by L&D leaders:

Relevance: Programs are contextualized to each organization’s industry and roles, ensuring practical application of skills.

Engagement: Cohort-based learning fosters collaboration and builds a culture of continuous education.

Results: The solution delivers measurable business outcomes, from improved employee retention to faster promotion rates.

Whether addressing leadership gaps, building manager capacity, developing AI fluency, or enhancing business acumen, InStride ensures that education investments translate into tangible impact for both employees and organizations.

Learn more about InStride’s Capability Accelerators.

InStride is a human capital management company that helps organizations retain talent, upskill employees, and fill critical workforce roles through education programs. By breaking down barriers to learning, fostering career growth aligned with organizational goals, and simplifying program management, InStride delivers lasting impact. Partnering with forward-thinking companies like Labcorp, Adidas, and SSM Health, InStride drives meaningful social and business outcomes by providing access to life-changing education. Visit instride.com or follow InStride on LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news.

Custom, cohort-based learning tracks deliver measurable results in 3 to 12 months

InStride Launches Capability Accelerators: Tailored Learning for Talent Development

LOS ANGELES – September 17, 2024 – InStride, a human capital management company providing workforce education solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Ready to Hire, the skilled workforce development business of Cengage Group. Through this collaboration, Ready to Hire’s solution – a comprehensive approach to attract, screen and train candidates – will be available alongside InStride’s workforce education programs, platform, and academic network. Combined, these solutions empower employers with added capabilities to effectively source and hire credentialed entry-level employees, while also upskilling and retaining their existing workforces. 

“Ready to Hire empowers companies to create new talent pipelines for high-demand entry-level roles, particularly in healthcare, manufacturing and skilled trades,” said Rya Conrad-Bradshaw, SVP, Cengage Work and General Manager, Ready to Hire. “In healthcare, for instance, the program simplifies the placement of candidates in essential roles such as medical assistants, pharmacy technicians and phlebotomy technicians. We’re thrilled to partner with InStride to help provide a steady pool of qualified candidates, across industries, who can more quickly and affordably fulfill the talent needs of InStride’s corporate partners.” 

Ready to Hire seamlessly integrates with InStride’s existing human capital management solutions, providing ongoing support and certification opportunities to ensure new hires are equipped for success. Once hired by an InStride partner, new employees will then have access to their company’s workforce education program, powered by InStride.

Cost efficiency: Companies can reduce hiring costs by up to 30% by utilizing Ready to Hire for sourcing, screening and conducting initial interviews.

Diverse talent pipelines: The solution engages with local and diverse talent pools through workforce job boards, social media and Cengage Work’'s internal database, ensuring a diverse pool of candidates.

Enhanced retention: With ongoing support throughout the first 90 days of employment, Ready to Hire promotes higher retention rates for newly hired employees across various industries. Additionally, candidates receive support to earn national or state certifications, ensuring long-term retention.

"Ready to Hire empowers companies to fill entry-level roles with candidates who are prepared to succeed from day one,” said Craig Maloney, CEO of InStride. “By partnering with Ready to Hire, we provide a crucial on-ramp to employment and ensure that learning continues on the job, which aligns with our mission and delivers significant value to our partners.”

InStride is a human capital management company that delivers workforce education solutions in partnership with top academic institutions. InStride enables employers to provide career-aligned, debt-free education through a personalized, digital platform and a consultative service model. Empowering forward-thinking, talent-focused corporate partners such as Labcorp, Adidas, and Intermountain Health, InStride helps drive meaningful social and business outcomes by unlocking access to life-changing education. Visit instride.com or follow InStride on Twitter and LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news.


Ready to Hire, powered by Cengage Group, helps companies create and develop skilled talent pipelines for high demand roles through role-aligned training and upskilling products and services. Working directly with employers and a network of academic partners and workforce organizations, Ready to Hire helps employers build untapped candidate pipelines using scalable, technology-enabled services that identify and train new talent through train-to-hire programs, upskill current talent to earn certifications and professional skills with an on-site structured experience, and access local talent. For more information, visit https://www.readytohire.com/.


With more than 100 years serving learners, Cengage Group is a global edtech company that enables student choice. No matter how, where, when or why someone wants to learn, our portfolio of education businesses supports all students, from middle school through graduate school and skills education, with quality content and technology. Collectively, our three business units – Cengage Academic, Cengage Work and Cengage Select – help millions of students each year in more than 125 countries achieve their education and career goals and lead choice-filled lives. Visit us at www.cengagegroup.com or find us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Initiative integrates Cengage Group’s ‘Ready to Hire’ solution with InStride workforce education programs

InStride and Ready to Hire Partner to Strengthen Talent Pipelines, Reduce Hiring Costs

LOS ANGELES – August 14, 2024 – Demand for employer-funded education programs is on the rise according to a new survey report from InStride, a human capital management provider of workforce education solutions. The report, which surveyed over 1,000 employed American adults, reveals a significant 80% of U.S. workers under 45 crave career advancement through employer-provided education opportunities that allow them to avoid student debt.

The 2024 Workforce Education Motivations Report delves deeper into the preferences and motivations of the modern workforce, revealing three key findings that underscore the importance of employer-funded education:

Workers crave academic credentials without student debt: Given two choices, 72% of employees would prefer “to pursue an online degree while working, with tuition fully paid for by their employer” versus opting “to pursue an in-person degree program, paying for tuition with their own funds and/or student loans.” This preference is strong among younger workers, challenging the belief that Gen Z favors in-person learning.

Younger generations seek education to earn a promotion: 84% of respondents under 45 are highly interested in employer-sponsored education benefits, with 44% citing promotions as their primary motivation.

Interest in tuition assistance has grown over time: Interest in tuition assistance, particularly where employers cover upfront tuition costs, has increased since 2019 with the proportion of employees who said they were “significantly influenced” by this benefit growing from 25% to 38%, a 13 percentage-point increase. In this time, the percentage of employees more likely to stay with their employer due to this benefit also rose from 48% to 55%.

“Employers that invest in fully funded education programs attract promising new talent, amplify their workforce's skills, support internal mobility and drive higher retention rates. Our survey findings reinforce the critical role of accessible, employer-funded education in today's competitive job market,” said Craig Maloney, CEO of InStride. 

A deeper look at the rising demand for debt-free career advancement

The report uncovers that U.S. workers across demographic groups are turning to employers for access to education, driven by tuition costs that have risen twice as fast as inflation over the past 40 years. 

Notably, 93% of Gen Z respondents expressed strong interest in workforce education benefits from nationally recognized public universities. This finding challenges the narrative that Gen Z is uninterested in traditional four-year degrees, indicating that they are in fact very interested when they can find a way to afford it.

Additionally, the report highlights that interest in education programs is highest among underrepresented groups, younger employees and managers, with these groups showing significantly higher interest levels than other employees.

“It's clear that today's workforce is eager to learn and strategic about minimizing financial burdens associated with higher education. By providing robust, fully funded education programs, employers can address these concerns and support their employees' career aspirations,” added Maloney.

Access the full 2024 Workforce Education Motivations Report.

InStride is a human capital management company that delivers workforce education solutions in partnership with top academic institutions. InStride enables employers to provide career-aligned, debt-free education through a personalized, digital platform and a consultative service model. Empowering forward-thinking, talent-focused corporate partners such as Labcorp, Adidas, and Intermountain Health, InStride helps drive meaningful social and business outcomes by unlocking access to life-changing education. Visit instride.com or follow InStride on Twitter and LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news.

Over 80% of U.S. workers under age 45 report wanting debt-free, career-advancing education from their employer

Survey Results: InStride Releases Workforce Education Motivations Report

LOS ANGELES – July 24, 2024 – InStride, a leading provider of strategic workforce education programs, has introduced several enhancements to its pioneering franchise platform. These innovations enable these talent programs to be tailored to individual franchise needs, solidifying InStride's leadership in employee education for franchise businesses.

“To address the human capital needs that franchise and other distributed business models face today, we had to consider the unique challenges that come with managing employee education across diverse locations. Our solution provides franchisors with tools to deliver high-quality education programs while giving franchisees the autonomy to manage and customize them,” said InStride CEO Craig Maloney.

InStride's franchise solutions have been successfully implemented by multiple leading global companies, including two of the top five quick-serve restaurants in the U.S.

Enhancements were built on solutions initially developed in 2022 for a franchise partner in the logistics space and aim to transform employee education and career development across franchise businesses. They include tailored learning paths with a focus on skills relevant to franchise workers, improved administrative functionality and advanced reporting capabilities.

The benefits of these innovations are clear. At one franchise partner, over 50% of franchisees opted into the program within the first year. The company has achieved a one-third higher retention rate for participating employee learners compared to non-participating employees across these franchise locations.

InStride’s approach to developing workforce education for franchise businesses ensures that each franchise location can implement programs tailored to their specific business and talent needs, while maintaining overall consistency and oversight across the brand.

To achieve this, each franchise location must have the capability to set its own eligibility criteria and budget, as well as to receive separate billing and reporting visibility. Additionally, the franchisor requires comprehensive anonymized reporting and the ability to design overarching program structures.

InStride has developed a comprehensive set of franchise support tools and functionalities:

Highly configurable options: Tailor eligibility rules by location, coverage by employee group type, terms and conditions for each franchisee, and billing at both the franchisor and franchisee levels.

Budget management: The ability to set and manage budgets with an HR approval flow to ensure full budget visibility and control.

Multi-level reporting: Available at the franchisor and franchisee level, allowing for better decision-making and performance tracking.

Hands-on support for program launch: Including personalized 1:1 outreach, education program management guides and workforce education workshops.

These advancements are set to empower franchises to build future-ready workforces, improve employee retention and create attractive investment opportunities for prospective owners.

Human capital solution enables franchises to scale employee development and career advancement

InStride First to Introduce Workforce Education Offering for Franchises

LOS ANGELES – March 20, 2024 – Today, InStride commemorated five years by announcing its 50th enterprise-scale corporate partnership, signifying the company’s position as an industry leader. With 25% average annual revenue growth since its inception in 2019, the workforce education solutions company has delivered notable impact for companies and their employees, including saving employees $57.6 million in tuition and achieving over 90% retention for participating employees.

“Through a unique partnership between Arizona State University and TPG’s The Rise Fund, InStride was founded to help solve America’s talent and student debt challenges through employer-sponsored education programs,” said Craig Maloney, Chief Executive Officer at InStride. “I am thrilled that today, providing tuition-free education to company employees is the gold standard for America’s leading corporations.”

Through consultative collaboration with academic and corporate partners including Medtronic, Intermountain Health, and Aramark, InStride has driven significant outcomes across myriad industries: 

$57.6 million in student debt prevented through free tuition coverage from employer-sponsored education programs

A +74 Net Promoter Score (NPS) across corporate partners, academic partners, and employees

50% of employers expanded their programs after year one

Average 7% participation rate for mature programs, compared to 1-2% for traditional tuition reimbursement

> 90% of participating employees remained at their company 

3x reduction in attrition rates for participating employees

InStride’s status as workforce education’s premier innovator continued to take shape when the company introduced Career Education Paths, a solution that enables learners to connect education to skills and career advancement. More recently, InStride launched InSkilling as a solution for employers to expand talent pools by replacing traditional degree requirements with skills-based hiring.

"Our partnership with InStride has enabled us to remove barriers to growth opportunities for our talent and increase retention with our Medtronic MAPS workforce education program. InStride worked with our team to identify relevant skills for our open roles, enable our emerging skills-based talent strategy, and broaden our access to a more diverse workforce for tomorrow's challenges," said Dr. Sally Saba, Medtronic Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer.

InStride gained momentum in the healthcare industry in recent years with the company collaborating with prominent health systems such as Ascension and Intermountain Health to develop and launch first-of-their-kind hybrid clinical certification programs. Building on the company’s collaborative, strategic approach in the healthcare space, InStride announced new partnerships with Rochester Regional Health and SSM Health in 2023 and Saint Peters in 2024.

“InStride has never been stronger and our distinctive combination of services and solutions are poised to deliver remarkable innovation for the modern workforce,” said Maloney. “Our roadmap includes enhancing our franchise capabilities and integrating artificial intelligence into our operations and academic offerings. We also aim to expand Career Education Path participation, introduce additional hybrid clinical programming to meet growing demand, and extend our offerings to Canada, marking significant global expansion.”

In May, the company will bring together forward-thinking HR, DE&I and L&D professionals alongside academic and social impact leaders for its third annual IMPACT Summit in Washington, D.C. The invite-only event will focus on the power of partnerships and building the workforce of the future.

IInStride is a human capital management company that delivers workforce education solutions in partnership with top academic institutions. InStride enables employers to provide career-aligned, debt-free education through a personalized, digital platform and a consultative service model. Empowering forward-thinking, talent-focused corporate partners such as Labcorp, Adidas, and Intermountain Health, InStride helps drive meaningful social and business outcomes by unlocking access to life-changing education. Visit instride.com or follow InStride on Twitter and LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news.

Industry pioneer delivers workforce education programs for 50 enterprise companies offering their employees tuition-free degrees and courses

InStride Celebrates Five Years of Growth, Innovation and Social Impact

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ & LOS ANGELES, CA – March 19, 2024 – Saint Peter’s Healthcare System has launched New Jersey’s first tuition-free education benefit available for healthcare employees. The Learning, Education and Advancement Program (LEAP), available to Saint Peter’s full- and part-time employees, makes educational growth accessible so employees can earn valuable credentials and degrees to advance their professional careers in health care.

The initiative complements Saint Peter’s existing tuition reimbursement policy, improving access to learning by lowering the financial barrier of upfront tuition costs for employees. Through LEAP, employees will be able to access over 1,000 online learning options, ranging from bachelor’s degrees to skill courses and English-language learning from academic institutions including Arizona State University, The City University of New York (CUNY), and the University of Colorado, among others. 

“As a mission-based healthcare system, this program underscores Saint Peter’s commitment to transforming careers and our community,” said Laura Atkinson, vice president and chief human resources officer at Saint Peter’s Healthcare System. “It is an investment in education, our employees, and the strength and unity of our community, ensuring our caregivers reflect the rich diversity of those we proudly serve with compassionate care.”

Leslie D. Hirsch, FACHE, president and CEO of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, said, “I am proud to offer this world-class educational opportunity to our employees—the first of its kind for a healthcare system in New Jersey. We developed this program because we believe every Saint Peter's employee should have the ability to learn and advance. LEAP is a win-win for our organization, as having the ability to grow and excel in one’s career supports advancement, while enhancing the patient experience and allowing us to retain our best and brightest.” 

Saint Peter’s is an award-winning healthcare partner for residents of New Jersey and beyond. Focused on recruiting and retaining talent and improving career advancement for its diverse workforce, the healthcare system has partnered with InStride to create LEAP. In support of hiring for Saint Peter’s current job opportunities, full-and part-time employees are eligible to participate after only 90 days.

"Saint Peter’s shares our dedication to advancing employees’ careers through equitable access to education," said Craig Maloney, CEO of InStride. "We’re honored to deliver a workforce education program that unlocks the full potential of their employees, supporting the delivery of exceptional care to a dynamic community."

Saint Peter’s Healthcare System Inc., parent company of the Saint Peter’s healthcare delivery system, is comprised of Saint Peter’s University Hospital, a 478-bed acute-care teaching hospital and state-designated children’s hospital and regional perinatal center that includes a nationally renowned Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Saint Peter’s Foundation, the fundraising arm of the hospital; Saint Peter’s Health and Management Services Corporation and the CARES Surgicenter; and Saint Peter’s Physician Associates, a network of primary and specialty care physician practices. Saint Peter’s is a regional specialist in cancer care, diabetes, geriatrics, orthopedics, bariatric surgery and head and neck surgery and is a sponsor of residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and internal medicine. Saint Peter’s is sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen and is a major clinical affiliate of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. Visit saintpetershcs.com or call 732-745-8600.

InStride, in partnership with top academic institutions, enables companies to provide career-aligned, debt-free education through a personalized digital platform and consultative service model. InStride empowers forward-thinking, talent-focused corporate partners such as Aramark and Magna to drive meaningful social and business outcomes by unlocking access to life-changing education. InStride was named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company and a Best Place to Work by Built In for five consecutive years. Visit instride.com or follow InStride on Twitter and LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news.

Program offers full- and part-time employees 100% tuition coverage for degrees and skill courses to foster career advancement

Saint Peter’s Leads as First NJ Health System with Upfront Tuition Coverage for Employees

Saint Peter’s leads as first NJ health system with upfront tuition coverage for employees

ST. LOUIS, MO. — November 13, 2023 – SSM Health is enhancing its Professional Development Program, which empowers team members to pursue education and career advancement, with a new program that offers upfront tuition to employees. 

The new initiative, FlexPath Funded, will offer eligible team members up to $5,250 per calendar year in up-front tuition towards an array of online programs and courses from top-tier academic institutions. 

It aligns with SSM Health’s commitment to develop a diverse team of lifelong learners and fosters a culture of opportunity – where everyone has the potential to fulfill their calling at SSM Health. 

By removing the financial barrier to academic achievement by prepaying for tuition, the program provides easier access to learning opportunities that empower the organization’s diverse team of lifelong learners to deliver exceptional health care, today and in the future. 

“At SSM Health, we are passionate about offering flexible, alternative education paths for team members without having them incur upfront, out-of-pocket expenses,” said Janet Smith-Hill, Chief Human Resources Officer at SSM Health. “FlexPath Funded achieves just that, while also focusing on increasing talent retention and preparing our workforce for high-requested roles to meet patient care needs. This is just one of the components of our robust professional and career development programming at SSM Health.” 

FlexPath Funded complements SSM’s existing Tuition Reimbursement Policy and is a powerful way for SSM Health team members to pursue accessible online education opportunities that advance their careers. 

SSM Health also has a deep commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The new program is designed to create equal access to education opportunities that increase representation at all levels and provide mobility pathways, enabling front-line employees to elevate their lives and careers. 

SSM Health has partnered with InStride, a human capital management company that delivers workforce education solutions, to launch FlexPath Funded based on a commitment to a shared partnership approach and a demonstrated understanding of the relationship between DEI and workforce education.

"SSM Health and InStride are mission-first organizations that share a vision for social and business outcomes,” said Craig Maloney, CEO of InStride. “SSM Health is an employer of choice and we are honored to deliver a workforce education program where every SSM team member has the opportunity to reach their full potential through equitable access to learning.” 

SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system serving the comprehensive health needs of communities across the Midwest through a robust and fully integrated health care delivery system. The organization’s 40,000 team members and more than 12,800 providers are committed to providing exceptional health care services and revealing God’s healing presence to everyone they serve.

With care delivery sites in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, SSM Health includes 23 hospitals, more than 300 physician offices and other outpatient and virtual care services, 12 post-acute facilities, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a pharmacy benefit company, a health insurance company and an accountable care organization. It is one of the largest employers in every community it serves. For more information, visit ssmhealth.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter.  

InStride, in collaboration with top academic institutions, enables employers to provide career-aligned, debt-free education through a personalized, digital platform and a consultative service model. InStride empowers forward-thinking, talent-focused corporate partners to innovate their human capital management strategies. Visit instride.com or follow InStride on Twitter and LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news. 

FlexPath Funded makes education more accessible to elevate careers, champion diversity, and recruit/retain talent

SSM Health removes barriers to education with program that provides upfront tuition funds

LOS ANGELES — September 12, 2023 — The Employee Benefits News Excellence in Benefits program honors changemakers in the benefits and HR community, including employers with top benefits programs, innovators providing tech-driven solutions and leading advisers who connect the dots. Now in its third year, the annual initiative shines a spotlight on the community’s brightest, most forward-thinking leaders.

Michelle Hamilton, InStride’s VP of People & Talent, has earned a spot on this year’s list of HR/benefits leaders who are supporting employee needs through cutting-edge benefits while driving business forward. Michelle was InStride’s first HR hire, and has helped grow the InStride team from 35 staff to 165 in three years.

Michelle has helped InStride stand out with policies like a generous parental leave; programs like an employer-matched 401K; company-wide wellness days to ensure that InStriders are taking care of themselves; and a supplemental caregiver benefit that helps employees take care of their children and older family members who require assistance and supervision. 

“During a time of sweeping transformation in the HR and benefits landscape, these individuals are finding creative ways to build better employee experiences,” says Stephanie Schomer, Editor-in-Chief at Employee Benefit News. “They’re putting people first by creating better (and more affordable) benefits programs around healthcare and mental health, and changing the conversations around vital needs such as child care and financial wellness.”

This year, for the first time ever, the winners of the Excellence in Benefits Awards will be recognized live and in person at EBN's new BENEFITS AT WORK conference, Sept. 27-29 in San Diego. The dedicated luncheon at this premiere event will give the honorees a chance to celebrate their accomplishments and connect with other award recipients.

Employee Benefit News (EBN) is the primary media resource for decision makers in the worlds of employee benefits, human resources and workplace culture. As the dynamics of these spaces continue to shift and become increasingly complex, EBN delivers expert insights to allow business leaders to navigate their industries with agility. From helping benefits managers meet the challenges of reducing care costs and improving retirement plans to providing HR leaders with guidance on building a talented and diverse workforce, EBN drives the conversation and delivers the research and analysis to help readers support their companies’ objectives.

Employee Benefit News names InStride’s Michelle Hamilton as one of 2023’s Excellence in Benefits Awards honorees

The Employee Benefits News Excellence in Benefits program honors changemakers in the benefits and HR community, including employers with top benefits programs, innovators providing tech-driven solutions and leading advisers who connect the dots. Now in its third year, the annual initiative shines a spotlight on the community’s brightest, most forward-thinking leaders.

LOS ANGELES – September 13, 2023 – InStride, a human capital management company that delivers workforce education solutions, today announced the launch of InSkilling™, a consultative service that broadens the pool of qualified talent for in-demand jobs through skills-based hiring. Providing companies with the expertise and tools needed to implement skills-based hiring, InSkilling determines how to replace traditional degree requirements for job descriptions, with necessary skills for specific entry- and mid-level roles. 

InStride has created a robust framework for InSkilling through skills taxonomy mapping and extensive research. The multi-stage process includes in-depth interviews with subject matter experts, skills extraction from job descriptions, and alignment of both soft and hard skills across job families.

Since the 1980s, many job descriptions have included degree requirements, a practice that left behind skilled candidates who did not have degrees. This created equity barriers for communities disproportionately underrepresented in the traditional academic system as well as workers with credentials from international education systems. However, there’s been a reverse trend. Currently, about one in five U.S. job postings do not require a college degree, a 15% increase since 2021. 

Craig Maloney, CEO of InStride, commented: "InSkilling is our response to our clients who have asked InStride to help them implement skills-based hiring to widen their talent pool and embrace inclusive hiring practices. InSkilling begins to unwind the previous trend of adding degree requirements for entry- and mid-level roles and broadens opportunities for individuals who have acquired skills through alternative routes.”

To refine InSkilling, InStride collaborated with Medtronic, a global healthcare technology company employing over 90,000 people, to replace degree requirements with appropriate skill requirements for 60 roles across 15 job families to meet Medtronic’s goals of opening access to a wider pool of talent that could be incorporated into existing corporate talent recruitment processes.

Amy Wilson, Medtronic's director of global talent acquisition programs and employment brand, said of skills-based hiring at Medtronic, “A degree is just one indicator for job readiness. If we can create more pathways to jobs at Medtronic, we can bring our mission as an employer to more people who are a great fit for Medtronic.”

After an InSkilling implementation, InStride helps companies take the next step with constructing Career Education Paths, which link skill requirements for filled roles to relevant learning options, including degree and non-degree options, available through InStride’s strategic workforce education solution. Career Education Paths provide employees with valuable skills and knowledge they need to take the next step in their career, paired with access to the debt-free and robust educational programming they need to do so. 

InStride, in partnership with top academic institutions, enables companies to provide career-aligned, debt-free education through a personalized digital platform and consultative service model. InStride empowers forward-thinking, talent-focused corporate partners such as Amazon, Labcorp, Medtronic and Magna to drive meaningful social and business outcomes by unlocking access to life-changing education. InStride and its partners are leading the movement to innovate human capital management strategies with career and company growth through boundless education opportunities. Follow InStride on Twitter and LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news.

InSkilling, launched with Medtronic, empowers companies to replace traditional degree requirements hiring.

InStride Launches Solution That Expands Talent Pools with Skills-Based Hiring

InStride launches InSkilling, a solution that helps organizations expand their talent pools through skils-based hiring.

LOS ANGELES – June 26, 2023 – InStride, a human capital management company leading the movement to advance social and business impact through academic attainment, today announced the appointment of Craig Maloney as its new Chief Executive Officer. Maloney will be stepping into this leadership role effective immediately.

Maloney brings over 30 years of experience across relevant industries and business models including benefits, employee engagement and SaaS/tech-enabled services. With a historical focus on growth programs and value-based solutions, Maloney has held numerous leadership positions at prominent companies including Hewitt Associates (Divisional CEO), Aon / Univers (President / COO), Maestro Health (CEO) and Benefitfocus (Executive Vice President). Throughout his career, Maloney has established himself as an inspirational executive who is deeply committed to the servant leadership model and a relentless pursuit of stakeholder success.

"Craig's strong track record of leading companies in the benefits and technology space alongside his experience working with major employers to attract and retain talent make him the ideal choice to lead InStride into its next phase of innovation and expansion," said Doug Becker, Chairman of the InStride Board of Directors. "His deep understanding of SaaS and tech-enabled services, combined with his passion for education which emanates from his own personal experiences, align perfectly with our mission at InStride.”

At InStride, Maloney will be responsible for leading the company's vision of driving business and social impact through strategic workforce education, working with corporate partners to provide their employees access to top-tier academic institutions, strategic learning paths and life-changing career development.

"I am honored to join InStride, a company that is at the forefront of the movement to advance social and business impact through workforce education," said Maloney. "I am excited to build on InStride’s strong foundation and continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in education technology for all of our clients, partners and stakeholders."

InStride drives business and social impact through strategic workforce education. As the global leader in these programs, InStride works with corporate partners like Amazon, Labcorp, Medtronic, Magna and more, providing their employees with access to top-tier academic institutions, strategic learning paths and an innovative technology platform. Follow InStride on Twitter and LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news.

Maloney brings 30+ years of technology, benefits and growth experience to CEO position

InStride appoints Craig Maloney as Chief Executive Officer

Stay in the know about what's happening at InStride with this library of recent news and press releases.

Press Releases | InStride

InStride is the premier global provider of strategic enterprise education for companies that need to align their talent & workforce needs with business objectives.