InStride celebrates five years of growth, innovation and social impact

LOS ANGELES, CA — May 26, 2020 — The Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation is proud to announce that after reviewing multiple applicants, they have selected Michelle Westfort, SVP Academic Partnerships at Instride, to join the EWA Spring 2020 Cohort of Exceptional Women Awardees.

"Michelle is an expert in the education field, understands education’s importance to overall societal impact, and has an intense ongoing commitment to collaboration and partnerships," said Larraine Segil, Chair and CEO of The Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation, "We are delighted to select her to join the other women leaders in our EWA group."

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Michelle Westfort, SVP Academic Partnerships, Instride, has been selected to join the EWA Spring 2020 Cohort of Exceptional Women Awardees

The Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation selected Michelle Westfort, SVP Academic Partnerships at Instride, to join the EWA Spring 2020 Cohort.

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.

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 Banfield Pet Hospitals, Labcorp 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.

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 Banfield Pet Hospitals, 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 tech-enabled services 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

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

Michelle Westfort, SVP Academic Partnerships, Instride, has been selected to join the EWA Spring 2020 Cohort of Exceptional Women Awardees

Recent press releases

InStride Celebrates Five Years of Growth, Innovation and Social Impact

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

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