The University of Missouri–St. Louis continues to work with some of St. Louis’ leading organizations to offer educational and professional development opportunities for their employees.
Bi-State Development is the latest organization to partner with the university. Through the terms of a new three-year agreement, eligible Bi-State employees who receive $5,250 in annual employer-sponsored tuition assistance and are enrolled part-time in select undergraduate or graduate programs will receive a discount to cover any remaining tuition costs per academic year as they work to advance their careers through continued education.
Bi-State employees pursuing new undergraduate degrees as full-time students will be awarded a minimum UMSL Scholarship of $5,250, which will replace the tuition discount.
“Bi-State Development plays such a critical role for economic development in our region, and the University of Missouri–St. Louis is proud to help connect its employees to educational opportunities so they can reach their goals,” said Reggie Hill, UMSL’s vice chancellor for strategic enrollment and career advancement. “As a leading driver of workforce development in the St. Louis region, we aim to provide them with high-quality undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs that will help Bi-State employees move forward in their careers.”
Employees will be able to pursue degree programs in a range of disciplines, including accounting, computer science, cybersecurity, data science and analysis, finance, financial technology, graphic design, information systems and technology, management, marketing and supply chain. The university also has for-credit certificate programs in a variety of areas, including artificial intelligence, business intelligence, corporate financial reporting, enterprise systems development, and mobile apps and computing.
Courses will be offered in a mix of day and evening classes, in eight- or 16-week sessions and in face-to-face, blended or online formats to give students the flexibility they need to balance school, work and their daily lives.
Bi-State employees can also receive a discount on all approved non-credit courses offered through UMSL’s Advanced Workforce Center, which provides affordable, accessible and flexible professional training in a variety of areas, including data analytics, online collaboration, coding and programming, database administration and web management.
UMSL will provide enrollment and advising support tailored to working professionals for all participating employees.
Bi-State Development is key driver of economic development in the St. Louis region, serving the City of St. Louis and six adjacent counties, including Jefferson, St. Charles and St. Louis Counties in Missouri and Madison, Monroe and St. Clair Counties in Illinois. It is a leader in public transit and also operates the St. Louis Downtown Airport and runs the regional freight district, which moves billions of dollars in goods through the region via rail, roadways, rivers or air.
“As one of the areas premier employers, we are always looking for ways to enhance the overall employee value proposition we offer our dedicated team members and see a strong tuition reimbursement program as key to investing in their future along with crafting strong relationships with key educational partners!” said Dave Toben, Sr. Director Total Rewards.
Bi-State Development will work with UMSL to make employees aware of the educational opportunities available through the university. The company will also collaborate with UMSL Career Services to create opportunities for UMSL students to participate in internships or explore full- and part-time employment with the organization.
This three-year agreement is part of UMSL’s broader effort to partner with leading employers across the region and beyond. The university has developed similar educational partnerships with organizations such as World Wide Technology, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Nidec Motor Corporation, MERS Goodwill, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, and the Greater St. Louis Area Council Scouting.
UMSL also supports workforce needs in health and human services through partnerships with BJC HealthCare and Compass Health, helping employees earn their Master of Social Work degrees.
Through national platforms like the Edcor School Network, Amazon Career Choice, AllCampus, and Bisk Amplified™, UMSL is extending its impact to working adults across the country – offering accessible undergraduate and graduate programs aligned with employer priorities and long-term career growth.
To learn more about educational partnerships at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, contact Kyle Lackey, UMSL’s senior program manager for strategic partnerships, at kyle.lackey@umsl.edu.