College in the Call Center

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and CFA partner to bring a competency based degree to employees.

The following is an excerpt from “College in the Call Center,” T+D Magazine, February 2014. To read the case study in full, click here.

“Anthem’s partnership with CfA fits neatly into the company’s preexisting tuition reimbursement benefit, so the initial pilot of 34 student-employees that launched in spring 2013 didn’t need special return-on-investment requirements or unique metrics to be launched. But HR leaders and general managers are keeping a close eye on student persistence rates, as well as the graduates’ career pathways with the company.

“Already, graduates and even some employees midway into the degree are demonstrating new confidence, the ability to take on new projects, better interactions with higher level management, and distinctions between tactical and strategic planning, as well as stronger writing and communications skills.

“Michelle, the Anthem sales account representative who graduated this past September, sees great promise in the unique new education partnership. ‘College for America makes learning so hands-on and exciting,” she said at her graduation ceremony. “You don’t have to wait for a class, and to have someone else finish, and wait for your professor—you can go, and go, and go until you finish. This is revolutionary. I think this is going to be the way education is in the future.’”

To read the full case study, click here