Partnership Offers a Free Education to Employees and Their Dependents

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

The exclusive collaboration between an esteemed educational institution and a large corporation is bringing new opportunities for workers. 

Roofing Individuals Succeed through Education (RISE) is taking the worry out of college for workers at Weatherproofing Technologies Inc (WTI). A partnership between the University of Akron (UA) and WTI is providing a way for individuals working full-time to complete a degree and continue working. Under the RISE program, WTI employees can enroll in an online associate-to-bachelor’s degree program in construction management from UA’s College of Applied Science and Technology. Better yet – WTI pays for 100% of the tuition for WTI employees and their dependents! Coursework can be completed on a full- or part-time schedule.  

With an ongoing labor shortage, WTI is hoping this program will incentivize employees to accelerate their careers in WTI and the roofing industry at large. Students in the program start by pursuing an associate degree in science in the construction management track and have the option to continue to earn a bachelor of organizational supervision in construction management. The associate program is aligned with the bachelor’s degree, so students can go from one program to the other without any complications. All WTI employees are eligible to apply for the program after 90 days of employment and can start in any semester of their choice.   

“The University of Akron is an expert in providing career-focused and experiential learning that helps students get ahead in the job market,” said WTI Vice President Mardee Billingsley. “WTI and Tremco value our employees and want to give them every opportunity to learn and grow. Our partnership with UA provides that, while allowing our company to expand our business and retain loyal employees. RISE also gives us an extraordinary ability to help alleviate the construction industry’s severe labor shortage by educating a new generation of roofing professionals in both technical and business skills.”  

UA recognizes how important it is for educational institutions to work with corporations, helping to meet the educational needs of today’s manufacturing workforce. UA has been putting forth the effort to connect with employers of all types to develop unique programs that fit with the demands of industries today.  

“Developing programs is what we do. We meet with employers, discuss the skills they want their workforce to have, and then deliver a specialized program that needs their unique needs,” said Elizabeth Kennedy, Ph.D., dean of the College of Applied Science and Technology. “It’s important for people to be educated, and it’s our goal to help them achieve success.” 

For more information, visit www.wtirise.com. 

Learn more about Tremco WTI in their RoofersCoffeeShop Directory or visit www.tremcoroofing.com.