UMGC Establishes Alliance with Chamber of Commerce Hawaii

Adelphi, Md. (April 16, 2024)-University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) has signed an agreement with the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii to offer a discounted tuition to chamber employees and their families, and to extend the discount to chamber members, their employees and their families to complete college courses or specialized training.

The agreement provides an opportunity not only for individuals associated with the chamber to advance their education, but for businesses that are chamber members to ask the university to craft specialized training courses.

"We are proud to join with the Hawaii chamber and expand access to post-secondary education for its employees and their families as well as to the employees and families of its member organizations," said Blakely Pomietto, senior vice president and chief academic officer at UMGC. "Through this agreement-and our broad portfolio of 135 degree and certificate programs-we have the potential to reach some 200,000 people who have a wide variety of educational goals and career and professional aspirations."

UMGC is offering up to a 25 percent discount on the university's out-of-state tuition. In addition, UMGC will waive the application fee for all applicants who are admitted to UMGC and become program participants.

The idea for a formal agreement with the chamber arose after Joanne Nakano, UMGC's assistant director in Hawaii for Stateside Military Operations and a former outreach partnership specialist, saw the potential after joining the chamber herself, said Rachel Bennett, director of the Western Region for Stateside Military Operations. While the university is a member of many chambers, Nakano saw the advantage of reaching an agreement that included all 2000 businesses in the chamber.

"Our goal is to ensure that everyone on the island of Oahu knows that UMGC is a viable educational option," Bennett said. "We want them to know that we do have offices on the island and offer classes at multiple locations on the island. But even if someone just wants to take all online classes, they know if they want to meet with an advisor in person, we are there to help them."

UMGC, which has a deep history of serving military-affiliated students, offers hybrid courses (part of the course is in-person and part is online) and comprehensive student services at several military installations, including Pearl City, U.S. Coast Guard Base in Honolulu, Hickam Air Force Base, Schofield Barracks, and Tripler Army Medical Center.

The university also offers in-person advising services at locations throughout Oahu (open to anyone with base access), including at Camp H.M. Smith, Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii, and Pearl Harbor Naval Base.

About University of Maryland Global Campus

University of Maryland Global Campus was founded more than 75 years ago specifically to serve the higher education needs of working adults and military servicemembers. Today, UMGC is the largest provider of postsecondary education in Maryland. It continues its global tradition with online and hybrid courses, more than 175 classroom and service locations worldwide and more than 125 degrees and certificates backed by the reputation of a state university and the University System of Maryland. For more information, visit umgc.edu.

About the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii

As the "Voice of Business" in Hawaii, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is a statewide, non-profit organization whose mission is to serve as the advocate for business in Hawaii. The Chamber works on behalf of its 2,000+ member organizations to advance the state's economic climate and help the business community to thrive locally, nationally and globally.

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