Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 917.822.8190
Twitter: @KaplanEdNews

New York, NY (August 2, 2022) ⁠— Kaplan, the world’s most diversified global education organization, announced today that it is partnering with Amazon to make comprehensive career and academic advisement support services available to the 750,000 hourly Amazon employees in the United States. Kaplan’s partnership supports Amazon’s Career Choice upskilling program, designed to help Amazon employees grow their skills for career success. The Kaplan-provided services will be available to Amazon employees through every step of their higher education journey, from first helping them identify the academic programs that best fit their interests, skills, and long-term goals to general support throughout their higher education experience to networking, resume development, job interview preparation, and online brand building. 

Kaplan’s career and academic advisement support services are also designed to help drive satisfaction and engagement with Amazon employees through their journeys. Kaplan will help prospective students evaluate best-fit programs, provide success coaches to mentor them in support of their continued enrollment and progress, and make available career services advisors to coach and prepare them for employment opportunities.

“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Amazon, one of the world’s most influential economic and cultural forces, to help its employees, some of the most talented and hard working in the world, through their educational and career development journeys,” said Greg Marino, CEO of Kaplan’s North America division. “Amazon, with its unparalleled educational employee benefits offerings, and Kaplan with its 85 years of helping students achieve their goals, are a natural fit to help transform America’s workforce. This partnership further strengthens Kaplan’s position in the business-to-business marketplace, and we’re excited to share more about our plans for this portion of our business in the near future.”

“While Career Choice has always been complimented by advisement services, feedback from participants has shown that more comprehensive and ongoing counseling, like access to an advisor, a success coach, and career counselor, would help employees to choose programs better aligned to their career goals and to better navigate the challenges of going to school while working, and ultimately use their new skills to find opportunities at Amazon or externally,” said Tammy Thieman, global lead for Career Choice at Amazon. “We see the support from this partnership with Kaplan as a game-changing enhancement to our program and the careers of Amazon employees participating.”

Amazon associates are already reaping the benefits of the partnership. “In the past, for this kind of career support, I used resources at my public library and chatbot services, but they were lacking in both engagement and personalization. My Kaplan coach is dedicated to my success, gives me different perspectives, knows what my goals are, and is going to be a constant presence on my career path,” said Cicero Vieira, who works at an Amazon fulfillment center in Baltimore, and has a background in the renewable energy industry. “In our first few meetings, we went over ways to improve my resume and cover letter and I believe the enhancements I’ve made are already setting me apart from potential competition. My coach goes the extra mile and encourages me to go the extra mile. I truly appreciate that. I don’t expect the program to find me a job, but I am confident it’s going to guide me in the right direction and help me secure my career goals.”

The partnership with Amazon signals future exciting announcements that Kaplan will make, as the benefits of these services catch on among businesses looking to upskill their employees and see them advance.

“Strong career coaching and academic advising are a fundamental differentiator between student success and failure. In fact, great advising may account for 75 percent of the variance of success for working adult learners,” said Brandon Busteed, chief partnership officer and global head of learn-work innovation, Kaplan. “Kaplan and Amazon are pioneering new advising models that have the potential to revolutionize the impact of education on career trajectories.”

“These wraparound services will increasingly become a must-have for companies looking to recruit new talent and develop them for long term success, no matter where they work in the future. Thousands of Amazon employees who have taken advantage of Kaplan’s services are already seeing positive results and we’re extremely encouraged by their enthusiasm,” said Rachael Bourque, vice president of corporate learning solutions, Kaplan, and architect of the partnership. “Businesses can count on Kaplan to be a full partner that’s vested in turning their vision into a successful reality.”

For more information about Amazon’s Career Choice program and its work with Kaplan, click here. For reporters who want to discuss Kaplan’s partnership with Amazon, contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 917.822.8190.  

About Kaplan

Kaplan, Inc. is a global educational services company that helps individuals and institutions advance their goals in an ever-changing world. Our broad portfolio of solutions help students and professionals further their education and careers, universities and educational institutions attract and support students, and businesses maximize employee recruitment and development. Stanley Kaplan founded our company in 1938 with a mission to expand educational opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Today, all of our employees across 27 countries continue Stanley’s mission, working with hundreds of thousands of students and professionals and 12,000 corporate and 4,000 school and university clients worldwide. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). Learn more at www.kaplan.com. 

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 917.822.8190
Twitter: @KaplanEdNews

New York, NY (June 7, 2022) ⁠— Cleveland State University, recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 public university in Ohio for social mobility, announced today that it will immediately begin providing all of its undergraduate students and Spring 2022 graduates with free prep courses for graduate-level admissions exams, including the GRE®, GMAT®, LSAT®, and MCAT®, and several professional certifications, through a new partnership with global educational services provider Kaplan. This latest partnership builds upon CSU’s mission to open the doors of opportunity to and support as many students as possible, particularly from Northeast Ohio. In fall 2021, the university saw a 40 percent increase in the number of new freshmen who graduated from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, the second largest school district in Ohio.

“Earning high scores on graduate admissions exams can open so many more doors for students in their chosen fields and careers,” said Brittany Wampler, director of career development & exploration at CSU. “In eliminating the test preparation cost barrier, we’re leveling the playing field for all CSU students to have the ability to succeed in whatever they choose to pursue.”

Kaplan has prepared students for standardized tests for nearly 85 years, and Cleveland State University is its first public institution partner for the company’s new ‘All Access’ initiative. As part of Kaplan’s All Access mission, colleges and universities can help all their undergraduates prepare for a variety of high-stakes admissions exams that students need to take to apply for graduate-level programs. 

Each CSU student registered for Kaplan’s free graduate exam preparation will also simultaneously receive on-campus career coaching, which provides students with personalized strategies, tactics and resources that align with their goals.

In addition, CSU students also have the opportunity to prepare for the exam to become a security industry professional (Securities Industry Essentials®), as well as a Financial Paraplanner Qualified ProfessionalSM, or FPQP® program, a designation program that is an introduction to personal financial planning. These professional certifications come through Kaplan Credegree programs, which are designed to enhance the job readiness and marketability of college students by partnering the traditional four-year degree with Kaplan’s educational programs. This allows students to complete their four-year degrees while earning industry-recognized credentials highly valued by employers.

“There’s good reason why Cleveland State University is nationally recognized as a leader in successfully advocating for the upward mobility of its students: it invests in their potential. And now that includes free test prep for all its undergrads, which we see as a real game changer in their educational and professional journeys. A higher score can not only increase your chances of getting into a top graduate-level program, but it can also secure you coveted merit-based aid,” said James Polulach, director of institutional partnerships at Kaplan. “Many students see admissions exams as a barrier, instead of an opportunity, whether because of the price of preparation or because of how difficult the exam is. With All Access, Kaplan is eliminating these roadblocks, with zero out-of-pocket expenses for them. We’ll be announcing additional partnerships in this area soon, as more colleges and universities recognize All Access’s value and promise.”

For college and university leaders who want to explore partnering with Kaplan, click here. CSU students interested in enrolling in an eligible Kaplan test prep course can visit here. And for reporters interested in covering this growing sector of Kaplan’s portfolio, contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 917.822.8190.

About Cleveland State University

Founded in 1964, Cleveland State University is a public research institution that provides a dynamic setting for Engaged Learning. With nearly 16,000 students, ten colleges and schools and more than 175 academic programs, CSU was again chosen for 2021 as one of America’s best universities by U.S. News & World Report, including the #1 public university in Ohio for social mobility. Find more information at www.csuohio.edu. 

About Kaplan

Kaplan is a global educational services company that provides individuals, universities, and businesses with a diverse array of services, including higher and professional education, test preparation, language training, corporate and leadership training, and student recruitment, online enablement and other university support services. With operations in 28 countries, Kaplan serves more than 1 million students each year and has partnerships with 1,000-plus universities, colleges, and schools/school districts, and more than 4,000 businesses globally. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). For more information, please visit https://kaplan.com.   

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 917.822.8190
XULA Contact: Regi Reyes, rreyes@xula.edu, 504.520.5240
Twitter: @KaplanEdNews

New York, NY (May 31, 2022) ⁠— Xavier University of Louisiana, America’s only historically Black and Catholic university and one of the top-three HBCUs in the nation, announced today that it will immediately begin providing all of its undergraduate students with free prep courses for graduate-level admissions exams, including the GRE®, GMAT®, LSAT®, and MCAT®, and professional certifications, through a new partnership with global educational services provider Kaplan. 

Xavier’s latest investment in its students is an expansion of its longtime partnership with Kaplan, which began a decade ago to assist Xavier graduates in their preparation for matriculation to medical school. Xavier consistently graduates more African American students and other students of color who earn MDs and PhDs in the sciences than any other college or university in the country. Additionally, Xavier’s College of Pharmacy is among the nation’s top educators of African American pharmacists. The announcement of the Xavier-Kaplan partnership follows Xavier’s recent declaration about beginning the planning phases of opening its own medical school and graduate school of health sciences.

“An investment in a Xavier student is an investment in a brighter future. Our graduates leave our halls instilled with our mission to promote a more just and humane society,” said Dr. Reynold Verret, president of Xavier University of Louisiana. “Our work with Kaplan will ensure that our students have access to important resources that prepare them for the next step in their education.”

Kaplan has been preparing students for standardized tests for nearly 85 years, and Xavier is its inaugural partner for the company’s new ‘All Access’ initiative. As part of Kaplan’s All Access mission, colleges and universities can help all their undergraduates prepare for a variety of high-stakes admissions exams that students need to take to apply for graduate-level programs. Xavier students also have the opportunity to prepare for professional certifications in areas such as wealth management, cybersecurity, and Amazon Web Services. These professional certifications come through Kaplan Credegree programs, which are designed to enhance the job readiness and marketability of college students by partnering the traditional four-year degree with Kaplan’s educational programs. This allows students to complete their four-year degrees while earning industry-recognized credentials highly valued by employers.

“Xavier is constantly seeking ways to advance our students and nurture excellence,” said Dr. Anne McCall, provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs at Xavier University of Louisiana. “We want to offer our talented Xavierites an array of tools we can to help them succeed as professionals and pursue their dreams.”

“Kaplan couldn’t be prouder to strengthen our longstanding relationship with Xavier University by providing its students with educational offerings that can be real game changers in their career trajectories. Administration leaders at Xavier University have been true visionaries in investing in their students’ futures and we’re incredibly excited to be on this journey with them,” said Mark Reimonenq, Kaplan’s director of university partner solutions. “Understandably, far too many students see admissions exams as a barrier to their success, instead of an opportunity to become successful, whether because of the price of preparation or because of the difficulty of the exam. Through All Access, Kaplan is eliminating these barriers and helping students achieve their goals, with both robust test prep and professional certification, with zero out-of-pocket expenses for them. Over the next few weeks and months, we’ll be announcing additional partnerships in this area, as more colleges and universities recognize its value and promise.”

For college and university leaders who want to explore partnering with Kaplan, click here. And for reporters interested in covering this growing sector of Kaplan’s portfolio, contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 917.822.8190.

Test names and other trademarks are the property of the respective trademark holders. 

About Xavier University of Louisiana

Xavier University of Louisiana, America’s only historically Black and Catholic University, is ranked among the top three HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) in the nation. Recognized as a national leader in STEM and health sciences, Xavier produces more African American students who graduate from medical schools each year than any other university in the United States. Additionally, Xavier’s College of Pharmacy is also among the top producers of African American pharmacists in the country.

Established in 1925 by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament as a place for African American and Native Americans to receive quality education, Xavier has since expanded its programs in art, business, education, biological sciences, chemistry, pharmacy and political science. More recent additions in robotics, bioinformatics, engineering, data science, neuroscience and genetics, in addition to new STEM-based master’s programs, have provided Xavier students (2815 undergraduates and 787 graduates) an unbeatable combination of traditional classroom study, hands-on research, service-learning opportunities and life experiences. Xavier students collaborate with world-renowned faculty, who are experts in their fields, to produce award-winning research and notable work. The winning Xavier formula provides students with a well-balanced curriculum and an environment that nurtures their intellect and feeds their souls, thereby facilitating a more just and humane society for all.

For more information about Xavier University of Louisiana, visit us online at www.xula.edu or follow us on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter @XULA1925. To book interviews and/or to speak with our experts in the field of pharmacy, education, premed, public health, science, technology, math, business, English, communications, and the arts, contact Regi Reyes at (504) 520-5240 or rreyes@xula.edu.

About Kaplan

Kaplan is a global educational services company that provides individuals, universities, and businesses with a diverse array of services, including higher and professional education, test preparation, language training, corporate and leadership training, and student recruitment, online enablement and other university support services. With operations in 28 countries, Kaplan serves more than 1 million students each year and has partnerships with 1,000-plus universities, colleges, and schools/school districts, and more than 4,000 businesses globally. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). For more information, please visit https://kaplan.com.   

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 917.822.8190
Twitter: @KaplanEdNews

New York, NY (May 9, 2022) – The following statement about the ABA’s recent recommendation to end the standardized test requirement for law school admissions comes from Jeff Thomas, Kaplan’s executive director of legal programs:

“For a number of years, through application ups and downs, law schools have been looking for a game changer to increase or at least stabilize the number of applicants, and dropping the standardized test requirement may be the imperfect solution many are looking for. It’s important to note that if this American Bar Association committee recommendation comes to pass, something that almost happened in 2018, but ultimately sputtered, it would not eliminate standardized tests from the admissions process. Rather, it would allow individual law schools to decide what’s best for their own programs. At Kaplan, we don’t believe most law schools would decide en masse to drop the requirement. In fact, we think that many, if not most law schools would still require applicants to submit test scores, for a few major reasons:

“First and importantly, should a law school choose not to require a standardized test, it would eliminate a screening tool that could potentially result in the admission of more students who don’t graduate and/or fail the bar exam, which would put these schools at risk of losing their ABA accreditation. In that sense, standardized tests can act as quality control or ‘prepared to succeed’ mechanisms.

“Secondly, law schools find standardized tests helpful in serving as a common yardstick to measure prospective students who come from colleges of varying competitiveness. An ‘A’ at a top ranked school, for example, is not the same as an ‘A’ at a lower ranked school. Undergrads at lower ranked colleges often look to the LSAT® as a way to show admissions officers that they can perform just as well as any Ivy Leaguer, or even better.

“Finally, test scores are important factors in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, which students actively consult in deciding where to attend, and which alumni and administrators take seriously. 

“The key takeaway is that major changes to admissions policies do not happen overnight. Applicants applying to law school for the Fall of 2023 should still consider the LSAT, a central component of their admissions strategy, as it’s the only test accepted at every ABA-accredited law school. Applicants applying to start in 2024 or beyond may have other viable admissions strategies. We’ll have to wait and see how this plays out for schools first.

“We’ll be tracking this issue closely over the next few months as we conduct our annual admissions officers survey, speaking with law schools directly about what their individual plans may be.”

LSAT® is a registered trademark of the Law School Admission Council, Inc. which does not review or endorse specific test preparation materials or services.

About Kaplan

Kaplan is a global educational services company that provides individuals, universities, and businesses with a diverse array of services, including higher and professional education, test preparation, language training, corporate and leadership training, and student recruitment, online enablement and other university support services. With operations in 28 countries, Kaplan serves more than 1 million students each year and has partnerships with 1,000-plus universities, colleges, and schools/school districts, and more than 4,000 businesses globally. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). For more information, please visit http://www.kaplan.com.

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