FedEx Express and University of Memphis Launch Program to Offer Memphis Hub Employees an Opportunity to Earn Tuition-Free Degree

11,000 Memphis-area FedEx employees would be eligible for new program

August 18, 2018 - FedEx Express and The University of Memphis today announced the launch of the Learning inspired by FedEx (LiFE) program, a new initiative that will allow the more than 11,000 employees of the FedEx Memphis World Hub the opportunity to earn a tuition-free, fully-online degree from UofM Global.

"FedEx is extremely important to the University of Memphis, our city, and, frankly, our nation," said UofM President M. David Rudd. "FedEx is a vital supporter of the University of Memphis, and we are so excited about the new LiFE initiative. It's a tremendous opportunity that will open the door for thousands of FedEx Express employees to pursue a degree through UofM Global, reaffirming our mission of removing barriers to post-secondary education and providing a quality education for all."

When developing the collaboration with the University, FedEx identified three primary challenges that its employees face when pursuing higher education: financial constraints, anxiety about returning to school, and, in some instances, lack of a high school diploma. The new LiFE program addresses each of these concerns by allowing the employees of the FedEx Memphis Hub access to the suite of educational services and opportunities available through UofM Global as part of the FedEx tuition assistance benefit.

A nationally-recognized online institution with more than 60 graduate and undergraduate degree programs, UofM Global offers programs and resources specifically designed to support adult returning students, including:

Smart Start, a comprehensive readiness assessment tool;
A wealth of student success services, including academic coaching and 24/7 tutoring;
LiFE Prep Academy, which helps prospective students earn a high school equivalency credential (HiSET) through online coursework while also earning post-secondary credit hours;
A LiFE Coach to guide students through enrollment to completion; and
A FedEx-funded Hub Learning Center with access to computers and Internet.

Employees may participate in the LiFE program as long as they work at the FedEx Hub and remain in good academic standing. The benefit has no tenure requirement, allowing employees to begin participating as early as their first day of employment.

"FedEx Express is excited to be working with the University of Memphis to offer our team members at the Memphis World Hub the opportunity to earn a tuition-free degree," said Barbara Wallander, senior vice president of Human Resources, FedEx Express. "We expect the LiFE program to make a difference in the lives of our team members, and we remain deeply committed to supporting our community here in our hometown of Memphis."

The launch of the LiFE initiative follows FedEx's recent announcement of a major upgrade of the FedEx World Hub in Memphis, which serves about 240 flights a day and can handle up to 475,000 shipments an hour.

"We are delighted to collaborate with FedEx to use higher education attainment as a solution to an employee retention challenge," said Dr. Richard Irwin, UofM Vice Provost for Academic Innovation and Support Services and Dean of UofM Global. "We are committed to student success as reflected by our dedicated staff and the launch of innovative programs like Smart Start and LiFE Prep Academy, which are designed to serve students from all backgrounds and circumstances."

Memphis FedEx World Hub employees can start their LiFE journey at LiFE: Learning Inspired by FedEx.