N.C. A&T Joins Growing Network of Disney Aspire Educational Providers

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 2, 2022) – Disney Aspire, The Walt Disney Company’s education investment and career development program that offers 100% of tuition paid upfront, has welcomed North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the nation’s largest historically Black college or university, into its growing network of educational providers. 

Disney Aspire enables more than 80,000 hourly part-time and full-time employees and cast members across the United States to return to school as a working adult, with more than 11,000 employees enrolled. The program offers extensive post-graduate support to help employees’ career aspirations come true, whether at Disney or beyond. More than 2,500 employees have already graduated from Disney Aspire, continuing to strengthen the company’s growing pipeline of talent. Nearly 1,000 participants have already been promoted internally.

The addition of North Carolina A&T brings a variety of new online bachelor’s and master’s programs into the Disney Aspire network, ranging from economics to information technology. 

“We are committed to bettering the futures of our students, and Disney shares in that mission through Disney Aspire,” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. “We Aggies are a family, and we know that tight-knit community feel also exists at Disney. This couldn’t be a more natural-fitting partnership.”  

Providing access to A&T through Disney Aspire is an important step forward in continuing to strengthen the company’s focus on the retention and development of Black employees. Conversations about academic partnerships with additional HBCUs are under way. 

“We want every single eligible employee across our company to be able to envision themselves as part of Disney Aspire, which means we need to have schools and programs that are reflective of that, and as diverse as our employees,” said Latondra Newton, chief diversity officer for The Walt Disney Company.

Disney Aspire removes barriers to education and contributes to the company’s strong pipeline of talent by:

• Covering 100% of tuition upfront, as well as reimbursements for required books and fees 
• Offering an enhanced program and degree catalog that aligns with predicted future of work trends
• Providing individual student success coaching from start to finish through Guild Education 
• Enabling more than 2,500 program graduates to prepare for career growth through the Disney Aspire Alumni Association and other extensive post-graduate support

For more information about Disney Aspire, visit Aspire.Disney.com.