Xavier-City of Cincinnati partnership offers tuition discounts for city employees

Anew partnership provides City of Cincinnati employees a more affordable opportunity to continue their education by attending Xavier University.

“At Xavier, for almost 200 years, our Jesuit Catholic mission has guided us in prioritizing education as a common good, accessible to all across our community,” said Xavier University President Colleen Hanycz. “City employees are essential to this community, and by encouraging their growth through education, Xavier becomes a key partner in building a stronger Cincinnati. We are proud to be part of a partnership that invites our government, business, and educational communities to collaborate in addressing Southwestern Ohio’s workforce needs. Our affordable and accessible programs create opportunities for more Ohioans to advance their careers while building a stronger workforce within our state and across the region.”

City employees can earn a bachelor’s degree at a 25% discount on tuition through the Adult and Professional Education at Xavier, commonly known as APEX. The Accelerated Degree Completion enables adult students to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership or a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree through a combination of evening and online classes over eight-week sessions.

“Our city employees work hard every day to provide the essential public services we all depend on. And our core focus with this partnership is to make sure we are doing everything in our power to invest in them,” said Mayor Aftab Pureval. “If you work for our city, and you want to continue building your skills and furthering your career, we want you to know that we are here to support you. I’m extremely grateful that we’re building on our strong relationship with Xavier.”

Xavier’s long history of serving adult undergraduates includes notable graduates of the city police force. Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge and her predecessor, Eliot Isaac, graduated from Xavier’s Weekend Degree program, before earning master’s degrees in human resource development. The APEX program is especially transfer friendly for police officers since the program accepts 24 transfer credit hours for officers who have completed the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy.

“I am a proud Xavier Musketeer,” said Theetge. “I didn’t always anticipate this being part of my journey, but now I can’t picture life without it. Investing in myself through an education at Xavier University was a turning point in my adult life. It set me on a path of self-growth and discovery which has been instrumental in both my personal and professional life. I am extremely excited that Xavier University has partnered with the City of Cincinnati to allow others to explore and bolster their hidden strengths and talents through education.”

Additionally, city employees pursuing a graduate degree are eligible for a 15% tuition discount on all Xavier master’s degree programs, with the ability to choose from more than 30 programs spanning a variety of disciplines including business, nursing, health administration, counseling, and education. Xavier’s nationally ranked online and on-campus graduate programs are designed for city employees who need to find balance between pursuing their graduate education with their full-time jobs and family responsibilities.

For those seeking non-degree education opportunities, the new partnership offers another key benefit. City employees are eligible for a 15% discount on all programs through Xavier Leadership Center (XLC), which offers several one-day, certificate, private and online programs for aspiring leaders across professions. XLC delivers high-quality professional development programs for global, regional, and local organizations and has a certificate specifically for public sector leaders. XLC’s Public Sector Leadership Certificate (PSLC) is designed to energize leadership for those in any public sector organization.

One alumna who has taken full advantage of Xavier’s suite of offerings is City of Cincinnati Interim Supervising Human Resources Analyst Kelli R. Wright. Holding a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Xavier, plus a certificate in public leadership through XLC, Wright said the benefits to higher education are exponential, regardless of where one stands in their career.

“As a non-traditional student, the education I’ve received from Xavier University was extraordinary,” Wright said. “In my opinion, education is the most powerful tool one can use to change the world. Here at Xavier, the curriculums are current, professors are accessible, resources are available, and the career center does an amazing job helping students land their dream job. Had it not been for the support, resources, and education I received from Xavier, I would not be where I am today. It was the education I received from Xavier that allowed me to pivot my career and join the City of Cincinnati. Having this partnership with the university offers our employees an added benefit to advance their careers and help them grow and develop.”

Learn more about Xavier’s APEX program, the University’s Graduate School, and the Xavier Leadership Center.