Thanks to a partnership announced by U.S. Olympic leaders with the Denver-based education company Guild, U.S. Olympians will receive new training to secure college degrees and other skills for life after sports. I got a stronghold
NEW YORK — U.S. Olympians will secure college degrees and other skills for life after sports, thanks to a partnership announced Tuesday by U.S. Olympic leaders with Denver-based education company Guild. I have found a new base for my work.
An agreement between the Guild, organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee will help fulfill the Olympic body's promise to help athletes start the next chapter of their lives after retirement. The purpose is to
The guild says its online platform includes more than 250 services, including undergraduate and graduate programs, certificate programs, and career counseling opportunities.
“It's hard to imagine someone going in there and not finding something that works for them,” said Carrie White, vice president of athlete development and engagement at the USOPC.
White said in a recent survey of 5,000 Olympic and Paralympic alumni, about 60% of athletes under the age of 39 said they needed help with their career and professional development. She said about 95 athletes created profiles on the platform within days of the program's launch earlier this month.
Bijal Shah, CEO of the Guild, said that because Olympic and Paralympic athletes spend most of their time focused on their sport early in life, they have the skills that other athletes in the labor market have already mastered. He said he may be entering the workforce in need of skills for new careers.
“We thought their abilities and the services the guild provides could be a great opportunity for those athletes,” Shah said.
Shah said the guild is a solution to the fact that “we've had a problem in this country around the student loan crisis” and the reality that the overall cost of graduate study often deters people from pursuing things like getting a degree. It was established in 2015 to provide. Adult education.
Guild works with major customers such as Walmart, Chipotle, and Target to offer programs to their employees that allow them to further their education at no cost through its platform.
Shah said people who join guilds are 2.6 times more likely to be promoted within the company and twice as likely to receive a raise than those who don't.
Jess Bartley, director of psychological services at the USOPC, said retirement planning is always one of the most difficult conversations to start with athletes. This is an example of how this deal aligns with what they are trying to accomplish in an era where the USOPC and LA28 are increasingly being asked to consider not just their on-line performance, but the overall well-being of their athletes. This is another example of how it fits.
Janet Evans, a swimmer and four-time gold medalist who serves as LA28's Chief Athlete Officer, said: “The Guild's vision is… LA28's commitment to supporting the whole athlete, from performance to overall health. It is consistent with that.”
White said the USOPC awarded more than $1.8 million in tuition grants to eligible athletes in 2023, most of which was worth about $4,500 and was paid directly to the schools they attended.
While these grants will continue, White said the partnership with the guild offers another option and more benefits because many programs are fully funded. For programs partially funded through the Guild, the USOPC will cover up to $10,000 per year. Athletes who qualify will be eligible to use the guild for up to 10 years after retirement.
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
