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FSogol

(45,355 posts)
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 12:37 PM Jun 2014

Need a reason to kick your Starbucks habit?

"NEW YORK (AP) - It turns out Starbucks isn't contributing any upfront scholarship money to an online college degree program it introduced this week.

The Seattle-based company unveiled a program Monday that included a scholarship it described as "an investment" between Starbucks and Arizona State University. The program is designed to allow Starbucks workers to earn an online degree at the school at a steeply discounted rate.

Initially, Starbucks said that workers would be able to offset the costs through an upfront scholarship it was providing with Arizona State, but declined to say exactly how much of the cost it was shouldering. The chain estimated that the scholarship would average about $6,500 over two years to cover tuition of about $20,000.

Following the announcement, however, Arizona State University president Michael Crow told The Chronicle of Higher Education that Starbucks is not contributing any money toward the scholarship. Instead, Arizona State will essentially charge workers less than the sticker price for online tuition. Much of the remainder would likely be covered by federal aid since most Starbucks workers don't earn a lot of money."

Rest of the article here:

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Starbucks-admits-its-not-contributing-to-hyped-scholarships-263837031.html

23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Need a reason to kick your Starbucks habit? (Original Post) FSogol Jun 2014 OP
Didn't Starbucks' CEO Howard Shultz go on Jon Stewart the other night and ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2014 #1
Except it's not free it will cost $13,000 for a 4 year degree. dilby Jun 2014 #2
Shultz says right in the video that it will cost Starbucks "Millions of dollars per year" in his ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2014 #5
Starbucks is not picking up the costs, the employees are. dilby Jun 2014 #16
How do you interpret the video (link) I posted? nt ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2014 #18
He lied. dilby Jun 2014 #20
I watched the segment when it aired, too, but missed the day after refutations. nt ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2014 #22
It's not a great deal, but it's a good deal Jeff In Milwaukee Jun 2014 #6
For profit universities are a really bad deal. They cost 3x what the typical community college cost FSogol Jun 2014 #9
I agree... Jeff In Milwaukee Jun 2014 #15
My bad. I saw 'online" and assumed. n/t FSogol Jun 2014 #23
LOL, Making his employees so poor they qualify for public aid qualifies in your mind? FSogol Jun 2014 #4
So, my next question was "So Shultz lied on national TV?". I guess you answered that. ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2014 #7
He said in public that he'd never move the Seattle Supersonics. They now play in Oklahoma. FSogol Jun 2014 #8
I don't know the first thing about that. Wait a minute... ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2014 #10
Yup, since 2008. OK City, basketball capital of the world! n/t FSogol Jun 2014 #11
2008? Jesus Christ, where have I been? ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2014 #14
Um, they made it to the finals on 2012, but lost to the Miami Heat. FSogol Jun 2014 #17
Oh yeah, I vaguely remember that. If the Mavs aren't in the finals, I stop paying attention ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2014 #21
Haven't had Starbucks for.. Xyzse Jun 2014 #3
I kicked my Starbuck's habit years ago. Aristus Jun 2014 #12
Just like Walmart..... Uben Jun 2014 #13
Wow. Chutzpah is the word that comes to mind, but closeupready Jun 2014 #19
 

ChisolmTrailDem

(9,463 posts)
1. Didn't Starbucks' CEO Howard Shultz go on Jon Stewart the other night and
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 12:55 PM
Jun 2014

explain exactly that they, Starbucks, would be providing free college tuition for all employees?

"Today we announced that Starbucks would become the first U.S. company to provide free college tuition to all of our employees," Shultz said. That's a fairly unequivocal statement.

That's all I need to know and the means to that end matter not to me. And I still have no reason to boycott Starbucks and so will not be doing so based on the content of the OP.

http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/4lqlz1/howard-schultz

dilby

(2,273 posts)
2. Except it's not free it will cost $13,000 for a 4 year degree.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:00 PM
Jun 2014

Now $13,000 is a lot better than the $60,000 I paid for mine but it's not free and it's not costing Starbucks a dime. Kind of crappy that they basically came out and made it sound like they were offering something no other company offers and making it sound like they were picking up the tab.

 

ChisolmTrailDem

(9,463 posts)
5. Shultz says right in the video that it will cost Starbucks "Millions of dollars per year" in his
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:05 PM
Jun 2014

response to Jon's question about the program being priced at $50,000,000 over a period of time (I closed the video tab, but maybe it was a ten year period Jon was referring to...)

dilby

(2,273 posts)
16. Starbucks is not picking up the costs, the employees are.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:20 PM
Jun 2014

Starbucks negotiated the $6,500 two year tuition price tag for their employees and the idea is that their employees make such a low amount of money they will qualify for federal grants and scholarships to pickup that amount. But those that don't qualify will have to pay the amount out of pocket. It's still a really great deal but Starbucks should not have been parading around acting like they were picking up the tab for their employees to attend ASU. If anything ASU should be getting props for dropping their tuition fees so low for Starbucks employees.

dilby

(2,273 posts)
20. He lied.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:28 PM
Jun 2014

I saw the John Stewart segment when it originally aired and then the next day it came out that what he is pushing was not true. Been hoping John would make an announcement that he was hoodwinked by this schiester.

Jeff In Milwaukee

(13,992 posts)
6. It's not a great deal, but it's a good deal
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:06 PM
Jun 2014

It's a shame the "spoiled" it by over-selling.

I suspect that it costs more than $13K per year to attend ASU. And at most private universities, $13K will barely cover one semester.

It's a great perk for the employees and good on Star Bucks for making it happen.

But they did really screw up the PR.

FSogol

(45,355 posts)
9. For profit universities are a really bad deal. They cost 3x what the typical community college cost
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:13 PM
Jun 2014

and the credits don't usually transfer. For profit universities are a big scam.

FSogol

(45,355 posts)
4. LOL, Making his employees so poor they qualify for public aid qualifies in your mind?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:04 PM
Jun 2014

He is telling lies.
Ask Seattle area basketball fans about Schultz's truth telling abilities.

How do they pay tuition without paying any of the costs? Starbucks scrapped a perfectly group corporate tuition assistance program and is trying to spin doing nothing in return.

They must be happy there are so many saps that fall for that.

 

ChisolmTrailDem

(9,463 posts)
7. So, my next question was "So Shultz lied on national TV?". I guess you answered that.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:07 PM
Jun 2014

I don't see how he thinks he can get away with leaving that sort of record, like the video link I posted. It's out there, forever.

 

ChisolmTrailDem

(9,463 posts)
21. Oh yeah, I vaguely remember that. If the Mavs aren't in the finals, I stop paying attention
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:34 PM
Jun 2014

as soon as they are out during the playoffs. I missed the first round that season and apparently Oklahoma took Dallas out. Once Dallas was out, I didn't care anymore.

I don't regularly watch regular season basketball, just catch a game here and there by circumstance. I do try to watch the playoffs and the finals most years but sometimes I'll pass if I can't get fired up on a Dallas Mavs post-season.

Aristus

(66,075 posts)
12. I kicked my Starbuck's habit years ago.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:18 PM
Jun 2014

When they refused after petitioning to become a gun-free zone.

I've patronized locally-owned coffee shops since that time. Haven't backslid once.

I think Starbuck's recently said they will now be a gun-free zone, but it's too late for them. I'm only one person, and they won't miss my business. But I'm really enjoying what my local coffee shops have to offer.

Uben

(7,719 posts)
13. Just like Walmart.....
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:18 PM
Jun 2014

.....taxpayers are the ones shouldering the burden, not Starbucks. I would not go into one of those places if their shit was free. I'm tired of these mega-companies that pay their workers so poorly they qualify for assistance programs strutting out and act like they are doing something for the workers when it's not costing them a dime.
I personally think we should bill the Waltons for every dime of assistance their workers receive. They wouldn't be making billions anymore. Why should American taxpayers make them rich? That goes for Starbucks, too.

 

closeupready

(29,503 posts)
19. Wow. Chutzpah is the word that comes to mind, but
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:22 PM
Jun 2014

that's not quite right, because at least with chutzpah, there is no attempt to mislead.

If this report is true, I'm honestly appalled, and little corporate behavior these days does that anymore.

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