McDonald's Corporation Partners With CAEL On New 'Archways To Opportunity' Initiative

CAEL’s Career Advising Services Will Help Employees at All Levels Develop Skills and Knowledge to Succeed

CHICAGO, IL, USA, April 6, 2015 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL¹) has been selected by the McDonald’s Corporation to deliver career advising² services to eligible employees working in McDonald’s restaurants, both company- and franchise-owned, as part of its new Archways to Opportunity initiative that supports employee success and advancement at all levels, CAEL CEO and President Pamela Tate said today. The McDonald’s initiative will lead the industry in promoting workforce education, helping participants learn English-language skills, get a high school diploma and move on to an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree.

In announcing the new partnership Tate said, "Education and career advising is the vital link that helps people to succeed in navigating their many options and choosing fulfilling paths. Advisors work with participants to set realistic education goals and find the most cost-effective path to get there. The McDonald’s Archways to Opportunity initiative is a powerful resource and we are honored to be working with them on such a noble undertaking that can truly make a difference in the lives of those who choose to participate in the program."

McDonald’s believes that the investment will strengthen the business by building the talent pipeline, improving retention, and driving employee capability. The components of Archways to Opportunity include:

• English Under the Arches – Provide an English as a Second Language (ESL) program that teaches the English needed to communicate effectively and confidently with customers and staff every day.
• High School Completion – Create opportunities to obtain a high school diploma.
• College Credit Connection – Help find the most efficient and affordable path to a two- or four-year degree program.
• Resources & Support – Help remove the barriers of returning to school.

Through the Archways to Opportunity initiative, CAEL will offer its education and career advising services³ to help students at all levels meet their education goals. Students will first be matched with and then meet with an education advisor who will help them evaluate education opportunities that take into consideration short and long term goals. The advisor will also help them evaluate how well the opportunities suit their needs and maximize what they have already accomplished.

In discussing the program, Lisa Schumacher, McDonald’s Director Education Strategies, said, "At McDonald’s, we believe that education is the true game-changer. We’re proud to provide tools and world-class training that help people succeed within our System. Archways to Opportunity is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but an overarching education strategy that meets people where they are."

Concluded Tate, "This new initiative is important because it helps workers at all levels. Our advising services will help ensure everyone has the best outcome possible. We are honored to be part of it, and look forward to working with McDonald’s."

The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization based in Chicago, Illinois that assists adults with their educational endeavors, finding practical ways to transfer learning from prior professional and life experiences that occur outside the classroom to college course credit and the completion of a postsecondary degree. CAEL works with the public sector, private sector industries and higher education institutions to ensure that adult students receive the most efficient training and education to occupy a meaningful professional place in a 21st century economy. Since 1974, CAEL has assisted colleges and universities in providing PLA. CAEL is the recognized national expert on a PLA method known as portfolio assessment, and its Ten Standards for Assessing Learning are used by colleges and universities, as well as accrediting organizations, across the country.


Press release courtesy of Online PR Media: http://bit.ly/19Z59kE

Jackie Clark
Council for Adult and Experiential Learning
240.252.1340
email us here

¹ http://cael.org
² http://www.cael.org/what-we-do/advising
³ http://www.cael.org/what-we-do/advising