CSU Press Releases

DELTA AIR LINE EMPLOYEES SOAR INTO ONLINE EDUCATION

Columbia Southern University Offers Scholarship Donation for Delta Employees

ORANGE BEACH, AL - Since Columbia Southern University (CSU) joined Delta Air Lines as an academic partner in 2004, more than 120 airline employees have taken advantage of tuition discounts, application fee waivers, and other special benefits. Thanks to a $20,000 donation CSU recently made to the Delta scholarship fund, opportunities for employees to secure a quality education at a reduced, affordable rate will increase throughout the year.

"This contribution demonstrates our commitment to help Delta invest in the future of their employees," said Robert Mayes, CSU President. “ "Promoting a more qualified, educated workforce within our partner organizations is central to our university mission and vision."

Tom Blatnick, a current CSU student and Delta employee, received a $2,000 scholarship last year that he is now using to help finance his occupational safety and health degree. Funded by Delta as part of its commitment to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Safety Administration Voluntary Protection Program, the scholarship is designed to recognize students who engage in occupational safety, health and environmental outreach within their schools, communities, and workplace.

"Earning a degree has always seemed just out of reach," said Blatnick."Our affiliation with CSU has offered me, and other Delta employees, special benefits that make achieving educational goals possible."

While Delta employees are free to use the scholarship money to attend any accredited institution of their choice, CSU is second only to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is number one on the list of universities employees select to earn their master’s degrees. One of the nation’s first completely online universities, CSU offers 18 degree programs, 11 specializations, and more than 320 courses. Associate, bachelor, master, doctoral and certificate programs are available in a variety of fields including business administration, fire science, human resource management, and occupational safety and health.

Other CSU partnerships include approximately 20 corporations, 20 police departments, and 80 fire departments. Among these are Boeing, HR for Techs, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and the New York City Fire Department.

Please visit www.columbiasouthern.edu/learningpartners or call 1-800-977-8449 to learn more about how you can make the most of this partnership.