Leeds School of Business Takes Leadership Role in UN Education Initiative

Contact:
Dr. Mark Meaney, Executive Director for the Center for Education on Social Responsibility, 303.492.3937
[email protected]
Ms. Zeel Patel, Director of Marketing & Communications, 303.492.6397
[email protected]

The Leeds School of Business takes leadership role in the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education Initiative.

Dr. Mark Meaney accepts leadership position with newly formed North American chapter involving over 150 business schools.

BOULDER, Colorado – Feb 3, 2016 – The Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado, Boulder, announced that Dr. Mark Meaney, Executive Director of the Center for Education on Social Responsibility (CESR), was elected as Chair of the newly established North America Chapter of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (UN PRME) initiative. Dr. Meaney was also appointed to the UN PRME International Advisory Board.

Launched at the 2007 United Nations Global Compact Leader’s Summit in Geneva, the UN PRME initiative focuses on inspiring and championing responsible business management education, research and thought leadership globally. UN PRME Chapter North America is comprised of 18 Canadian and 138 US business school signatories, and is part of a collective of over 600 business schools world-wide.

Key areas the North America Chapter will focus on include developing resources to foster student experiential learning in business ethics, and establishing and sharing best practices to align with UN sustainable development goals. Dr. Meaney remarked, “This is a significant opportunity for a vast network of educational leaders to collaborate and make a difference in critical areas of student learning such as business ethics, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability. We have an opportunity to develop widely accepted best practices and contribute on a global scale.” Dr. Meaney will be presenting at UN PRME’s 2nd North American meeting hosted in Atlanta, GA, February 4 to 6 to further establish the Chapter’s focus and engagement across participating schools.

Dr. Meaney has over 20 years of experience and an international reputation in business ethics. He is currently the Executive Director at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business, Center for Education on Social Responsibility, which was founded through the support of the Leeds family. Under Dr. Meaney’s leadership, the Center focuses on developing socially conscious, values-driven business leaders to manage the ethical challenges of a global economy. Learn more at http://www.colorado.edu/business/CESR

COBRT President Makes the Business Case for Early Childhood Education

Colorado Business Roundtable President Jeff Wasden recently spoke to the New Mexico State Chamber regarding the importance of early childhood education and the business case for making these critical investments. 

Study after study show a compelling case that early investments in our youth is the best return on investment we can make in education. Ensuring all students enter school with the right skills and tools to learn show dramatic results-lessened cases of grade retention, less drop out, higher graduation rates, less cases of special education needs, and lowered risk for juvenile delinquency and arrest. 

Students without a quality early childhood program can already enter kindergarten up to 30% behind their peers. The United States spends significantly less than other industrialized nations and then there are some that cannot make the correlation behind why our students are scoring lower in math, science and reading than other nations. “Ensuring all students have access to a quality early childhood program will create a larger pool of educated, qualified workers entering the job market and allow business to continue to innovate and prosper and remain competitive in this increasing competitive global market,” states Wasden.

To learn more about why early childhood education is good business, visit ReadyNation, a national organization that understands good schools is good business. http://www.readynation.org

Major Businesses Offer Employees Free Program to Earn GED Credential

Contact: CT Turner | Public Affairs
[email protected] | 202/471.2228
October 29, 2015

WASHINGTON, DC— GED Testing Service has partnered with some of the nation’s largest employers and most recognizable brands— including Walmart, KFC, Taco Bell and Southeastern Grocers— to create GEDWorksTM, a comprehensive program free for employees who want to earn their GED credential.

The GEDWorks program includes everything an employee needs to successfully prepare for and pass the GED test. Students are provided access to a GED advisor, online GED study material, connections to local adult education programs, practice tests, and more. GED advisors are a key element of GEDWorks and help guide, engage, and motivate students. GEDWorks also helps keep graduates moving forward after completing the tests by connecting them with college and career pathways tools on GED.com. 

GEDWorks is one indicator that national employers understand the value of the new GED program, which is focused on better preparing learners to compete in today’s job market and to successfully enter post-secondary education programs essential to most 21st century jobs. This effort also marks the first time national employers have banded together to support a program aimed solely at decreasing the number of adults without a high school diploma, an important step in improving the country’s economic competitiveness.

“Employers have invested in this national program with GED Testing Service to boost the education levels of their employees because they recognize the benefits of the enhanced GED program and the importance of education in the lives of their employees. The program offers a cost-effective way for employers to help adult learners achieve their goals and invest in their futures. Students earning a GED credential enhance their career prospects and earning potential,” said Randy Trask, President of GED Testing Service. 

The support that employers show their participating employees is another key element of the GEDWorks program. “Taco Bell believes in helping our Team Members get more out of life— starting with an education,” said Frank Tucker, Global Chief People Officer at Taco Bell. “GEDWorks is great because it gives our employees everything they need to prepare for and pass the GED test on their own flexible terms. Not only are we developing our Team Members and creating an engaged workforce, but we’re also inspiring these valued Team Members to champion their potential, education and future.”

“Walmart believes that education is key to an associate's personal and professional
development,” said Michelle Knight, Vice President of Talent Development for Walmart U.S. “The opportunity to earn a market-valued credential helps our people gain skills to advance their career. Achieving success with the GEDWorks program is a gateway to opportunity.”

The program is completely free for learners. It is fully funded by employers or, in the case of KFC, by the associated charity, Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation. The only investment needed by students is time and energy to prepare for the test. “Restaurant operators love that the GEDWorks and other Foundation programs help them recruit and retain high quality employees who are interested in working hard to improve themselves. The KFC Foundation is proud to be able to support them, and continue Colonel Sanders’ legacy of helping people be their best selves through education,” said Krista Snider, Managing Director of the KFC Foundation.

"Now that I have my GED, it takes away that little bit of shame and embarrassment [of not having graduated from high school],” said Courtney, an employee of Winn-Dixie/Southeastern Grocers in Alabama and one of the first graduates of the GEDWorks program. “My GED advisor was very encouraging and friendly throughout the process— she addressed all of the concerns I had along the way. I think others should go for it as well!”

For more information visit the GEDWorks Media Kit web page, which includes: GEDWorks Press Release in English and Spanish, GEDWorks Infographic, Soundcloud Audio Clip, First GEDWorks Graduate Video, GEDWorks Student Profiles/Stories, Link to the GEDWorks Website.

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About GED Testing Service
The GED test has opened doors to better jobs and college programs for more than 20 million graduates since 1942. The GED test is accepted by virtually all of U.S. colleges and employers. As the creator of the one official GED test, GED Testing Service has a responsibility to ensure that the program continues to be a reliable and valuable pathway to a better life for the millions of adults without a high school diploma. GED Testing Service is a joint venture between the American Council on Education and Pearson.

About the GED Program
The goal of the GED program that launched in January, 2014 is to better prepare adult learners for today’s jobs and for entry into career and college training programs. The new GED test has two performance levels – one that is used to certify high school equivalency, and another optional level that indicates readiness for college-level coursework.

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