2U, Inc. Announces $390,000 in Scholarships and Apprenticeships for Students in WeWork's Access Labs Initiative

LANHAM, Md., March 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 2U, Inc., (NASDAQ:TWOU) a global leader in digital education, today announced an extension of its partnership with WeWork Companies ("WeWork") by launching 2U, Inc.'s "No Back Row" Future Devs Scholarship, as well as apprenticeships at 2U, for graduates of WeWork's Access Labs Initiative, powered by Flatiron School. The goal of the Access Labs Initiative is to make learning to code more accessible to low-income adults. Through this partnership, 2U will further its mission of eliminating the back row in education by offering scholarships to 20 Access Labs Initiative students, reducing their tuition payment by half. 2U will also offer 10 graduates of the program paid apprenticeships designed to open the door to future employment opportunities at the company.

Powered by the innovators and educators at WeWork and Flatiron School, the Access Labs Initiative is a new software engineering immersive program that allows students to pay their tuition after they graduate and are employed. The Access Labs Initiative curriculum provides students with the ability to learn, to think, and to build like software engineers – from mastering the programming fundamentals of HTML5 and CSS to creating productive and scalable front-ends and back-ends with full stack Ruby and JavaScript. The rigorous 15-week modular program expands access to coding education and increases opportunity in technology for low-income adults.

"A person's income should not limit their opportunity. That is why we are incredibly excited about our partnership with the Access Labs Initiative because it expands on our joint commitment to lifelong learning and will make this transformative educational experience more accessible and affordable to diverse and ambitious adults," 2U Chief Technology Officer James Kenigsberg said. "With these scholarships and apprenticeships, 2U is investing in the next generation of developers and technology leaders and growing the broader tech community."

"The Access Labs Initiative is designed to be a catapult of economic mobility," Flatiron School Dean Avi Flombaum said. "Together with 2U, we are dedicated to providing educational opportunity to more people."

2U will offer $150,000 in scholarships to students and $240,000 in apprenticeships to graduates of the Access Labs Initiative, for a total of $390,000. Combined, the scholarships and apprenticeships will aim to help increase diversity in technology, expand access to learning opportunities for driven individuals, and equip students with the skills they need to build a career in the technology industry.

In order to qualify for 2U's Future Devs Scholarshipto the Access Labs Initiative, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• have a high school degree, or the equivalent;
• earn a total annual income of $35,000 or less;
• be 21 years of age or older at the start of the program; and
• be legally authorized to work in the United States permanently at the time of admission to the program.

2U will select 10 graduates of the Access Labs Initiative for 15-week paid apprenticeships. These apprentices will work on the integration of Flatiron School's Learn.co technology for 2U's Learning Management System, among other things. At the culmination of their apprenticeship, apprentices will have the opportunity to apply for full-time positions at 2U.

Today's announcement is a natural extension of the future of work and learning partnership that 2U and WeWork established earlier this year. In January, the two companies announced a multi-year, global, exclusive partnership that included the licensing of Flatiron School's Learn.co technology to 2U. 2U is now integrating the Learn.co technology into its Learning Management System, which will enhance the learning experience of students and the instruction capabilities of faculty in 2U-powered programs at universities around the globe.

2U is growing and hiring more than 100 technology professionals, including engineers, product support team members, data scientists and more. The positions range from entry level to leadership. For more information about 2U's culture and open positions and to apply, visit 2U.com/careers.

About 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ: TWOU)
2U partners with great colleges and universities to build what we believe is the world's best digital education. Our platform provides a comprehensive fusion of technology, services, and data architecture to transform high-quality and rigorous campus-based universities into the best digital versions of themselves. 2U's No Back Row® approach allows qualified students and working professionals around the world to experience a first-rate university education and successful outcomes. To learn more, visit 2U.com.

About WeWork
WeWork provides more than 210,000 members around the world with space, community, and services through both physical and virtual offerings. WeWork's mission is to help create a world where people work to make a life, not just a living. Founded in New York City in 2010 by Adam Neumann and Miguel McKelvey, WeWork currently has more than 230 physical locations in over 71 cities and 21 countries around the world. Follow us @WeWork on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook or visit wework.com to learn more.

About Access Labs Initiative
Access Labs Initiative is a new 15-week immersive software engineering program powered by the innovators and educators at WeWork and Flatiron School located in Dumbo Heights, Brooklyn. The Access Labs Initiative has no upfront tuition — it's designed to be a catapult of economic mobility, creating opportunities for passionate and motivated students who otherwise couldn't afford to enroll. Visit AccessLabs.org to learn more and apply. 

Media Contacts
2U, Inc.
Molly Greenberg
[email protected]

WeWork
Nicole Sizemore
[email protected]

SOURCE 2U, Inc.

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