Ashford University Forms Alliance Agreement with Farmers Insurance Group

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ashford University has announced an alliance agreement with Farmers Insurance Group. The agreement will provide Farmers Insurance employees with an opportunity to advance their educations at Ashford University.

Farmers Insurance Group is the country's third-largest auto and home insurer, boasting more than 20,000 employees. The new agreement will make Ashford University degrees more affordable for Farmers Insurance employees by offering fee waivers for costs associated with attending the university.

"Farmers Insurance recognizes the importance of ongoing employee development," said Steve Mudler, director University of Farmers – employee development. "In fact, Life-Long Learning is one of our organization's 14 Key Leadership Competencies. Last year, Farmers had more than 1,600 employees seeking bachelor's or master's degrees and participating in other supported learning programs."

"We are excited to add Ashford to the institutions of higher learning with whom we partner," added Mudler. "Beginning in 2011, Farmers employees who attend Ashford will receive a tuition discount along with college credit for selected Farmers learning programs. Ashford is a recognized and respected institution with whom the University of Farmers is proud to partner."

More information about Ashford's alliance agreement with Farmers Insurance Group can be found at success.ashford.edu/farmers, or by calling 800.237.0409.

About Ashford University

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahlc.org). The University offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs online and at its Clinton, Iowa, campus. The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable online and on-campus programs. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu or call Shari Rodriguez, associate vice president of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.

About Farmers Insurance

Farmers Insurance Group of Companies is the country's third largest insurer of both personal lines passenger automobile and homeowners insurance, while also providing a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. Farmers Insurance is proud to serve more than ten million households with more than 20 million individual policies across all 50 states through the efforts of over 50,000 exclusive and independent agents and nearly 24,000 employees.

Farmers is a trade name and may refer to Farmers Group, Inc. or the Farmers Exchanges, as the case may be. Farmers Group, Inc., a management and holding company, along with its subsidiaries, is wholly owned by the Zurich Financial Services Group. The Farmers Exchanges are three reciprocal insurers (Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Truck Insurance Exchange), including their subsidiaries and affiliates, owned by their policyholders, and managed by Farmers Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information about Farmers, visit its website at www.farmers.com or at www.facebook.com/FarmersInsurance.

Contact: Shari Rodriguez, Associate Vice President of Public Relations
858.513.9240 x2513 - shari.rodriguez@ashford.edu

SOURCE Ashford University