MMC to partner with nation's largest Pizza Hut franchisee to offer online business degree

PULASKI, Tenn., Nov. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Martin Methodist College will embark on one of the most exciting new educational ventures in its 145-year history when it partners with a national corporation to offer online business degrees to its employees.

NPC International, the largest Pizza Hut franchisee in the world with 1,282 restaurants in 29 states, as well as another 400 Wendy's restaurants, will offer incentives for its employees to pursue a college degree through Martin Methodist's e-learning program. NPC, the ninth largest restaurant operation in the U.S. with some 29,000 employees, will be pointing its employees toward Martin Methodist College if they wish to begin or complete their college education as part of their career advancement.

Any NPC employee who wishes to pursue a baccalaureate degree through MMC's Johnson School of Business's online program, will be able to use education gained through NPC's management development program as work-life credits, which can accelerate the normal four-year degree completion.

"The overall outcome helps our employees grow within the company to provide internal leadership opportunities," said Troy Baxter, human resources director for NPC's east territory. "But it also will provide each of them growth on a personal basis. We like to be able to give them that opportunity."

Through this partnership, said Dr. Ted Brown, president of Martin Methodist, the college embarks on a new educational venture, but he looks forward to infusing the online option with the kind of personal, nurturing element that has been the hallmark of the Martin Methodist experience since its founding in 1870.

"We are enormously excited to begin this ground-breaking relationship with NPC International," Brown said. "We look forward to providing the employees of NPC a unique online experience, one that continues to deliver on the Martin Methodist commitment of offering an education that's personal."

Baxter said NPC examined a number of college options before settling on Martin Methodist College.

"If we were going to partner with somebody, we were going to do our homework," Baxter said. "The work-life credit element was a plus, and the overall cost of the program was very affordable when compared to other online degree programs. Martin Methodist's cost is very competitive."

The actual enrollment opportunity for NPC International employees will start in January 2015, but the company will immediately begin including it as an employee benefit.

"Just being able to mention it during our onboarding process with new employees will be a plus," he said. "I know there's a desire for people to want to better themselves."

Martin Methodist College, founded in 1870, is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church with a student enrollment of 1,140 students. Martin Methodist offers baccalaureate degrees in 39 programs of study, ranging from English, religious studies, music and dramatic arts, mathematics and natural sciences to business, social sciences, education, criminal justice and nursing. A new Master of Business Administration degree program begins in January of 2015.

For more information, contact:
Grant Vosburgh, director of communications
Martin Methodist College
[email protected] 
931-363-9815 (office) / 931-638-6159 (cell)

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SOURCE Martin Methodist College