UNITED STATES – A young man & Starbucks Shift Supervisor named Evans Kaddu will be among the more than 1,000 college graduates to walk the stage next week in AZ on December 11th – with a degree through Arizona State University made possible through Starbucks College Achievement Plan (SCAP).
Evans will graduate Summa Cum Laude from the school of politics and global studies and is one of 12,000 Starbucks partners to date who have earned a bachelor’s degree through SCAP.
Evans Kaddu shares its journey in Arizona State University thanks to Starbucks College Achievement Plan
Coffee is at the root of Evans K.’s family. His grandparents had a coffee farm in Uganda that supported their family. And after father grew up, he went to work for a cooperative bank that served coffee farmers. So, after Evans immigrated to the United States five years ago, the idea of working at Starbucks and returning to coffee seemed like a natural fit for him.
“(When I applied) I had never been inside a Starbucks store or even had a Starbucks drink but I had heard a lot of good things about the company and how it takes care of its employees,” said Evans, who mostly drank black coffee until that point. “I was pleasantly surprised when my hiring manager at the time gave me the job even though I didn’t know what a cappuccino was.”
Soon, he learned about the SCAP program, which would offer him a chance to go to school and finish the bachelor’s degree he had started before he left Uganda.
“It took me a while to actually get back to school but what made me stay with the company regardless was the warmth of the people,” he said. “From the partners to the customers, everyone was so friendly and supportive, and it was nothing like I had experienced.”
Evans graduated this summer with a bachelor’s degree in political science. This fall, he did a fellowship with The Starbucks Foundation where he was able to learn about how Starbucks relationship with coffee farmers in different countries.
“Farmers contributed to getting me to where I am today – and coffee – so I wanted to see how we help them around the world,” he said.
This summer, he also completed an internship in Washington D.C. with an organization that helps resettle refugees. “I offered them emotional support and encouraged them to lift themselves up,” he said. “I have been there and I am trying to give back. … You can get back on your feet and achieve your goals.”
Evans knows that we all need each other in this life. He was touched by his partners recently when he learned he’d been awarded two scholarships from Arizona State University that would help him continue on with an advanced degree – but couldn’t afford a plane ticket to go to the ceremony. His partners came together and bought him one.
“They made me feel so proud to be their partner and I am forever grateful to them,” he said. He’s now earning a master’s degree in international affairs and leadership and dreams of perhaps returning to Uganda to help others there.
“My future goals are to use my degree gained through the SCAP program to impact communities both here and abroad,” he said. “I am an immigrant and through my scholar work I am serving my community by supporting newly arrived refugees in the area. I am looking forward to telling these truly inspiring and wonderful impact stories back in my store, my community and wherever I go.”
By 2025, the company total expected investment in thier partners educational journey will be approximately $250 million. Unlike many other companies, the SCAP program provides 100% upfront tuition coverage with no yearly limit, over 140-degree programs, and partners can apply for SCAP on day one with no strings attached after graduation.
About the Starbucks College Achievement Plan
The numbers
• Total Current Program Participants: 25,000+
• Total Graduates To-Date (with Dec grads): 12,000+
• Estimated Graduating in Dec ‘23: more than 1,000
• Total Admitted through Pathway to Admission: 3,000+
• Total graduated who started in Pathway to Admission: 250+
• Degrees offered: 140+
• We have partners in all 140+ online degree programs offered by ASU
• People who apply to Starbucks say that SCAP is a driving reason: nearly 20%
• Starbucks stores in the U.S. that have at least one partner in the program: nearly 90%
• Percentage of first-generation college students in SCAP: over 20%
• Believe SCAP had a positive impact on their future: nearly 90%
• Overall Goal: 25,000 graduates by 2025
98% of SCAP scholars are in retail and outperform the norm: retaining at 50% longer and being promoted at nearly 3x the rate of Starbucks US partners
*Figures updated November 2023
Key Messages
• The Starbucks College Achievement Plan is a first of its kind partnership with Arizona State University (ASU) that creates an opportunity for all eligible U.S. partners (employees) to earn their first-time bachelor’s degree through ASU’s top-ranked online degree program.
• The opportunity to nurture and inspire the human spirit is what the iconic green apron represents. And Starbucks wants to create an opportunity for partners to reach the goal of becoming college graduates, and remove the hurdle of rising tuition costs that often blocks their path.
• By giving their partners access to a full, four-year college education, the company provides them a critical tool for lifelong opportunity.
• The company knows that their SCAP partners are more likely to stay and advance within Starbucks, but they also have the freedom to pursue whatever other dreams they may have.
• When thier partners are satisfied and engaged, the result is deeper customer connections and an elevated Starbucks Experience for everyone.
Starbucks College Achievement Plan (SCAP): A Primer Origin & Overview
• In 2012, Starbucks began looking at how we could continue to invest in our partners and give them access to the support and benefits they need the most.
• Starbucks heard from partners that they wanted to finish college but couldn’t because of the financial challenges that were standing in their way.
• Introduced in June 2014, the Starbucks College Achievement Plan is a first of its kind partnership with Arizona State University (ASU) that creates an opportunity for all eligible
U.S. partners to earn their first-time bachelor’s degree with 100% tuition coverage all four years.
• In 2015, Starbucks added an additional benefit to the program, with an expansion that allowed partners who are serving or have served in the U.S. military to designate an additional family member to receive the benefits of the Starbucks College Achievement Plan.
• In 2017, Starbucks and ASU introduced another industry-leading expansion of SCAP called “Pathway to Admission,” which gives partners (employees) who are academically inadmissible to ASU the ability to work toward admission, with credit conversion costs fully covered.
• In 2021, to further optimize the partner experience of enrolling in SCAP, Starbucks enhanced the 100% tuition reimbursement benefit to cover all tuition and fees upfront.
• Starbucks and ASU are removing the barriers to higher education and helping create opportunities for partners to pursue their goal of becoming college graduates.
Eligibility
• All U.S. based, eligible partners, regardless of role, who do not yet have a bachelor’s degree are eligible.
How SCAP Works
• The first step is for the partner to apply to ASU on starbucks.asu.edu.
• The partner then submits a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• As the partner registers for classes, they also meet with an Academic Advisor, provided as part of the program, who helps them make a long-term academic plan to carry them all the way to graduation.
• Upon acceptance, ASU applies a College Achievement Plan (CAP) Scholarship worth 42 percent of tuition costs at the beginning of the semester toward enrolled classes for eligible partners. After the CAP Scholarship and any need-based grants are applied, the remaining tuition and fees are covered by the Starbucks Tuition Benefit applied directly to the ASU account.
• Tuition and fees are covered upfront before the start of each semester.
Why SCAP is Different
• High-quality education: ASU is the largest public research university in the U.S. and invested early and deeply in online education. Online courses are taught by the same award-winning faculty as on-campus degree programs, and students are awarded identical diplomas.
• Wide, unrestricted choice of majors: The benefit is not restricted to a specific set of business- related higher education programs unlike tuition programs offered by other retailers. We recognize our partners have diverse interests and want to make sure they can access a variety of degrees.
• No commitment after graduation: We know that our SCAP partners are more likely to stay and advance within Starbucks, but they also have the freedom to pursue whatever other dreams they may have. There is no obligation to stay at Starbucks after graduation.
• Excellent student services to help navigate college: A personal enrollment coach along with academic and financial aid counselors will help partners navigate the entire process of applying, choosing the right major, applying for financial aid and selecting the right classes to meet their academic goals.
• Specialized career support: Dedicated SCAP career advisor, unique programming and tailored communications to enable long term career impact and goal achievement.
• Tuition paid upfront: Tuition and fees are covered upfront for partners, removing the barrier of waiting for a reimbursement.
• ASU 10: An orientation class specially designed for SCAP scholars to help them anticipate and navigate challenges as they earn their degrees.
About SCAP Fellowship
The SCAP Fellowship program exists to scale scholar career building experiences to enable clear progress on their chosen career path, whether at Starbucks or elsewhere, and, to foster a “one-team” mentality between retail and support partners.
This semester long, virtual development program occurs twice a year, aligning to ASU’s fall and spring semesters. It was built upon a smaller sustainability focused fellowship program that ran for 4 years from 2017 – 2020.
In Fall 2021, we expanded the program to include other teams across Starbucks such as Partner Resources (HR), Communications, Global Social Impact, Global Coffee, Enterprise Transformation Office, Store Development and Sustainability. Across Fall 2021 and Spring 2022, we’ve hosted nearly 30 SCAP scholars who have applied their academic learnings on real world projects, gaining corporate skills, personal growth, mentorship and a broader professional network. The fellowship is paid and while primarily virtual, concludes with an onsite experience in Seattle.
About ASU and Starbucks partnership
The Starbucks-ASU partnership is founded on a shared commitment to access, excellence and social impact in line with our mission and values and ASU’s respective university charter. Within these core principles is the belief that we have the power to uplift the communities we serve and forge a better future though education and inclusion. Our collaboration exemplifies the life-changing outcomes that are possible when two innovative and socially engaged institutions come together to make a difference.
About Starbucks Global Academy
Launched in 2017, Starbucks Global Academy is a globally accessible platform created in partnership with Arizona State University for Starbucks partners (employees), customers, ASU community members, and other learners around the world that delivers world-class learning content and eliminates barriers to high quality education. Using SGA, learners can advance their personal and professional goals by choosing from a library of over 60 curated courses including Greener Apron, Starbucks Coffee Academy, and To Be Welcoming.
About Starbucks Technology Center (STC)
In August 2017, Starbucks expanded its internship program to offer technology opportunities collocated in Seattle and in Phoenix at ASU SkySong. The Phoenix office partners with ASU to create opportunities for students through internships and early-in-career full time roles. With ASU’s scale and depth and breadth of knowledge, the collaboration potential is limitless.
About ASU-Starbucks Center for the future of people and the planet
In April 2021, Starbucks and ASU announced the newly formed ASU-Starbucks Center for the Future of People and the Planet. The Center will advance Starbucks transformative agenda by leveraging ASU’s applied research, networks, expert faculty, and innovation through our shared aspirational commitment to the betterment of people, the planet and our global communities.
About ASU Online
ASU Online supports the university’s charter to make an accessible, quality education available to all.
Through ASU Online, students from anywhere in the world can choose from more than 140 online undergraduate programs and drive their life forward. As an online student, you’ll learn from the same world-class faculty and earn the same degree as on-campus students. You’ll also have an educational experience like no other with custom-created learning materials, state-of-the-art technology, and personalized support services to empower you to succeed.
