Starbucks College Achievement Plan FAQs from CAC Advisers
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Starbucks College Achievement Plan
FAQs from CAC Advisers
(Updated March 31, 2016)
* Note: Some language for this document was pulled from the SCAP FAQ document (written by
Starbucks) and the ASU Online website.
How long will it take for a student to obtain their bachelor’s degree through
SCAP? How many classes can they take as part of the SCAP benefit?
A student’s academic level at the beginning of their participation in the program
determines their maximum number of credits available for the Starbucks College
Achievement Plan Scholarship and Reimbursement Grant. A student’s academic level is
determined by the number of credits earned and accepted as transferred before the
time of admission to ASU (SCAP FAQ document, pg. 3).
While not required, it is recommended that scholars maintain at least a half-time course
load (15 credit hours and approximately 5 courses) every year that they take part in the
program in order to stay on track towards graduation. An enrollment counselor can
advise students on the time commitment they should expect to make for their course
load (SCAP FAQ document, pg. 12).
How does a student start the process of becoming eligible for the SCAP benefit?
To participate in the SCAP program, a student would first need to apply for and
receive a job at Starbucks. Starbucks partners may express their interest in taking
advantage of the SCAP benefit at any time, including immediately upon gaining
employment with the company. Once they indicate their interest in the program, they
will receive a call from an enrollment counselor (or they can reach out to one on their
own at 844-ASU-SBUX [278-7289]) who can help them in exploring degrees, applying
to ASU, and preparing to start classes.
Upon gaining employment, a student would need to be paid for 240 hours of work
over the course of three consecutive months in order to become benefits eligible.
Partners become eligible the first of the month following the month in which the hours
audit was run (SCAP FAQ document, pg. 6-7).
1Example: A Starbucks barista is paid for 240 hours of work (total) during the months of May, June, and July. An hours audit is completed on August 1st, for a benefit eligibility start date of September 1st (SCAP FAQ document, pg. 7). How many hours, at minimum, would a partner need to work in order to stay benefits eligible while participating in the SCAP program? To remain benefits eligible, Starbucks partners must work a minimum of 20 hours/week for a minimum of 520 paid hours in a six-month period (SCAP FAQ document, pg. 7). Is an online degree as valuable as a traditional degree? At ASU, the diploma and transcript a student earns online are identical to one they would earn on campus — in other words, they say “Arizona State University,” not “Arizona State University Online.” Courses are taught by the same award-winning faculty, but are re-designed especially for effective and rigorous online learning, with the traditional semester broken into two 7.5-week sessions so that students’ progress is assessed continuously (SCAP FAQ document, pg. 2). Are there other partner institutions that students could apply to other than ASU? No, the SCAP benefit can only be applied to coursework taken through ASU’s Online program. Will a student’s existing credits transfer to ASU? ASU will accept transfer credit for traditional course work a student has successfully completed at regionally accredited institutions of higher education as documented on an official transcript. The transferability of credit will be determined at the time of admissions once ASU has received a student’s official transcripts. Please keep in mind that the applicability of a specific transfer course toward an ASU degree program depends on the requirements of the department, division, college or school in which the student is enrolled at ASU. Students will work with an academic advisor to determine the applicability of their transferable credit once they are admitted to ASU. For detailed information about how credit transfers to ASU, please visit http:transfer.asu.edu/credits (SCAP FAQ document, pg. 10). Why might a student choose to participate in this program, rather than going to a community college or enlisting in the military? As with making the decision to choose any postsecondary college or career path, students might choose to participate in the SCAP program over other paths for a variety of reasons. One example of a student who might benefit from the SCAP 2
program would be a student who meets all of the criteria to attend a four-year university, yet due to obligations at home, may need to work during his/her time in college. Participating in the SCAP program would give the student the opportunity to earn money and gain work experience at Starbucks while receiving a tuition-free bachelor’s degree from ASU Online. Additionally, students might choose to participate in an online program because it gives them more flexibility in their course schedule and more control over their timeline for learning the content. As with any program, the reason for participating in this specific degree program will vary from student to student. Does a student have to complete their degree in a certain amount of time? While not required, it is recommended that scholars maintain at least a half-time course load (15 credit hours and approximately 5 courses) every year that they take part in this program in order to stay on track towards graduation. The scholar’s enrollment counselor can advise them on the time commitment they should expect to make for their course load (SCAP FAQ document, pg. 12). Can a student pursue multiple degrees, including advanced degrees, through the benefit? No, the Starbucks College Achievement Plan is designed to help partners complete their first bachelor’s degree (SCAP FAQ document, pg. 9). If a student has not taken the SAT or ACT, can they take it as a Starbucks partner to be eligible for SCAP? Yes! Additionally, please note that while students who do not meet all criteria for admission to the ASU Online program will be evaluated through a process called Individual Review, the submission of an ACT or SAT test score is highly recommended (https://students.asu.edu/freshman/requirements). What happens if a student has to stop working at Starbucks for some reason? Are they reimbursed through that semester? What are their options for continuing at ASU? Once a student leaves employment with Starbucks, he/she will no longer receive the Starbucks College Achievement Plan Scholarship and will no longer be eligible for receipt of a Reimbursement Grant for future semesters. He/she will not be required to reimburse ASU or Starbucks for any CAP Scholarship or Reimbursement Grant received prior to separation from employment. Students who leave Starbucks before graduating from ASU may continue with their coursework, however they will not be eligible for SCAP funding to assist with their tuition. 3
If a student is rehired at Starbucks and becomes eligible for the program once again, he/she will begin receiving the CAP Scholarship and become eligible to receive the Reimbursement Grant again, too. Any credits taken while not employed at Starbucks will not count toward a Reimbursement Grant and will not qualify for the CAP Scholarship. To receive a CAP Reimbursement Grant, a student must be employed at the time payment is made. Payments are processed within six weeks of the end of each semester (SCAP FAQ document, pg. 9). Do students have to start ASU as freshmen to be eligible for the SCAP benefit, or can they transfer from community college or after earning an associate’s degree? If a student chooses to start or complete an associate’s degree at another college, they may be able to transfer to ASU and participate in the SCAP program. An enrollment counselor will be able to talk to students and answer questions about the process for admission and possible credit transfer. Enrollment counselors can be reached at (844- 278-7289) (SCAP FAQ document, pg. 9). Do classes run year-round or are they on semester terms? If on terms, are summer sessions available? ASU Online offers six start times every year. There are two starts during the spring semester, two during fall and two during the summer. Check the academic calendar for specific dates: http://students.asu.edu/academic-calendar. Would students have to meet the minimum SAT/ACT test score requirements for acceptance into the program? The minimum ACT and SAT test scores for admission into ASU Online are as follows: ACT = 22 (24 nonresidents), and SAT Reasoning = 1040 (1110 nonresidents). Please note that students who do not meet these minimum scores will be evaluated through the university’s Individual Review process. Is there a four-year cap on tuition reimbursement? Is there a maximum number of courses that can be taken? There is not a four-year cap on tuition reimbursement. However, a student’s academic level at the beginning of his/her participation in the program determines his/her maximum number of credits available for the CAP Scholarship and CAP Reimbursement Grant. A student’s academic level is determined by the number of credits earned and accepted as transferred before the time of admission to ASU (SCAP FAQ document, page. 12). 4
Are scholarships available to SCAP program scholars? ASU features scholarships on their website, for which scholars may apply. For a list of these scholarships, please visit: https://scholarships.asu.edu. Additionally, students participating in the program may also apply for outside scholarships as they would if they were participating in an on-campus program. SCAP scholars are encouraged to consult with their Financial Aid Counselor to assist with finding ways to cover out-of- pocket finances. How long does it take to complete the program? The length of time it takes to obtain a bachelor’s degree from ASU Online may vary from scholar to scholar. Each scholar’s timeline may look a little different based on his/her work schedule, major, and the number of credit hours taken each semester. Although not required, scholars are encouraged to maintain a least a half-time course load each year (15 credit hours/approximately 5 courses) to stay on track towards graduation. Scholars should consult with their Enrollment Counselor for more advice on their course load (SCAP FAQ document, pg. 12). How can students still have “the college experience” while participating in an online program? It is understood that part of the “college experience” includes having the ability to interact with other students. ASU’s faculty and course instructors use a variety of methods to share materials, monitor student progress throughout the course, and facilitate student interaction (https://asuonline.asu.edu/faq-category/online-student- experience). Additionally, Starbucks has created an online tool for SCAP scholars to use to find and interact with each other. Activities like study abroad might be difficult for SCAP scholars to participate in, given the need to maintain their store hours in order to remain benefits eligible and receive the CAP scholarship. However, these opportunities are available to ASU Online students. Scholars should consult with their Success Coach and Academic Advisor for support in making sure they are making the most of their college experience. Can students reapply to ASU Online if they are not accepted the first time? Yes! Additionally, students should consult with an Enrollment Counselor for more information on how to become a stronger applicant for admission into the program. 5
Is there an example of a payment plan for ASU Online to assist with explaining program finances to students? Yes! We have created an out-of-pocket cost estimate sheet to assist with explaining program finances to students. It has been added to the SCAP Toolkit on the Adviser Resources page of the College Advising Corps website. Additionally, students are encouraged to consult with a Financial Aid Counselor for additional assistance. If a student applies to and is accepted by ASU Online as part of the SCAP program, but does not do well academically, what happens? Are they removed from the program and if so, can they re-apply at a later point? Scholars who would like to switch majors or who have failed/need to withdraw from a course will be reimbursed for eligible expenses including the cost of the classes they failed and/or from which they withdrew. However, it is important to remember that these courses will still count toward the maximum number of credits for which each student can be reimbursed – this number is based upon a scholar’s academic level at the time of his/her admission to the ASU Online program. Do students still receive a wage/income from Starbucks? Yes! As with any other employee, SCAP scholars still receive a paycheck for the hours they work at Starbucks while participating in the program. Is this program only for US citizens? Students must complete a FAFSA in order to participate in the SCAP program. Students who have questions about their citizenship or immigration status and how it relates to Federal Student Aid and SCAP should contact the ASU Financial Aid and Scholarship Services office through the Service tab on MyASU at https://my.asu.edu/service or by sending an email to CAP@asu.edu. Students may also contact 1-844-278-6693 for assistance (SCAP FAQ document, pg. 8). Is there an age requirement to participate in the program? No. A scholar must only meet the benefits eligibility criteria and be accepted into ASU Online in order to participate in the program. There is no age requirement. Are there additional resources if a student is struggling with their schoolwork? As with a traditional degree program, students are encouraged to engage with their professors and classmates and actively participate in their courses. This includes contacting professors or faculty members whenever they have questions about coursework. Scholars are also encouraged to collaborate with their classmates and other SCAP scholars for support through online community tools (such as the SCAP 6
scholar hub, made available by Starbucks). Additionally, scholars should contact their Academic Advisor and Success Coach for assistance in creating a plan to successfully complete their coursework. Will Starbucks work with students to schedule their hours around their new school schedule and online classes? SCAP scholars are encouraged to communicate their participation in the SCAP program to their managers, keeping in mind that they still have to work an average of 20 hours per week in order to remain benefits eligible. Scholars are also encouraged to contact their Success Coach and Academic Advisor for support while taking classes and working at Starbucks. What is the value of an online degree from ASU? Will it lead to gainful employment? How much will students really benefit/learn? ASU Online students earn an identical diploma and transcript to students participating in an on-campus program. Diplomas and transcripts from ASU Online simply say “Arizona State University.” Courses are taught by the same award-winning faculty, but are re-designed especially for effective and rigorous online learning, with the traditional semester broken into two 7.5 week sessions so that students’ progress is assessed continuously (SCAP FAQ document, pg. 2). According to their website, more than 250 leading employers actively recruit ASU graduates. For more information about why a student might choose to attend ASU Online, please visit: https://asuonline.asu.edu/become-student/why-choose-asu. How hard is it to be successful in online classes? Is it challenging to balance online classes and work? ASU has developed their program in a way that optimizes student success (https://asuonline.asu.edu/why-choose-asu/course-experience). Courses are designed using “state-of-the-art technology and tools,” providing students with a direct connection to the knowledge and expertise of faculty. Balancing online classes and work can be challenging. For a 7.5 week session, a student should be prepared to spend 6 hours per week on coursework for every 1 course credit (https://asuonline.asu.edu/how-it-works/learning-online-at-asu). SCAP scholars are encouraged to seek support from their Success Coach and Academic Advisor as well as well as from fellow SCAP scholars. 7
Do SCAP scholars have to live in Arizona? Can they walk at ASU’s on-campus graduation if they want to attend? Students do not have to live in Arizona to participate in the SCAP program. Scholars are welcome and are encouraged to attend and walk as part of the on-campus graduation ceremonies at ASU. How does the online program actually work? Do students communicate with their teacher via webcam? Do they complete essays, projects, etc.? Professors teaching as part of the ASU Online program use Blackboard as a home base for students. Here, they post course syllabi, coursework and assignments, as well as messages for students. Courses are delivered using media tools like Zaption, where professors can create engaging and interactive video activities by adding text, images, quizzes and discussions to existing video content. Students interact with each other via message boards on Blackboard and collaborate with each other using tools such as Google Drive and Google’s Apps for Education. For more information on the ASU online course experience, visit https://asuonline.asu.edu/why-choose-asu/course- experience. After a student’s tuition is paid in full (after any federal aid has been applied), is there any money left for students to receive a refund check? The amount of money remaining from financial aid after tuition has been covered varies from student to student. Scholars are encouraged to apply any remaining funds toward out-of-pocket costs for their program (such as books) and toward the next semester’s tuition. Will scholars have to take out loans during their first semester of the program since they do not receive reimbursement until after the first semester is complete? Whether or not a scholar will have to take out a loan to finance their initial semester’s tuition will depend on the level and type of aid they receive after submitting the FAFSA. As with students attending a traditional on-campus program, the amount and type of aid a student receives will vary from student to student. 8
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