The City of Selma has officially signed an agreement with Grand Canyon University (GCU) that will allow more access to higher education for city employees, their families and local residents. The part

The City of Selma has officially signed an agreement with Grand Canyon University (GCU) that will allow more access to higher education for city employees, their families and local residents. The partnership is part of an effort by the city to keep workers in Selma and build a skilled workforce to attract new business and industry to the area. “When you’re recruiting business and industry, they look at workforce,” Mayor Johnny Moss III said. “Anytime you can pour into your employees and to your citizens to enhance their skill level, it’s just a win-win for everybody.” Under the terms of the initiative, the tuition discount is remarkably broad. It covers all city employees, their spouses, and their children. The discount is also available to any resident of Selma, as well as people who live outside city limits but are employed by businesses in Selma. The partnership grew out of an existing relationship between the GCU and Selma City Schools. Moss, who previously served as the school board president, said he witnessed local teachers successfully use the university’s programs to earn master’s and doctoral degrees. After connecting with GCU representatives at a Teacher of the Year event in January, Moss and other local officials began discussing a citywide expansion. Selma ambassadors later took an all-expenses-paid trip in February to view the university’s campus, to review the curriculum and structure of the programs. In addition to degree programs, the university will provide the city with professional development resources and economic sponsorships to assist with employee retention. GCU currently enrolls more than 100,000 students online across more than 200 degree programs. University Development Manager Diva Hall said the institution has a history of partnering with cities to provide equitable educational access, a strategy the university initially used to help develop inner-city Phoenix. “It’s really an exciting opportunity to work with the mayor on his education initiative and workforce development here,” Hall said. “We wanted to provide another layer of resources for the entire city because we have been working with Selma for quite some time now.” Local enrollment and the distribution of scholarship forms will be overseen by Dr. Sheree Booker, a GCU university development counselor who services the local region. To qualify for the reduced tuition rates, students must have their local residency or employment status verified through the university.