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Papa Johns' Dough & Degrees program offers employees free schooling

Papa Johns offers its employees free education through its Dough & Degrees program. Employees can earn an associate's, bachelor's or master's degree for free.

Photo: Adobe Stock

June 13, 2024 by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Papa Johns offers a unique benefit program called Dough & Degrees that helps employees pursue higher education at no cost. Aimed at reducing student loan debt, Dough & Degrees covers tuition, books and fees for associate's, bachelor's, and even master's degrees.

Eligible employees who work at least 10 hours per week and have been with Papa Johns for 60 days can choose from a variety of online programs offered through partner universities. This benefit extends to corporate team members as well as those working in franchised stores.

Papa Johns sees Dough & Degrees as an investment in its employees' futures, allowing them to gain new skills and potentially advance their careers. The program also fosters a positive work environment by demonstrating the company's commitment to its team members' well-being. With rising college costs, Dough & Degrees offers an attractive perk for those seeking to further their education without the financial burden.

Pizza Marketplace talked to Papa Johns' Chief People and Diversity Officer Elias Reyna by e-mail to learn more about the Dough & Degrees program and how it benefits both the company and its employees.

Q: What is the Dough & Degrees program, and why was it launched?

A: Launched in 2019, Dough & Degrees is a signature Papa Johns program that enables team members – from frontline restaurant team members working as few as 10 hours per week to full-time corporate hub team members – to achieve their educational goals while advancing their careers. Delivering on Papa Johns "People First" value, Dough & Degrees invests in team members so they can continue to further their education, debt-free.

As of today, more than 80% of Dough & Degrees students are working in-store in Papa Johns restaurants, and more than 60 Papa Johns team members have earned associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees at no cost to them.

Through Dough & Degrees, Papa Johns is investing in team members for the long-term by laying the foundation for them to build fulfilling careers and pursue opportunities that may have otherwise been out of reach.

Q: Beyond financial investment, how does Papa Johns support Dough & Degrees participants throughout their educational journey?

A: Dedicated academic advisors and coaches help Dough & Degrees students review their education interests and goals. Papa Johns also offers professional development plans, internships and co-ops, leadership workshops and an extensive catalog of e-Learning courses.

Q: Are there any plans to expand the Dough & Degrees program to include additional educational opportunities or career paths?

A: New education offerings added to Dough & Degrees in the past two years include:

Career online high school: Team members who left high school prior to graduating can earn their high school diploma, opening up new career prospects and equipping them to take the next step in their education journey.
English as a Second Language (ESL): To further build a more inclusive workplace where team members from diverse backgrounds and experiences feel welcomed and valued, Papa Johns is offering free courses designed for team members who are non-native English speakers.
New professional certificate programs: Team members now have access to more than 25 professional certificate programs to build expertise in their chosen field.
Extensive catalog of continuing professional education (CPE) Courses: Nearly 200 professional development courses will empower team members to build proficiency in a wide range of subjects, including marketing, data science, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), leadership, diversity & inclusion, technology, project leadership, human resources, business and finance. Many of these courses will count as CPE credit for various professional organizations.

We're always looking for ways to enhance Dough & Degrees so that it provides the support and resources team members need to reach their educational goals.

Q: How does Papa Johns measure the "positive impact" Dough & Degrees has on company culture, as reported by 75% of participants?

A: Papa Johns measures the positive impact the program has had on its employees through participant surveys and positive feedback, such as:

"It allows for team members who have the experience to also obtain the degree, as well giving them a boost in knowledge and their career a sense of belonging."
"It's an excellent benefit that can create incentive to stay with the company for a long time. It shows that Papa Johns is trying harder to provide value to its employees besides the regular benefits."
"I believe it's impacted the culture at Papa Johns by showing that its associates are well cared for and that the company values furthering education and continuous improvement within its workforce."
"I think Dough & Degrees has impacted our culture by giving individuals like me the opportunity to further their careers, even though I have my undergrad it is not in my related career path. With Dough & Degrees I was able to go back to further my knowledge in my actual career path. I think it lets individuals know that no matter what you want to do/be, Papa Johns stands behind you and offers that support."

Q: Beyond the 4x retention rate for participants, are there any other metrics that demonstrate how Dough & Degrees contributes to Papa Johns' business performance?

A: To-date, 600 team members have taken advantage of Dough & Degrees benefits and 110 have earned a college degree, high school diploma or continuing professional education certificate. Further, 78% of Dough & Degree graduates remain employed with Papa Johns, developing their careers and moving into upskilled roles which contribute to the overall success of the business – shedding light on why participants tend to stay at the company 4x longer.

Q: Have there been any challenges in implementing the Dough & Degrees program across various Papa Johns markets? How were they addressed?

A: A centralized online enrollment portal has made it easy for team members to access information about the program and begin exploring options to further their education. We also have ensured that all leaders, including restaurant managers, have the information they need to effectively recruit team members to become Dough & Degrees students

Q: Are there other companies in the fast-food industry offering similar educational benefits programs? If so, how does Dough & Degrees compare?

A: While there are other fast-food companies that offer educational benefits programs, we're proud of the unique accessibility of Dough & Degrees. Benefits are available for any team member that averages ten or more hours per week and has been employed for at least two months at any Papa Johns owned restaurant, Quality Control Center or corporate campus.

Q: Looking ahead, what are Papa Johns' hopes for the long-term impact of the Dough & Degrees program?

A: We're excited to continue helping team members manage the rising cost of college tuition and, overall, investing in our people – and we're already starting to see the positive impact. Since the program's inception, Papa Johns has:

Invested more than $4.3 million dollars into the program and, in turn, team members.
Promoted 1 in 4 participants (29%) team members who participated in Dough & Degrees, demonstrating positive impact for career advancement.
Witnessed higher retention and lengthier tenure among participating team members.

Looking ahead, we only hope to grow these numbers as the program expands.

About Mandy Wolf Detwiler

Mandy Wolf Detwiler is the managing editor at Networld Media Group and the site editor for PizzaMarketplace.com and QSRweb.com. She has more than 20 years’ experience covering food, people and places.

An award-winning print journalist, Mandy brings more than 20 years’ experience to Networld Media Group. She has spent nearly two decades covering the pizza industry, from independent pizzerias to multi-unit chains and every size business in between. Mandy has been featured on the Food Network and has won numerous awards for her coverage of the restaurant industry. She has an insatiable appetite for learning, and can tell you where to find the best slices in the country after spending 15 years traveling and eating pizza for a living.

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