More seamless plan aimed at strengthening workforce with flexibility and affordability

Advancing one’s career can be a challenge as time, flexibility, and cost are all formidable barriers. 

Now, there’s an easier and more affordable option for Mass General Brigham employees who want to advance their education and expand their careers. 

The MGH Institute of Health Professions (IHP) is now offering a Tuition Reduction and Incentive Plan that slices 40% off the tuition for dozens of courses and programs - including the 12-month Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program – for any MGB employee. 

The Tuition Reduction and Incentive Plan (TRIP) comes after a multi-month collaboration between leaders in the IHP and at Mass General Brigham on the best way to develop – and retain – its workforce. This work also involved talking with MGB employees who are former, current, and prospective students to better understand their interests, needs, challenges, and career goals.  

The result? A seamless approach to help employees take a trip up the career ladder while balancing their work, education, and other commitments. 

“The ongoing success of our health system depends on creating, sustaining, and retaining our world class workforce,” said Reamer Bushardt, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the MGH Institute. “Building flexible, affordable, and effective educational pathways and training opportunities that lead to career advancement and professional growth for our people is essential to that success. The IHP, as the only degree-granting member of MGB, is deeply committed to partnering with the health system to make this happen.”

Among the highlights of the incentive plan: 

  • 40% off tuition for all MGB employees (e.g., full-time, part-time, and Bullfinch temporary employees)
  • $500 deposit waived
  • Tuition bill due 30 days after class ends (to maximize access to tuition remission benefits and minimize out-of-pocket expenses)
    • In FY ’24, MGB providing tuition assistance of
      • Up to $5,250 annually for full-time employees
      • Up to $2,625 annually for part-time employees
  • Dedicated admissions advisors to answer questions and help with the application process

“We're hoping all of this together really makes it possible and affordable for more Mass General Brigham employees to enter a higher-paying career with a graduate degree or gain the leadership skills to move up and keep evolving in their career,” said MGH Institute President Paula Milone-Nuzzo.  “By including all full, part-time and temporary MGB employees, we’re extending the opportunity which is a great way for the IHP to serve the health system and help it respond to shortages.” 

Workforce development leaders within MGB say the TRIP is both an incentive and retention tool. 

“This is a way to show our employees that we listen to you, we care about your career development, and we care about your trajectory within the system,” said Dena Lerra, Senior Workforce Development Manager for Mass General Brigham. “Employees want flexible, online, synchronous, or asynchronous education, and it needs to be attainable for busy, working adults. That's how the IHP is becoming more adaptable and flexible, answering the needs not just of the employees seeking higher education, but also of their managers. We want employees to challenge themselves and remain in the MGB community.”

The tuition reduction and incentive plan currently covers 15 IHP programs and more than two dozen pre-requisite courses. Adding the 12-month ABSN program is another way of injecting the workforce with nurses and answering market needs. 

“The profound need for nurses across MGB members and affiliates continues, so by including the ABSN program in TRIP, we hope we can make a nursing career more attractive and affordable to current MGB employees,” said Bushardt. “The ABSN provides an accelerated path to a great career and our ABSN graduates have a track record of success working in the system, including units caring for medically complex and critically ill individuals.” 

The TRIP also offers 20% off tuition for MGH Institute alumni and employees of other institutions that support clinical and experiential training for IHP students. Whether entry level, mid-career or a senior administrator, there’s an affordable and flexible educational opportunity for everyone. 

“We value our collaboration with the IHP,” said Lerra. “Not only is the education here now more attainable, but it is helping the MGB system improve its workforce. It’s creating career advancement opportunities without having to leave the system. It’s helping create a stronger workforce.”

An informational webinar will be held on Tuesday, August 29th at 12PM. To register, click here. 

Do you have a story the Office of Strategic Communications should know about? If so, email us at ihposc [at] mghihp.edu (ihposc[at]mghihp[dot]edu)