The Tyson Foods Foundation Inc. and the Tyson family announced Wednesday a $500,00 to eVersity, the University of Arkansas System's online university.
The program's initial degree offerings are health care management, information technology, criminal justice, business and general studies, according to the news release.
“We must have a way to reach the more than 300,000 Arkansans who have a year or two of college and had to drop out for one reason or another, but want to pursue a degree so they can improve their quality of life," John Tyson, chairman of the Tyson Foods board, said in the news release.
Tyson many such people work for Tyson, and a college degree would allow them to move from hourly production jobs into more lucrative supervisory and management positions.
“EVersity will be a blessing to these individuals and to the economy of Arkansas," Tyson said.