BVU, CURRIES Forge Strategic Partnership
Through a collaboration with Buena Vista University, CURRIES offers additional opportunities and educational benefits to its employees and their eligible family members.
Buena Vista University (BVU) and CURRIES have entered a Strategic Partnership that provides new opportunities to strengthen their communities and the people they serve.
This partnership allows for employees of CURRIES, as well as eligible family members of full-time employees, to receive grant funding to lower the overall cost of education while enrolled in classes at BVU’s Storm Lake campus. Partner grant funding also lowers the cost per credit hour for students enrolled in BVU’s convenient online undergraduate programs or the organizational leadership graduate program.
“This collaboration between CURRIES and Buena Vista University gives our employees and their family members an opportunity to get an education or continue their education at a better cost, especially if it is utilized in tandem with our tuition reimbursement program,” says CURRIES Senior Human Resource Generalist Erika Elbert. “Our employees can excel in their careers by finishing their degree or taking additional courses to further their skills. Being able to use this additional educational resource in addition to what we already offer will be helpful to them.”
“Utilizing night classes offered through our community college, I successfully completed my degree while maintaining employment, thanks to BVU’s facilitation of a harmonious balance between work and education. I am now thriving in the profession I studied at BVU and am genuinely content in my current role."
CURRIES Senior Human Resource Generalist Amy Schmitt, ’07
CURRIES, headquartered in Mason City, manufactures top-quality steel hollow metal doors and frames. The business was founded in the late 1800s as a hardware business. CURRIES began manufacturing steel door frames in the 1950s, and the production of custom and standard doors and frames for commercial vendors such as hospitals, prisons, and school districts became the company’s sole focus in the late 1970s. From its modest, family-owned beginnings, CURRIES has grown to employ about 700 individuals from 50 Iowa communities, and has products featured at the Mason City Community School District, U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
“I selected Buena Vista University due to its accreditation and its suitability for non-traditional students seeking a four-year degree,” says CURRIES Senior Human Resource Generalist Amy Schmitt, ’07. “Utilizing night classes offered through our community college, I successfully completed my degree while maintaining employment, thanks to BVU’s facilitation of a harmonious balance between work and education. I am now thriving in the profession I studied at BVU and am genuinely content in my current role. Without hesitation, I would highly recommend BVU to anyone seeking an enriching educational experience.”
BVU has long enjoyed strong educational ties in and around Mason City, home to North Iowa Area Community College, a campus that has collaborated with BVU for decades. Students enrolled in a program through NIACC can seamlessly transfer their credits toward their bachelor’s degree at BVU. Students receive personalized support including admissions and enrollment counseling and academic advising right in Mason City through BVU’s office on the NIACC campus.
“Buena Vista University is eager to join forces with CURRIES through our Strategic Partnerships initiative,” says BVU Director of Strategic Partnerships Laura Todd. “We look forward to seeing CURRIES’ employees and their family members strengthen their careers through education while benefiting their communities and the people they serve.”
For more information about BVU’s Strategic Partnerships and partner opportunities, please visit the BVU website at bvu.edu/strategic-partnerships or contact Strategic Partnerships at StrategicPartnerships@bvu.edu.