Company Updates

It’s time to destigmatize vocational schools to better support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education. Employers, organizations, and the education system must evolve to create better opportunities for work-based learning, both in-person and virtually. With job openings and unemployment at a record high, employers still can’t find enough skilled workers to fill their roles. One of the largest and most persistent issues is the stigma that surrounds career and technical education. With misconceptions running rampant, enrollment in vocational schools has continued to decrease, significantly impacting the economy. Our education system is contributing to this problem. Cengage Group recently hosted a LinkedIn Live event to raise awareness about the stigma that still surrounds trade education. Watch the recording of our EducationLIVE to listen to Jane Oates, President of Working Nation and former U.S. Department of Labor official, Eric Rubio, Heavy Duty Truck Instructor and Air Force Veteran, and Cengage Group CEO Michael Hansen discuss this

Susan Dratwa (Borofsky) is an Engineering Manager and admits that, in technology, women “still do not have the numbers we would like in the industry.” But she feels strongly that “we have a seat at the table.” Susie is a member of our Women in Tech (WiT) Employee Resource Group (ERG) and was recently recognized as Member of the Month for her efforts to inspire and empower women. Susie advises women to pursue their passion for technology, saying “There is a place for you. You will find acceptance and the ability to bring your authentic self to work.” Being an active member of WiT has helped her to “achieve my professional goals as a manager, connect with other women leaders at Cengage Group, and build a network that has encouraged me to grow my leadership skills and learn from other’s experiences.” Congrats Susie!

Education technology is a constantly evolving industry – and we’re proud to have employees who have stuck with us for decades! How do they maintain their energy and creativity? As Mary Ann P., Senior Account Executive, who has been with us since our beginnings in 1990 explains, it’s all about being “adaptable and open to new and unknown experiences. Staying stagnant and static aren’t options in this industry and that is a good thing – working here offers me opportunities to learn and grow every day.” She added, “another thing that has kept me around for 31 years is this company’s commitment to service – at Cengage Group it’s about more than just the sale; it’s about supporting our customers all the way through the process.”

Congrats to our 2021 employee scholarship recipients! Students - who are all family members of employees - are selected through a nomination process based on factors like academic record, leadership and participation in school and community activities, and work experience. This year, we renewed 34 scholarships and awarded 18 new students with a $1,500 merit-based scholarship, designed to help them in efforts to start or continue a 2-year or 4-year degree, or post-secondary vocation school. Andrew Levy, son of Debra Levy, Customer Success Manager, was chosen as one of this year's recipients. Debra expressed that, “I am lucky to work for a company that supports its employees and their kids with an opportunity to get a college scholarship. My son, Andrew, was valedictorian of his high school class and was recently accepted into the Freshman Science Honors program at the University of Southern California. I am proud that he is continuing his educational journey and pursuing his dreams of becoming a medical researcher.”

We’re proud to introduce Cengage Group – our new, go forward corporate brand. Showcasing the strength of our portfolio of global brands, today, we step forward unified in our mission to support all learners who seek an education to improve their lives and achieve their dreams. For more than 100 years, we’ve supported millions of students and educators no matter the goal – learning English, upskilling, earning a degree, supporting college or career readiness in high school, and more. Our scalable, synergistic businesses across higher education, workforce skills, English language teaching, secondary education and research markets make a real impact. Cengage Group is the sum of many important parts – all of which share a deep commitment to students. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3k21skB

Our EOY results for fiscal year 2021 marked an inflection point for us. With growth driven by our digital-first strategy in higher ed, we've also seen an explosion in demand from learners pursuing alternate education pathways to gain job-ready skills. We're proud to be making an impact at scale by prioritizing education for employment - hear more from our CEO Michael Hansen on our path forward.

Proud to be named Trendsetter of the Year by EdTech Digest! When the pandemic closed college campuses, we stepped in to help learners and educators by opening up free access to Cengage Unlimited, working with thousands of instructors to move more than 40,000 courses online, offering free online courses, and more. We're honored to be recognized for the great work our team has done over the last year to support students, educators and others who have been impacted by the pandemic and need reskilling opportunities.

We're incredibly proud of our culture of radical transparency! Hear from employees how our candid environment has enabled engagement, empowerment and discovery in the workplace.

At Cengage, we are committed to creating an environment where employees feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work. Inclusion and diversity are core tenets of our culture, and a driver of our industry leading performance. We're honored to have earned a top score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality.

At Cengage, we believe in radical transparency. Our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), such as Women In Tech, help us encourage diverse voices and create an inclusive work environment. Laurabeth Fox Monti's story highlights how our ERGs can make a personal impact.