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Photo by Frank Aymami<br />
From left: Enrollment Counselor Catherine Tolliver, Arts and Sciences Campus College Chairwoman Sunny Ryerson and Enrollment Supervisor Eric Williams play graduates at the University of Phoenix,<br />
Louisiana Campus.<br />
University of Phoenix,<br />
Louisiana Campus<br />
Pietro Della Valentina Jr. is receiving a fulltime<br />
salary as associate director of student<br />
services at the University of Phoenix while<br />
earning a master’s degree in business administration<br />
from the school, tuition free.<br />
On a typical workday, he’s in the office from 9<br />
a.m. to 6:15 p.m., goes home for dinner and takes<br />
courses online from about 9 p.m. until midnight.<br />
He’s on track to receive his advanced<br />
degree, with a concentration in human<br />
resource management, next November,<br />
adding to the bachelor’s degree in political science<br />
he already holds from Loyola University.<br />
His savings of $29,000 is significant, considering<br />
that he’s still paying for his Loyola degree.<br />
“That one cost me a pretty penny, all worth<br />
it,” Valentina said.<br />
Free tuition is one of the favored perks for<br />
University of Phoenix employees, who also<br />
voice appreciation for career advancement<br />
and opportunities to play as hard as they work.<br />
Pamela Calonje, an enrollment counselor,<br />
became familiar with the university while living<br />
in southern California. Then an executive<br />
recruiter, she found the university well respected<br />
among employers and was impressed with<br />
the university’s opportunities for career growth<br />
and continuing education.<br />
“Career advancement is absolutely possible<br />
for those who prove themselves and want the<br />
opportunity for growth,” she said. “The company<br />
is growing continually, which opens up<br />
many possibilities in many directions for those<br />
who are committed to the same goals.”<br />
Calonje has been in the same position the<br />
five years she has worked for the university but<br />
said she’s being groomed for a promotion.<br />
“I’ve been given more and more responsibility,”<br />
Calonje said. “The opportunity’s certainly<br />
there.”<br />
Mary Steele, also an enrollment counselor,<br />
signed on with the university when it was new<br />
to Louisiana 14 years ago and has watched the<br />
company grow.<br />
“There are ongoing opportunities to<br />
enhance your knowledge, aside from the education<br />
benefit, and skill sets via training opportunities,”<br />
Steele said. “The company has a professional<br />
development requirement for each<br />
employee each year, with various resources<br />
Nature of business: higher education<br />
Where based locally: Metairie<br />
Employees: 126<br />
Average starting salary: $38,400<br />
Median salary: $42,747<br />
Average employment time: four and a half years<br />
Benefits: health care with 85 percent coverage, dental, vision<br />
and prescription plans, 401(k) with 30-cent match for every<br />
dollar contributed up to 15 percent, continuing education program,<br />
relocation assistance, telecommuting, flexible hours,<br />
employee recognition program, fitness program<br />
Wait time for benefits: first of the month after 60 days of<br />
employment<br />
Paid days off: up to 35.5<br />
Web site: www.phoenix.edu<br />
available to accomplish this.”<br />
Steele has taken courses in organizational<br />
management and appreciates online and campus<br />
seminars and periodic performance<br />
assessments.<br />
“It encourages you to keep improving yourself,”<br />
she said. “The world does not stop. It<br />
encourages you to keep up with the world.”<br />
With the hard work comes fun times, such<br />
as holiday gatherings, barbecues and community<br />
involvement.<br />
On Halloween, employees of the company’s<br />
four Louisiana campuses gathered at the<br />
Lafayette location for a party and costume contest.<br />
Calonje created a skit based on the “Deal<br />
or No Deal” game show, casting herself as<br />
Wanda Whoopee, a contestant dressed as a<br />
whoopee cushion, with a bald coworker as<br />
host Howie Mandel.<br />
— Diana Chandler<br />
December 14, 2009 49