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Agenda Item Review Form
Muskegon City Commission
Commission Meeting Date: April 14, 2026 Title: SOAR Business Partner Agreement Approval
Submitted by: Isabela Gonzalez, Development Department: Economic Development
Analyst
Brief Summary:
The City of Muskegon is considering entering into a Business Partnership Agreement with SOARTM by
Cornerstone University. This partnership would provide eligible City employees and their immediate
family members with access to flexible, online degree programs and up to $1,950 annually in
scholarship support.
Detailed Summary & Background:
The City of Muskegon is considering entering into a Business Partnership Agreement with SOAR by
Cornerstone University, an online higher education program designed to provide flexible and
affordable degree pathways for working individuals.
Through this partnership, eligible City employees and their immediate family members would have
access to fully online, mobile-friendly degree programs that are self-paced and designed to
accommodate work and personal schedules. Participants may receive up to $1,950 annually in
scholarship funding through the Business Partner program, in addition to any available federal or
state financial aid.
The program offers multiple degree pathways, including associate, bachelor’s, and master's level
programs. Tuition is structured at approximately $2,400 per four-month term for associate and
bachelor’s programs, and approximately $3,750 per four-month term for master’s programs. These
rates are less than half the national average for private online degree programs.
The City of Muskegon also offers a tuition reimbursement benefit for eligible employees, providing up
to 75% of tuition, including required course fees, for all passing grades, with a maximum of $2,500
annually for undergraduate studies and $3,000 annually for graduate and post-graduate studies.
During initial discussions, City staff expressed concerns regarding certain general education course
content related to religious perspectives. Following continued dialogue, the SOAR team revised and
expanded the course offerings to ensure they are inclusive and accessible to all participants,
regardless of background or belief. This opportunity is intended for employees interested in furthering
their education to support career advancement and professional development. Participation in the
SOAR program aligns with the City’s broader workforce development goals by expanding access to
continuing education and skill-building opportunities.
This agreement is being presented for City Commission awareness and authorization.
Cornerstone University SOARTM
Business Partner Agreement
The Cornerstone University SOARTM program is revolutionizing the delivery method of degree programs
to meet the needs of 21-century learners seeking flexible, high-quality pathways to achieve
their
educational goals.
As a Business Partner of Cornerstone SOARTM, City of Muskegon (hereinafter referred to as the “City”),
and Cornerstone wish to enter into this Business Partner Agreement (this “Agreement”) whereby the
City shall refer its employees and other individuals to Cornerstone, and otherwise promote Cornerstone,
and Cornerstone shall provide a scholarship and other Benefits as provided herein. These Benefits are
designed to fully integrate the Cornerstone SOARTM support system with Business Partners at every level
and to strengthen the City’s talent pipeline.
“Employee(s)” shall mean W-2 employees of the City.
“Applicant(s)” shall mean a natural person eligible to receive a scholarship or other benefit from
Cornerstone under this Agreement for education with SOARTM.
“Benefits” shall mean the scholarship, academic support, and other educational services to be provided
to Applicants described herein.
“Course Term” means the applicable academic term for SOARTM courses (e.g., four-month term,
trimester, or other period used by Cornerstone).
Program Benefits
e Applicants may receive up to a $1,950 annual partner scholarship, conditioned on Pell
eligibility and Cornerstone grants/scholarships (see tuition and fees below).
* Applicants must file the FAFSA to be considered for federal, state, and institutional grants
and scholarships, including the Benefits under this Agreement.
e This scholarship shall be a credit against the tuition and fees of Cornerstone for Applicants
who apply, are accepted, and take courses with SOARTM and is also extended to immediate
family members of Employees, including and limited to spouses, children, siblings, parents,
legal guardians, and persons for whom the Employee is a legal guardian, all of whom may be
an Applicant if otherwise eligible hereunder.
¢ For an Applicant to be eligible, the Employee under whose employment the Applicant is
applying must remain employed through acceptance of the Applicant’s application with
Cornerstone. If the Employee ceases to be employed after such acceptance, such shall not
have any bearing on the Applicant’s Benefits hereunder for the single Course Term for which
the Applicant applies. However, for each subsequent Course Term, Benefits shall only apply
if the Employee under whom the Applicant applied is employed by the City at the beginning
of the Course Term in question.
e Cornerstone reserves the right to deny applications by any Applicant based on its standards
and policies. Cornerstone reserves the right to dismiss or terminate Applicants from SOARTM
at any time in accordance with its policies and standards. The City shall have no liability for
Cornerstone’s decisions in accepting, denying, or terminating Applicants from SOARTM, or any
other matters related to the education of the Applicant with Cornerstone.
Cornerstone does not guarantee that any specific SOARTM program, degree, or modality will
remain available and all SOARTM programs may be modified, suspended, or discontinued in
Cornerstone’s discretion.
No information protected by FERPA or any other law or regulation related to student
information or privacy shall be shared with or disclosed to the City by Cornerstone.
Cornerstone SOARTM will provide up to four (4) on-site Education & Financial Aid workshops
per year at no cost to the City.
The City may post employment opportunities on the Cornerstone University job board to
attract current students and alumni at no charge.
The City may directly recruit any Cornerstone student for internship opportunities.
In connection with this Agreement, Cornerstone may do the following in its sole and absolute
discretion, but shall have no obligation to do so:
- The City may have the opportunity, by Cornerstone’s invitation, to participate in select
advisory boards for Cornerstone University academic programs.
- The City may be invited to deliver in-person or recorded presentations/guest lectures to
Cornerstone University classes, including SOARTM classes.
- Cornerstone University facilities — including classrooms and conference rooms located on
campus near East Beltline and I-96 — may be made available to The City at no charge,
subject to availability, for training purposes and meetings, subject to execution of any
facility use agreement required by Cornerstone.
The City Collaboration Commitments
The City agrees to collaborate in the following ways:
Promote Cornerstone University SOARTM program(s) to Employees through internal
communications, which may include email, new-Employee orientation materials,
publications, and/or informational sessions. All materials and publications circulated by the
City with Cornerstone’s name shall be approved by Cornerstone in form and substance in
advance.
Permit Cornerstone SOARTM to include The City’s logo and identify The City as a Business
Partner in University publications, on the Cornerstone website, landing pages, social media,
and/or promotional materials. Cornerstone shall not use the City’s name, except to identify
the City as a partner of Cornerstone, without the City’s written consent. All uses of the City’s
name by Cornerstone shall cease upon written direction from the City to do so.
Allow designated City representatives the opportunity to provide testimonials, video
statements, social-media commentary, or media commentary on the value of the SOARTM
program.
Cornerstone shall have no liability for decisions of the City, including hiring, firing, workplace
matters, and any other issues that pertain to the Applicant or Employee’s employment.
All decisions related to Employees of the City shall remain in the sole discretion of the City
without input or influence of Cornerstone, and the City shall have no obligation to hire any
number of individuals or provide any number of individuals to SOARTM under this Agreement.
° Participation in SOARTM shall not be a term or condition of employment for any Employee,
and employment actions shall not affect Cornerstone’s academic decisions.
Tuition and Fees
The Cornerstone University SOARTM Program(s) is unique in its tuition design in that Applicants may
have little to no out-of-pocket cost.
All books, fees, and materials are included in the program tuition cost.
After all other federal and state aid is applied, the University will provide institutional gift aid
to Applicants of up to $650 per four-month term (up to $1,950 annually) to assist with tuition
and mandatory fees.
The City has the option to provide additional tuition reimbursement, subject to the City’s
internal tuition reimbursement policies. This is not a requirement. Cornerstone will provide
Applicants with the necessary documentation for reimbursement if necessary.
Cornerstone may collaborate with the Applicants to establish direct bill arrangements to
reduce the administrative burdens on the City if no tuition reimbursement is given to
Applicants,
Academic Support
The following are informational in regard to SOARTM and do not constitute a contractual commitment
under this Agreement:
SOARTM students will be offered extensive academic support services, including a student
success coach for 1:1 support, advising, tutoring, library resources, technical support, etc.
SOARTM students enrolled in the Program(s) have the option of forming on-site, mobile, or
virtual study groups or workshops to help them complete assignments.
Miscellaneous Provisions
This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and continue for a period of one year.
Either party may terminate this Agreement with 30 days written notice to the other party. If
this Agreement is terminated during a Course Term of courses in SOARTM, all Benefits that
would otherwise apply to each Applicant shall continue to apply through the end of that
Course Term.
The City is not a third-party beneficiary of any arrangement or agreement between
Cornerstone and any Applicant, regardless of employment with the City.
The arrangement described herein shall not be regarded as a joint venture and, for any tax
purposes which may apply or be applicable, each party shall be regarded as an independent
contractor to the other.
Neither party hereunder may assign this Agreement without written consent from the other
party.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties on the subject described
herein and any and all discussions, negotiations, and agreement pertaining to the subject
matter herein shall be merged into this Agreement.
If any portion of this Agreement is determined to be illegal or unenforceable, then that
portion of the Agreement shall be severed with the remaining Agreement remaining in full
force and effect.
e This Agreement shall be construed and enforced under the laws of the State of Michigan.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.
Cornerstone Universit City of Muskegon
a Michigan nonprofit/corporation i
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By: Dave Veneklase, CFO Jonathan SeVferth, City Manager
,, April 25, 2026 a" hac | 15, 2025
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