Aberdeen, S.D.—In April 2006, Northern State University and Wells Fargo Auto Finance in Aberdeen, S.D., formed a unique corporate partnership, reported the Aberdeen American News.

“What we’ve done is combined our job and internship availability and Northern’s desire to recruit people and allowed them to utilize this in their recruitment,” said Keith Hurley, site manager of Wells Fargo Auto finance in Aberdeen. “They can use this package as a recruitment tool, highlighting it to prospective students, and we, in turn, agree to give jobs and internships to students.”

Allan Vogel, director of admissions at NSU said Wells Fargo Auto Finance is the only area business with an official agreement with NSU. Many area business offer tuition reimbursement plans, but the partnership between NSU and Wells Fargo has been beneficial to both the company and NSU students.

Vogel said one reason the contract went through so quickly was because of NSU’s banking and finance major and opportunities for internships with that major.

According to Hurley, Wells Fargo has a nationwide tuition reimbursement plan and the contract with NSU is a formalization of the existing policy.

“It goes a bit beyond tuition reimbursement and lets us engage in some joint marketing,” said Hurely. “We collectively market the Wells Fargo job opportunities and the educational opportunities at Northern and I think that’s what really makes this unique.”