FAQ

Your Questions Answered

About the Initiative

What is 5000 Futures?

What is Employer-Sponsored Higher Education (ESHE)?

Employer-Sponsored Higher Education refers to a program in which an employer offers educational benefits or financial assistance to their employees to support their pursuit of higher education, typically through a college or university. The goal of this program is to provide employees with the opportunity to improve their skills and knowledge while working, and ultimately to advance their careers.

Why should I participate in this initiative?

Do I have to be a GIOA Member to participate in 5000 Futures?

No – all Operators of Chick-fil-A stores are invited and encouraged to participate in the 5000 Futures Initiative. The desire of GIOA and its Board is for an Education Benefit to be available to all Operators and Team Members.

Operators that support higher education at their store with a Section 127 plan, or special program put in place with an accredited institution of higher learning, can participate in many of the programs and offerings through the 5000 Futures Initiative.

The GIOA Board has negotiated exclusive pricing and a three-year price lock which are only available to GIOA Members.

I already provide ESHE in my store. How can I be part of the 5000 Futures Initiative?

Fill out the form here to tell us about your education benefits! We will review it and get you added to the list of Community Champions.

Tell Us About It

For Operators

Who is GIOA?

The Guardian Independent Operator Association is an association by Operators for Operators. We provide our members world class Health Benefits, Membership Perks, Business Solutions, impactful Initiatives, and the highest level of customer service in an effort to glorify God by protecting, promoting, and preserving the role of the Operator in all 50 states for the next 50 years.

To learn more about GIOA or becoming a member, visit our website at GIOA.info.

What are the eligibility requirements for a Team Member to receive the benefits of the Operator Subscription Agreement?

A Team Member must only remain employed by the Operator at a Chick-fil-A restaurant to receive the benefits of the agreement and remain in “good standing” as an Operator defines it. For example, you may define good standing with some of the following: new Team Members must work 60 days before becoming eligible for the benefit, a minimum of 20-30 hours of work in the restaurant per week, etc. We encourage Operators to set the standard for this benefit with Team Members as they deem appropriate.

What do I have to do? How much of my time will this take?

As an Operator, you must sign the Operator Subscription Agreement. Then you need to market the program to your Team Members and encourage them to sign up and work through the entire enrollment process. Many Operators designate a leader on their team to serve as a point of contact and program manager for this benefit.

It will take a bit more time to roll out, but you can automate processes to keep Team Members engaged as it goes.
You should have an understanding of the Operator Subscription Agreement and the process your Team Members will undergo as they apply for the program. You will also promote the program to your current and future Team Members. It can be helpful to have a point person to be the liaison for the program, promoting it to Team Members, following up with Team Members in the application process, and checking in on those interested in the program to help them get started.

Once signed up it should only take maybe an hour or two a week to check in with Team Members interested and in process.

How do I get started?

Reach out and let us know you are interested. Someone from our team will connect with you soon!

Get Started

For Team Members

Who is eligible for the 5000 Futures Initiative higher education program?

There are a few eligibility requirements for the program. You must be a Team Member in a store that offers the program (not all stores are part of the 5000 Futures Initiative).

Check with your Operator to ensure you have completed all of their employment requirements. Then, you will complete all the application steps for Point University (applying for FAFSA, applying for the Remarkable Futures scholarship, submitting transcripts, etc).

How can I find a participating store location?

What is Point University?

Point University is the partner learning institution for this debt-free pathway to a college degree.

Point University was founded in 1937. It is a regionally accredited, nonprofit institution educating and equipping a diverse Christian community of cultural leaders motivated to live out their faith in the marketplace. Their main campus is located in historic West Point, Georgia.

Point offers high-quality education, at scale, to all benefits-eligible U.S. partners. Point is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and offers more than 40 fully online programs.

Point University seeks the comprehensive growth of the student as a whole person. All of their academic support services are free and fully available to online students. Their intention is to empower and coach students to achieve their goals of success.

Learn More About Point University

How much will this cost me?

Do I have to attend classes in person or at a certain time?

All classes for this program are online.

Point online classes are asynchronous which means there are no specific meeting times. Each faculty member has their own approach, but they generally have the content available for students to access, they post in forums where they engage with faculty and other online students, and our faculty often provide videos or offer live Zoom sessions to support students if they are interested (not required but available).

What happens if I stop working at the restaurant?

If a Team Member is no longer employed by a participating Operator of the Chick-fil-A location, they are no longer eligible for the tuition coverage. They will be able to finish out their current 8-week course(s). After that, they will have to manage tuition and fees without the benefit of the subscription scholarship with classes moving forward. There are no requirements to pay back funds for the classes already taken.

What are the eligibility requirements for the program?

For Your Operator:

A Team Member must remain employed by the Operator at a Chick-fil-A restaurant to receive the benefits of the agreement and remain in “good standing” as an Operator defines it.

Admissions Requirements for Point:

Generally, anyone with a 2.5 high school GPA or a 2.0 college GPA (in core classes) will be admitted to Point University. Point also takes into consideration any test scores, time out of school, etc., although they are a test-optional institution. If a student does not meet the criteria for admission, they offer a Point Admission Assessment (PAA) which is an at-home, self-paced assessment to help us ensure they are ready for college-level work and if they meet the criteria, we will offer admission. Students with alternative high school completion (like GED) are also considered for admission.
*94% of applicants who completed their admission file were admitted for the academic year 2021- 2022.

Other Requirements:

Employees must complete a FAFSA application each year.

Team Members must also complete the Remarkable Futures scholarship application when it is available.

Can I participate if I am not a U.S. Citizen?

To participate in the 5000 Futures program, you must complete a valid FAFSA application. The process is open to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens (including lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees and certain other groups).

Students in the U.S. on an F-1 visa must attend on campus. Students on a work visa (B) should consult to see if they are able to take online classes. DACA students and other non-citizens are allowed to enroll if they have a high school degree or GED. Additionally, for any student, there is a requirement of language proficiency (Point University does not offer ESL classes at this time).

FAQ