Coffee giant Starbucks announced on June 16 that it is partnering with Arizona State University to offer many of its 135,000 U.S. employees a free online college education — without requiring them to repay the cost or stay on with the company. But not everyone is cheering.

Sara Goldrick-Rab, a professor of educational policy studies and sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, called it “incredibly problematic” that Starbucks has limited the program to just one online university.

“ASU Online is a profit venture,” said Goldrick-Rab. “And basically, these two businesses have gotten together and created a monopoly on college ventures for Starbucks employees.”

The program is open to employees who work at least 20 hours per week, have the grades and test scores to gain admission to Arizona State, and have completed at least two years of college credits. Workers with fewer credits will be eligible to receive partial scholarships.

The new program is just one of several initiatives that have distinguished Starbucks from other similar companies in the predominantly low-wage service industry. But its attitude toward unions is no different from that of other food and drink chains: Starbucks has repeatedly been accused of engaging in unfair labor practices in its efforts to crush union organizing drives.

USA Today, June 16

PolicyMic, June 16

MSNBC, June 16