Onboarding Checklist for Prospective MC Participants Working at UPS

Metropolitan College offers three educational pathways for students who want to continue their education and prepare for careers that require training beyond a high school diploma. These pathways give students flexible options to earn college credentials, gain work experience, and reduce the overall cost of pursuing a degree. Students and their supporters are encouraged to use the MC Total Benefits Calculator to compare options and determine which pathway maximizes their financial benefits. The calculator helps families understand potential savings, remaining costs, and the long‑term value of each route.

• Associate and Certificate (2 years or less): Jefferson Community and Technical College offers a variety of short‑term training programs that help you gain in‑demand skills fast. Many programs connect to our MC Career Pathways, giving you extra career support and direct links to employers who are hiring now. While these programs are a great option for anyone, they’re an especially powerful opportunity for JCPS graduates. Students can stack Evolve502 with other available financial supports to maximize affordability, and those who earned dual credit at JCTC can accelerate their progress even further. JCTC’s own data shows that MC JCTC students consistently outperform other credential‑seeking students, underscoring the strength and impact of these pathways.

• 2+2 (Associate and Bachelor Degree in 4 years): Jefferson Community and Technical College’s 2+2 pathway through Metro College creates a clear, affordable route from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree at the University of Louisville. Students begin at JCTC, completing the first two years of their degree while participating in Metro College, which provides both financial support and valuable work experience. After earning their associate degree, students can seamlessly transfer to UofL to complete the final two years, continuing their tuition‑free degree pathway. Learn more about the transfer degree pathways from JCTC to UofL to make transfer easy! While these programs are a great option for anyone, they’re an especially powerful opportunity for JCPS graduates. Students can stack Evolve502 with other available financial supports to maximize affordability, and those who earned dual credit at JCTC can accelerate their progress even further. JCTC’s own data shows that MC JCTC students consistently outperform other credential‑seeking students, underscoring the strength and impact of these pathways.

• Bachelor Degree (4 years):  The University of Louisville pathway is available to students who have earned 60 transferable college credit hours or an associate degree as part of a 2+2 route. Students who begin at UofL before reaching 60 credits must meet additional academic eligibility requirements established by Metro College to ensure they can balance coursework and work commitments successfully (see information below). UofL Metro College students should also plan for costs not covered by Metro College benefits, including required housing and meal plans. UofL offers a wide range of bachelor’s degree options, many of which align with MC Career Pathways and support a clear route to completing a four‑year degree.

Current UPS employees can connect with a MC Student Success Counselor for additional guidance below: 

Connect with Metropolitan College and learn more about our program through an email, phone call, office visit, JCTC or UofL Orientation, and/or attend an online information session! If you are interested in participating in the Metropolitan College program as a new participant during the Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 semesters, submit your name and email address so we can send you updates about UPS hiring information, helpful resources, and important deadlines: MC Prospective Student Information Form. 
 

If need assistance navigating the UPS employment process to become a MC eligible employee, connect with a UPS recruiter at your preferred institution.

University of Louisville, Current or Prospective MC Student

Lee Moody Nelson- UofL UPS Recruiter | lamoody@ups.com | 502-565-9387
 

Jefferson Community and Technical College, Current or Prospective MC Student
JCTC UPS Recruiter, Paxton Gordon | pgordon@ups.com | 502-781-0261 

JCTC:

Apply at jefferson.kctcs.edu/admissions, then visit jefferson.kctcs.edu/enrollment-checklist.aspx.

UofL: 

Apply at louisville.edu/admissions, then visit louisville.edu/newcards. 
 

• Request confirmation that you meet the MC UofL academic-eligibility requirement

Use the link above to request confirmation that you meet the MC UofL Academic Eligibility Requirement with any one of the following:

• Cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 or higher (GED 660).
• Cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher (GED 600) and a 21 ACT/1060 SAT composite or Superscore.
• 60 transferable college credit hours or an associate degree.

Students who do not meet one of the admission criteria listed above have several options to receive Metro College benefits at the University of Louisville:

1. Participate in Metropolitan College at Jefferson Community and Technical College and participate in the University of Louisville Transfer Program, ULtra. Once you earn 60 transferable college credit hours or have earned an associate degree, you may receive MC benefits at the University of Louisville. Students are strongly encouraged to consider this option and to utilize the services of ULtra. ULtra counselors will advise students of JCTC courses that support their transfer to UofL.
2. Utilize UPS Earn and Learn benefits (while working in a MC eligible work shift) during your first semester at UofL. If you obtain a 2.7 or higher UofL GPA during this first term in the Earn and Learn program, you can submit an MC petition for admission to the Metropolitan College program the following semester.
3. Submit a MC petition requesting an exception to the MC UofL admission policy. An exception to the UofL MC admission policy will be considered when extenuating circumstances prevented adherence to the MC UofL admission criteria. When available, relevant documentation should be submitted with the petition. Submission of a MC petition does not guarantee approval. If you have completed any coursework at JCTC, and you do not meet MC UofL requirements, you must meet with ULtra Transfer Services to complete the following steps to submit a petition:
   1. Step 1: Schedule a meeting (in-person or virtual) with ULtra Transfer Services to determine when you should transfer to UofL as an MC student.
      1. Log on to the scheduling page: Contact & Office Hours — Office of Adult & Transfer Services (louisville.edu). Plan in advance as it may be 24 hours or more before an appointment is available
      2. Scroll down and select "Book Now" under a staff member.
      3. In the form, under "What would you like to talk about during the meeting?" write "Support to file and MC petition for UofL".
          
   2. Step 2: Meet with the ULtra staff member and request this form to be completed: https://forms.office.com/r/rm9UNw6Fm8 (Note: Students are not able to access this form.)
   3. Step 3: Immediately after meeting with ULtra, a student must complete and submit the petition form: https://forms.metro-college.com/petition

Additional Helpful Information when Enrolling in Classes:

• New MC students should limit first semester enrollment to 10 credit hours or less.
• New MC students should advocate for late afternoon and/or evening classes that will compliment a night shift work schedule.
• If you have already registered, contact your academic advisor to adjust your schedule ASAP.
• Since you will be working year-round, plan on taking classes during the summer semester. Talk to your academic advisor about incorporating summer classes into your academic plan.
• Once you have demonstrated success working at nights and completing 10 credit hours, you may increase your course load to full-time.

Submit and complete all steps of the FAFSA at studentaid.gov using code 001999 for UofL or 006961 for JCTC.

To be eligible for MC benefits, participation is limited to United States citizens and federal student aid eligible non-citizens as defined by the Federal Student Aid Office at studentaid.gov. When UPS reviews a student's employment verification, if a student is listed as a non-citizen on the I-9 paperwork, the student must have a completed current year FAFSA on file with the institution to determine if the student is an eligible non-citizen as defined by the Federal Student Aid Office. The UofL/JCTC Financial Aid Office can assist you with any questions regarding the FAFSA and your eligibility status.

• For MC participants, awards of federal grants will be applied to no more than 50% of tuition. Remaining federal grants, along with KEES and other scholarships, will be applied toward fees and billing account charges that are not eligible for MC benefits.
• Participants enrolled in fewer than 7 credit hours must submit the FAFSA and notify their MC Student Success Counselor that their FAFSA may not be eligible for review by the Financial Aid Office. (This is not a disqualification from MC participation.)

Submit the Employment Verification form at verify.metro-college.com using your UPS employee (GEMS) ID number.

Once UPS verifies your employment eligibility for MC benefits, instructions for logging into the MyMC portal will be sent within 5-7 business days to the personal email you provided on the Employment Verification form.

Complete the online MC orientation.

The online MC orientation, called the Student Transition Program (STP), is accessible at metro-college.com. Select MyMC at the top of the page, then log into the portal with your UPS employee (GEMS) ID.

Schedule the first available appointment to sign your MC agreement!

Upon completion of the STP, you will be prompted to schedule an in-person or virtual appointment to sign your first MC agreement. It is important that you schedule the required appointment as soon as possible.

You can contact your assigned MC Student Success Counselor here. Student Success Counselors are assigned alphabetically by last name.