Alumnus Tom Siebel offers to pay employee tuition for online master’s degrees through University
The Thomas Siebel Center for Computer Science is a teaching and research facility that houses the Department of Computer Science at the University. Located in Urbana, it features new-age technology and computer laboratories that allow it to be the first “computing habitat” of its kind.
June 5, 2019
Tom Siebel, University alumnus and CEO of C3.ai, will cover the total cost for eligible company employees to earn an online master’s degree in computer science focused on data science through the University, according to a recent press release.
Employees who complete the master’s degree program will also receive a 15% salary increase, a $25,000 cash bonus and an additional company incentive stock option equity award.
“In this new economy where people are talking about digital transformation, for companies to stay at the top of their game, they need to have state-of-the-art continuing education programs,” Siebel said to Forbes.
The online master of computer science in data science degree at the University is expected to cost $21,440 by fall of 2019, in addition to other course fees. Employees must apply to the program, which has a 30% acceptance rate.
C3.ai is an AI software provider for digital enterprise transformation founded by Siebel in 2009 initially as a clean energy firm called C3 IoT.
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Siebel received his master’s degree in computer science at the University in 1985. His net worth is currently valued at $2.9 billion, according to Forbes.
In 1999, Siebel donated $32 million to the University to help construct the Thomas M. Siebel Center for Computer Science, which was completed in 2004. More recently, Siebel donated $25 million in 2016 to help fund construction of the Thomas M. Siebel Center for Design, which is expected to be completed in Spring 2020.
