COLUMBUS, Ga., Oct. 21 -- Columbus State University issued the following news release:

Columbus State University and Columbus-based Aflac launched an innovative corporate-academic partnership last summer that provides students with an immersive, multiyear professional pathway and supports regional workforce development. The new Aflac Claims Co-op program is helping students build career-ready skills relevant to their degrees by integrating professional industry experience early in their undergraduate studies.

The inaugural co-op cohort consists of 20 Columbus State sophomores majoring in business and data analytics, computer science, health sciencesand kinesiology. By aligning the Columbus-based Fortune 500 company's operational needs wit...