Commonwealth University part of PASSHE initiative with major employers to expand work-based learning

Commonwealth University is one of five universities within Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) participating in a pilot initiative with major employers to significantly increase work-based learning that provides real-world experiences for students. Work-based learning, including paid internships and apprenticeships, enhances a student's higher education and launches graduates into better jobs with higher incomes, which positively impacts their long-term earnings and economic mobility. 

Highmark Health is the initial partner employer and Strada Education Foundation awarded Commonwealth University $100,000 of a $750,000 grant to support the pilot project.

"At Strada, our mission is to strengthen connections between education after high school and opportunity, with a focus on helping people who face the greatest challenges," said Stephen Moret, president and CEO of Strada Education Foundation. "Our research demonstrates the impact of work-based learning on student outcomes. We are delighted to support the State System in expanding students' participation in these opportunities."

"Strong partnerships between universities and employers provide students with incredible experience through applying learning to doing and gives them the competitive edge they need to achieve social mobility," said Hope Lineman, executive director workforce development for Commonwealth University.

"The State System is uniquely positioned to partner with employers in Pennsylvania," said PASSHE Chancellor Dan Greenstein. "Together, we can connect classroom learning with real-work experiences and strategically build a better process for connecting students and employers. Ultimately, that will help launch more students into great careers and provide the workforce talent that employers need."

The three-year pilot will reach more than 1,000 students, beginning in fall 2024. 

"With our focus on student success, Commonwealth University is committed to fostering strong partnerships and creating opportunities for our students to gain real world skills that will prepare them to thrive in their professional careers. I am grateful to both The Strada Foundation and my colleagues for making this collaborative initiative possible," said Bashar W. Hanna, president of Commonwealth University.

"Our team members are transforming healthcare, and this collaboration will help us share that valuable experience with PASSHE students and meet skilled and motivated people who after graduation might join our world-class workforce," said Dan Onorato, executive vice president, chief corporate affairs officer, Highmark Health.

PASSHE will build the technological and academic infrastructure required to integrate work-based learning into students' classroom and campus experiences. Additionally, strategic partnerships and collaborations between universities and employers will create expanded and sustainable work-based learning opportunities for students. The ultimate goals are two-fold: to enhance students' college experience and to deliver the workforce talent Pennsylvania's employers, including commonwealth agencies, need to thrive and grow.

"Strong partnership between universities and employers can provide students with tremendous experience that helps them learn and prepare for great careers in Pennsylvania," said Shelley Scherer, president and CEO of the PASSHE Foundation. "We are thrilled to start this project with Highmark Health and are excited to build a network of state-wide employers to partner with PASSHE. Together, our students can learn valuable on-the-job skills and expand the college-to-career pipeline with the workforce talent our employers need to thrive and grow."

Universities will emphasize to students the importance of work-based learning as part of their higher education; expand opportunities for students to have those experiences, especially paid internships; and streamline the process for students. For example, the initiative will embed real-work experiences into the academic curriculum to broaden access and configure a shared online platform (Handshake) to help students identify opportunities that align with their career interests. Universities will also expand the regional network of participating employers and integrate work-based learning into on-campus work study - an additional benefit for students who are using the paid jobs to help fund their education.

Employers will explore how to streamline their recruitment and engagement of paid interns, partner with the university to create internships throughout the year, accommodate students' class schedules, develop additional job-relevant instruction for interns and, when possible, link paid internships to potential jobs after graduation.

"The partnership with Strada validates and strengthens the work we've been doing at Commonwealth University to more intentionally integrate career and professional development in the student experience through Professional U," said Lynda Fedor Michaels, Ed.D., associate vice president for alumni and professional engagement. "Commonwealth University's commitment to our students, through the active engagement of our alumni and employer partners to mentor and provide opportunities for students, aligns seamlessly with the focus of the grant." 

Work-based learning, which can include internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing and more, allows students to connect their classroom education with technical and workplace skills and to develop professional connections and networks as part of their overall education. University students with high-quality, work-based learning, especially paid internships, have more confidence in their skills, are more likely to get higher-paying jobs after graduation, and are more satisfied with their education and career choices, according to findings by the Strada Education Foundation.

However, low-income, first-generation, Black and Latino students, and women are less likely to have paid internships, which can reduce their employability and income after graduation. To address the access gap, the pilot has a goal of 60% of students in the initiatives being low-income, first-generation or underrepresented minorities, which closely mirrors their representation among all PASSHE students.

Pennsylvania has worker shortages and a critical education and training gap: 60% of jobs in the commonwealth require some higher education after high school, but only 53% of workers have the needed degree or credential, according to the Lumina Foundation.

"To impact social mobility, Commonwealth University is piloting two initiatives that focus attention on moving students from low-income backgrounds as they enter college into the upper half of wage earners after graduation through: Professional U On-Campus Apprenticeship and work-based learning within academic courses and programs," Lineman said. "Through these two avenues Commonwealth University intends to level the playing field by giving all students the experiences they need to succeed."

PASSHE intends to expand the initiative to all 10 State System universities after the pilot is complete.