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Cedar Crest College Hosts Tech Talent Summit to Address Workforce Challenges

Cedar Crest College Hosts Tech Talent Summit to Address Workforce Challenges

Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, recently hosted its inaugural Tech & Talent Summit at the Tompkins Center. The event, presented by ADVANCE at Cedar Crest and the Harmon Center for Leadership in Technology, focused on exploring workforce technology needs and addressing skills gaps in the Lehigh Valley region. Keynote speaker Lauren Holubec, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association, emphasized the need for stronger partnerships between education and industry to meet the growing demand for talent across key sectors. The summit featured discussions on hiring challenges, workforce development strategies, and the importance of digital skills and critical thinking in high-growth fields such as STEM, healthcare, and manufacturing. Cedar Crest College, known for its commitment to innovation and empowering women, aims to equip students and professional learners with the skills needed to succeed in a dynamic labor market.
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Permian Basin Workforce Shortage Prompts Educational Initiatives to Meet Industry Demands

Permian Basin Workforce Shortage Prompts Educational Initiatives to Meet Industry Demands

The Permian Basin, a key driver of the Texas economy, is experiencing a significant workforce shortage due to rapid growth in its oil and gas industries. Local colleges and universities, including the University of Texas Permian Basin, Odessa College, and Midland College, are collaborating with businesses to address this gap. They are focusing on aligning curricula with industry needs, boosting literacy rates, and expanding vocational training. By 2040, the region is projected to require an additional 175,000 workers across various sectors, including energy, construction, and transportation. Educational leaders are working to build a talent pipeline to fill these roles, emphasizing the importance of emerging technologies and early childhood education.
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Reach University Launches Debt-Free Behavioral Health Apprenticeship Program to Address Workforce Shortages

Reach University Launches Debt-Free Behavioral Health Apprenticeship Program to Address Workforce Shortages

Reach University, a nonprofit accredited institution, has announced the opening of a new health-care college focused on behavioral health apprenticeships. This initiative aims to address the critical shortage of health-care workers, particularly in behavioral health. The program will initially launch in Washington State, offering an associate of arts degree in liberal studies with a focus on social science. This degree is embedded within a behavioral health apprenticeship designed to prepare students for careers as substance use disorder professionals. Reach University plans to expand this program to include stackable bachelor's and master's degree pathways, subject to accreditor and state approval. The university's president, Joe Ross, emphasized the importance of building a talent pool for licensed counselors, as current pathways into these fields are often expensive and inaccessible.
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UK Automotive Sector Sees £4.6bn Investment Opportunity Amid Electric Vehicle Surge

UK Automotive Sector Sees £4.6bn Investment Opportunity Amid Electric Vehicle Surge

UK Automotive Sector Sees £4.6bn Investment Opportunity Amid Electric Vehicle Surge
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Rhode Island Awards $450K to Support Local Agriculture and Seafood

Rhode Island Awards $450K to Support Local Agriculture and Seafood

Rhode Island Awards $450K to Support Local Agriculture and Seafood
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Quinnipiac University's Mount Carmel Campus Remodel Advances with New Initiatives

Quinnipiac University's Mount Carmel Campus Remodel Advances with New Initiatives

Quinnipiac University is making significant progress in its ongoing remodel of the Mount Carmel Campus. Several projects are underway, including the temporary relocation of Campus Life offices to accommodate upgrades in the Carl Hansen Student Center. The Buckman Theater has been demolished to create a pathway to the center for Communications, Computing & Engineering, with new grass expected to be ready by commencement. Additionally, the installation of fuel cells is part of a clean energy initiative across the university's campuses. Other developments include a new testing center in the Echlin Center and an Exercise Science Lab in Tator Hall, supporting a new program set to begin in the 2026-27 academic year.
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Rhode Island Awards $450K in Local Agriculture and Seafood Act Funding

Rhode Island Awards $450K in Local Agriculture and Seafood Act Funding

Rhode Island Awards $450K in Local Agriculture and Seafood Act Funding
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Lackawanna College Expands to Meet Growing Demand for Skilled Trades in Western Pennsylvania

Lackawanna College Expands to Meet Growing Demand for Skilled Trades in Western Pennsylvania

Lackawanna College, a nonprofit institution based in Scranton, is expanding its operations into Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, to address the increasing demand for skilled trades education. This move comes in response to the closure of Triangle Tech and other for-profit schools, which have faced financial and accreditation challenges. The college plans to offer programs in electrical technology, welding, and fabrication at its new Greensburg campus starting this fall. This expansion is part of a broader trend in vocational education, which has seen a 14% increase in enrollment as reported by the National Student Clearinghouse. The demand for skilled workers is further driven by the growth of data centers in the region, which require personnel for construction, wiring, and maintenance.
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UNC Charlotte Launches New School to Address Construction Workforce Needs

UNC Charlotte Launches New School to Address Construction Workforce Needs

UNC Charlotte has announced the establishment of the Albert School of Construction, housed within the William States Lee College of Engineering. This new program is the first of its kind in North Carolina, covering all phases of construction projects from planning to delivery. The school aims to address the growing demand for construction professionals in the Charlotte region, one of the fastest-growing construction markets in the U.S. It will offer undergraduate degrees in construction management, civil engineering technology, and construction engineering, as well as a graduate degree in construction and facilities engineering. The programs will include real-world experience opportunities, such as internships.
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Workforce Pell Programs Face Challenges in Meeting Federal Earnings Test

Workforce Pell Programs Face Challenges in Meeting Federal Earnings Test

The Workforce Pell initiative, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is under scrutiny as many programs struggle to meet the federal earnings test. According to recent data, out of 3,387 short-term certificate programs with measurable outcomes, only two fail to meet the earnings threshold. These programs, both in child care, miss the mark by a small margin. The earnings test is designed to ensure that programs provide value by comparing graduates' earnings to tuition costs. However, the real challenge lies in the 66% of programs that cannot be measured due to insufficient data. The U.S. Census Bureau requires a minimum number of graduates with sufficient labor market attachment to publish earnings data. Programs that do not meet this threshold are not flagged as failures but are simply absent from the data. This absence poses a significant risk to program eligibility under federal accountability rules.
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UNC Charlotte Launches New Construction School to Address Workforce Needs

UNC Charlotte Launches New Construction School to Address Workforce Needs

UNC Charlotte has announced the launch of the Albert School of Construction, housed within the William States Lee College of Engineering. This new program is the first of its kind in North Carolina, covering all phases of construction projects from planning and design to delivery. The school aims to address the critical need for construction professionals in the rapidly growing Charlotte region. It will offer three undergraduate degrees in construction management, civil engineering technology, and construction engineering, as well as a graduate degree in construction and facilities engineering. The programs will include real-world experience opportunities, such as internships.
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Rogers State University Initiates Construction of $35 Million STEM Center to Enhance Science Education

Rogers State University Initiates Construction of $35 Million STEM Center to Enhance Science Education

Rogers State University in Oklahoma has commenced construction on the Robson Center for Science and Technology, a $35 million STEM facility aimed at advancing science education and research. The center will feature 44,000 square feet of multifunctional labs, open spaces for robotics and drone work, and a teaching kitchen for nutritional science. The project is supported by state funding, the Cherokee Nation, and the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust. The new facility is expected to replace the outdated Loshbaugh Hall and serve as a hub for innovation and STEM education in the region.