ÅÝܽÊÓƵ

About the Initiative

The WBL initiative is a three-year pilot funded by the and guided by the with a focus on preparing students for the workforce. ÅÝܽÊÓƵ is one of five leading this initiative, alongside Cheney, East Stroudsburg, Shippensburg and Slippery Rock.

The work out of ÅÝܽÊÓƵ is a three-prong approach across:

• ÅÝܽÊÓƵ
• Workforce Development
• Career and Professional Development

ÅÝܽÊÓƵ has been working with to identify the skills and competency alignments between industry recognized credentials and academic course(s). The identification of 40+ direct industry recognized credential alignments across multiple disciplines including:

• Healthcare
• Business
• Human Services
• Social Work
• Engineering
• NACE/Career Readiness
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Equity & Inclusion
  • Leadership
  • Professionalism
  • Teamwork
  • Technology
  • Career & Self-Development

Every campus has a career center, but at ÅÝܽÊÓƵ, we leverage key stakeholders as part of a unique career community that provides students with opportunities for alumni and employer connections, career experiences, and financial support for professional development opportunities.

• Career Intensive Boot Camp
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Employer Engagement
• Career Experiences
• Professional Development Opportunities

Benefits

• Integration of WBL into every phase of a student's academic career improves their practical abilities and prepares for obstacles they may face in their careers
• Student Employment and paid experiences improve their economic mobility and build their resumes simultaneously
• Ensure that workforce demands are met by education
• Early career preparation through CU Professional Boot Camp develops professional skills and awareness of workplace standards

Outcomes of this Work

• Adult learners with the identified credentials can explore receiving credit for prior learning
• Value add to those students that need to step in and out of education (earning credits and credentials)
• Build resume and portfolios for all students

What's Next?

Promoting where micro credentials and workforce skills exist in order to provide a badge for the credential and/or skillset

• Badging will be managed out of Workforce Development
• Work with Academic Affairs, Registrar, Marketing and Communications to promote information and explore a way for students to capture and track their accomplishments on a type of learning experience record or tag

This project establishes ÅÝܽÊÓƵ as an "anchor university" in work-based learning, supporting both students and employers in the region and across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.