New grants help faculty add work-based learning projects to courses

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) is expanding a pilot to bring real-world work and learning experiences to more courses this spring semester. The partnerships between faculty and employers bring professional projects into the classroom, connect students with local businesses and prepare graduates for in-demand careers across the commonwealth.

To support that work-based expansion, PASSHE Foundation today announced a series of grant awards to faculty. The grants support faculty collaborations with employers to design assignments and projects that simulate real-world workplace experiences. The goal is to develop a sustainable model that can be scaled across PASSHE universities, enabling students to gain practical experience while supporting a classroom-to-career pipeline of talent that helps employers meet workforce needs.

“With universities across Pennsylvania, PASSHE is uniquely positioned to partner with employers,” said PASSHE Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino. “These pilots connect classroom learning with real-world experience. Employers share their expertise, students build career skills, and together we’re helping to address the shortage of well-prepared workers and keep talent in Pennsylvania.”

“PASSHE Foundation is excited to bring together employers and PASSHE faculty. Research shows that these collaborations help connect students with good jobs right out of college and deliver the workforce talent Pennsylvania’s companies need to grow and thrive,” said Shelley Scherer, president and CEO, PASSHE Foundation. “We are committed to supporting our faculty in building real-world work projects into their courses, so that students gain meaningful career exposure early and often in their college journey.”

PASSHE Foundation secured the funding through the Strada Education Foundation and the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Work-Based learning pilot grants:
The following faculty-led projects received grants and exemplify how PASSHE universities and employers are collaborating to prepare students for real-world success:

Commonwealth University and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Biology students will study stream health through hands-on fieldwork using DEP protocols. DEP experts lead field demonstrations and guest lectures, while students gain experience in aquatic insect collection, data analysis and environmental monitoring. Led by Dr. Gregory Moyer and Dr. Steve Rier, Department of Biological and Health Sciences.

East Stroudsburg University and Blue Mountain Resort
Students in data analytics will partner with Blue Mountain Resort to analyze and visualize operational data, forecast trends, and present insights to leadership, providing a professional analytics experience and actionable results. Led by Dr. Stanley Li-Ming Chiang and Dr. Yong Ju, Department of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism Management.

East Stroudsburg University and Camelback Resort
Students in Community Tourism Development will experience job shadowing with Camelback Resort professionals, participate in career panels and conduct mock interviews with executives to prepare for careers in tourism and hospitality. Led by Dr. Stanley Li-Ming Chiang and Dr. Yong Ju, Department of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism Management.

East Stroudsburg University and Hershey Entertainment and Resorts
Sports marketing students are developing marketing plans for a professional sports organization and presenting their work to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts representatives for professional feedback. Led by Dr. Jaedeock Lee, Department of Sport Management.

East Stroudsburg University, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Pocono Raceway
Sports management students will gain hands-on experience in sales, customer service, and lead generation while partnering with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Pocono Raceway, two major sports entertainment businesses in the region. Led by Dr. Kyle John Brannigan, Department of Sport Management.

East Stroudsburg University and Village Lift
Small Business Management students will develop a comprehensive business plan with Village Lift that will include mission, branding, staffing and financial projections, building real-world entrepreneurship skills while supporting company growth. Led by Dr. Carol Dimopoulos.

Shippensburg University and Gate 7 LLC
Students in Applied Artificial Intelligence for Business will consult with Gate 7 LLC to connect with local employers, helping them adopt and integrate AI-driven technology. This will enhance technical and problem-solving skills while supporting business innovation. Led by Dr. Viet Dao, Department of Business Management.

Shippensburg University and South Mountain Partnership
Students in professional and technical communications will serve as consultants, managing projects, writing grants and presenting real-world solutions to strengthen community organizations through the South Mountain Partnership. Led by Dr. Carla Kungl, Department of Accounting, Information Systems and Analytics.

Industry-recognized credential pilots: Kutztown University – Writing for the Workplace
Students will earn HubSpot’s Social Media Marketing II Certification, gaining industry credentials and professional digital communication skills. Led by Dr. Amanda Morris, Department of English.

East Stroudsburg University – Accounting Information Systems and Principles of Accounting
Students will earn QuickBooks Certification, preparing for the credentialing exam and building practical accounting software experience valued by employers. Led by Dr. Ilbey T. Budak, the Department of Business Management

“We are truly grateful to the PASSHE Foundation for recognizing and investing in the power of work-based learning,” said Sylvester E. Williams, IV, Esquire, Dean, College of Business and Management, East Stroudsburg University. “Their commitment expands opportunities for our students by allowing them to apply theory to real-world challenges, develop market-ready competencies through hands-on experiences, and build the professional connections that open doors. These experiences strengthen academic success, increase graduation outcomes, and ultimately lead to meaningful and rewarding career pathways for our students.”

“Partnering with a local business on projects gives our students the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained from the class to a real-world business context,” said Viet T. Dao, Professor of Information Systems and Analytics at Shippensburg University. “The students will coordinate with the employer to develop business plans for the client’s potential use of AI technologies. It’s a powerful way to connect classroom learning with a competitive market and help a local business succeed.”

“I am excited that our students will learn using Department of Environmental Protection protocols integrated into their coursework,” said Gregory Moyer, Department of Biological and Health Sciences at Commonwealth University. “This work-based learning experience equips students with the technical and analytical skills that today’s employers demand. We are preparing career-ready professionals who will safeguard Pennsylvania’s water resources and develop lasting competencies to strengthen the environmental workforce of the future.”

“My students appreciate practical assignments that have clear goals and outcomes, so when I saw the opportunity through PASSHE to add an industry-recognized credential to my business writing course, I went for it,” said Professor Amanda Morris, Department of English, Kutztown University. “I’m so thankful my future students will be able to earn a credential that will boost their employability for any industry they choose and that will add value to their educational experience.”

Benefits of learning from experience Embedding employer partnerships and hands-on learning into the curriculum enables students to graduate with the education and experience necessary for immediate career success. These experiences give students an advantage in the job market, strengthen relationships between universities and employers, and create long-term benefits for local communities and Pennsylvania’s economy.

As the state’s public university system, PASSHE is committed to addressing workforce shortages by providing an affordable education that prepares students for good jobs that employers need to fill. With more than 83,000 students, 89% of whom are Pennsylvania residents, PASSHE universities serve more in-state students than all other four-year colleges or universities in the commonwealth. The State System’s most enrolled programs include business, education, healthcare and STEM-related fields.

About PASSHE
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) is the public university system of the commonwealth with a mission to provide a high-quality education at the lowest possible cost to students. The State System annually confers more than 20,000 degrees and has more than 800,000 living alumni, most of whom live in Pennsylvania. The State System universities are Cheyney, Commonwealth (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield), East Stroudsburg, Indiana, Kutztown, Millersville, PennWest (California, Clarion and Edinboro), Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester universities of Pennsylvania.