PASSHE universities are dedicated to academic excellence, providing real-world experiences, and fostering regional community development. The following stories showcase the innovative and impactful work being done across the system.

SUCCESS HIGHLIGHTS


Cheyney University proudly announces that Dr. Ezekiel Crenshaw, assistant professor of biology and Cheyney alumnus, has been selected as a PROPEL HBCU Faculty Fellow, a national leadership and innovation-driven program for historically Black colleges and universities. This achievement underscores Cheyney’s commitment to academic innovation, faculty development, and student success in STEM and inclusive higher education.
 
Commonwealth University’s Professional Experience Grants (PEG) are designed to help students take advantage of opportunities that they may not otherwise be able to afford. To prevent their students from facing disadvantages, CU established PEGs to help cover some of the costs associated with career-launching experiences. For 150 students during the 2024-25 academic year, receiving a PEG made their experiences possible.
 
A group of East Stroudsburg University students turned their classroom lessons into real-world experience this fall through a new partnership with Camelback Resort. As part of the hospitality, recreation and tourism management (HRTM) program’s Community Tourism Development course, about 30 students participated in a series of professional development activities that connected their in-class theory with hands-on learning in the hospitality industry.
 
More than 420 people attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Indiana Regional Medical Center’s Fourth Annual Pennsylvania Mountains Rural Health Conference, “Healthcare Innovation” held Nov. 20 at IUP’s Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. The conference, held in conjunction with National Rural Health Day, featured 34 presenters, including members of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s cabinet, Pennsylvania senators and representatives, and key healthcare and industry leaders.
 
Kutztown University and the education deans from across the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education hosted the inaugural UPrepared Summit, Oct. 19-21, at Kutztown University, to address the critical need to expand the teacher workforce in Pennsylvania. The UPrepared Summit provided a platform for engaging meaningful discussions, shared research-based practices, and collaborating on actionable plans to address the state's teacher shortage.
 
Robotic WorX – a public-private partnership between Millersville University and Precision Cobotics of Lititz that gives college and high school students opportunities to experience real-world automation challenges – has secured its first major commercial sponsorship with Advanced Atomization Technologies (AA Tech) of Clyde, N.Y. AA Tech designs, produces and supports fuel nozzles for aircraft engines.
 
For PennWest Edinboro senior Garrett Hannah, choosing a major was about following what came naturally. “In high school, I always had a passion for working and interacting with people, so I decided to pursue business,” he said. That decision set him on a path that now leads him directly to a full-time position with Erie Insurance. On January 15, the December graduate will begin working as a sourcing and vendor management analyst.
 
The Work-Based Learning (WBL) initiative at Shippensburg University is gaining momentum—creating meaningful opportunities for students to apply classroom learning to real-world experiences before graduation. Within its first-year pilot, over 1,202 unique students participated in over 59 opportunities through networking events, career panels, site visits and mock interviews that were embedded into courses.
 
Slippery Rock University is boldly positioning itself as a prominent leader through a first-of-its-kind aviation partnership. This forward-thinking “co-enrollment” model delivers stability and strength by allowing students to be simultaneously enrolled at SRU and the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC). Students will progress toward an associate degree from CCBC and a four-year bachelor’s degree from SRU, securing a solid foundation for growth in the high-demand field of aviation.
 
CBS Evening News Plus recently shone a national spotlight on West Chester University’s Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) for collaborating with the Philadelphia court system to provide free post-trial support to jurors coping with anxiety or trauma following the completion of their civic duty. CMHS director Dr. Michele Pole, a trauma and PTSD specialist, oversees the After-Service Support for Jurors Program and the graduate students in WCU's Doctor of Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) program who are trained to provide psychological first aid.