The universities continued to shine this summer as our students embraced learning through a variety of real-world opportunities.
Success Highlights
During the summer, Cheyney University had the honor of hosting Governor Josh Shapiro on its historic campus. This visit was more than just a meeting of minds; it was a powerful discussion on the future of education and opportunities for students across Pennsylvania.
Anna Collins, a senior majoring in psychology at Commonwealth University-Lock Haven, recently completed a summer internship with the Clinton County Commissioners. During this experience, she gained practical knowledge in human resources and local government operations.
Stephanie Meisel Machmer, an alumna of Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg ('96/'00M), was recognized as one of the twelve finalists for the 2024 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year. She has dedicated 28 years to serving as a secondary life skills support teacher in the Jersey Shore Area School District.
The Commonwealth University – Mansfield Public Safety Training Institute is creating connections between the community, high school career and technology centers, and regional and state agencies. By forming agreements with high school career and technology centers, students can get credit for their training and education toward an associate or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Commonwealth University (CU) and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) have announced an agreement that allows cadets to receive college credits for their training. The arrangement enables cadets to receive 20 credits at CU upon graduation from the academy when enrolled in a criminal justice degree program at any CU campus location (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Mansfield, or Clearfield).
Eight students from East Stroudsburg University attended the “Academic Seminar on National Security” program through The Washington Center in Washington, D.C. The seminar, which was held May 14-22, focused generally on the landscape of national security and democracy.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania faculty member Chris Schaney and graduate student Lilee Lux spent part of their summer researching the effects and pace of erosion on Saxis, Virginia, a tiny fishing village along the Chesapeake Bay.
Kutztown University’s College of Education has partnered with local high schools to establish the "KU Early College Academy for Education," a unique dual enrollment program aimed at increasing access to careers in education. The Early College Academy for Education offers high school students with a general interest in working with children and education studies the opportunity to attend classes on KU’s campus. Students will take two courses in the fall semester and two in the spring, all of which will count toward education majors. Currently, more than 40 students are set to begin this program in the fall semester of 2024.
According to the Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania, the state is predicted to face a shortage of over 20,000 nurses by 2026, the worst in the nation. However, a new agreement between Millersville University and HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, offers a promising solution for Central Pennsylvania.
Internships allow students to apply the knowledge and theory they've learned in the classroom to real-world professional settings. This summer, numerous PennWest students are gaining hands-on experience in the community directly related to their fields of study and preparing for successful careers.
The faculty at Shippensburg University provides students with immersive learning experiences and leads study-abroad trips for students across different disciplines. Learn more about the various trips faculty and students have taken around the world!
"Hands-on research" is a term frequently used to describe how college students learn through active participation in laboratory experiments. However, one Slippery Rock University student is taking on a project that is even more literal regarding the touch of fingertips. Janey Parks, a sophomore mechanical engineering major from New Brighton, is working in the Advanced Manufacturing Lab in SRU's Vincent Science Center this summer to discover ways to enhance wearable sensors that respond to touch and capture motion.
West Chester University is among the 12 universities in Pennsylvania that have received grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to provide scholarships and programs for undergraduate students with children. The Parent Pathways Grant Program aims to support parenting students by offering tuition assistance, emergency funding, and wrap-around services to help them persist in their studies.