AICUP leads Pa. event on student success and workforce partnerships

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The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania said it is leading a discussion about advancing student success at an event produced by the DC-based American Council on Education (ACE).  

The event, which will take place on April 28, will bring together Pennsylvania’s higher education leaders alongside employers and state partners, who will explore cross-sector partnership ideas on expanding student access and workforce solutions that meet Pennsylvania’s economic growth needs. 

 “Silos don’t work. We’re reaching out to different sectors of education and industry, so that we can collaborate together, in the same room, to discuss how we’re going to fix higher ed. How else do you expect to help students?” said AICUP President Tom Foley. “We’re here working together, doing our part, doing the real work that needs to get done to build up the workforce, place students into jobs, and attract real talent to Pa. That’s how an economy thrives.” 

 “Building Pathways in Pennsylvania” is part of a nationwide initiative by ACE. The event is invitation-only and will be held at Northampton County Community College. 

 “We were invited because you just can’t talk about higher education in Pennsylvania without including the 279,000 students at the AICUP member campuses,” said Foley, who is also a former college president and PA Secretary of Labor and Industry.  

“AICUP represents the largest sector of higher education in Pennsylvania with 80+ member campuses, all independent and nonprofit,” he said. “But more importantly, these schools serve as the model for education in Pennsylvania. These schools are already working together and collaborating. They even make group purchases together all with one simple goal in mind: To keep the cost of independent colleges down. According to the US Department of Education average net tuition and fees at these schools –what students actually pay– is almost exactly the same as it was 10 years ago.” 

 Event speakers include AICUP President Tom Foley, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation Vice President Karianne Gelinas, Lehigh Valley Inter-Regional Networking & Connecting Consortium (LINC) President Katelyn Mack, St. Luke’s University Health Network Vice President Darla Frack, State Board of Higher Education ED Kate Shaw and Urban Institute Senior Fellow Theresa Anderson.  

Participants include the American Association of Community Colleges, Holy Family University, Lafayette College, Moravian University, Muhlenberg College, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), Pennsylvania Department of Education, Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, The Jed Foundation, Urban Institute, and Wilkes University. 

AICUP said its members have made more than 300 transfer agreements with community colleges across Pennsylvania, including at Northampton.