PASSHE and PA Bankers Innovative Partnership Benefiting Students
Credit: Leah Arthur
Leah Arthur learned as a kid that running a successful business takes hard work.
She grew up on a Century Farm in Lycoming County, where her family has worked the land for more than 100 years.
“I’ve been interested in business all of my life. I have an entrepreneurial spirit,” said Leah, a junior at Commonwealth University–Bloomsburg.
This summer, she put that spirit to work through a unique internship that pairs hands-on experience at a local bank with weekly courses taught by PASSHE university faculty and subject matter experts.
As a human resources intern at C&N Bank in Wellsboro, Tioga County, Leah helped the bank recruit and develop future talent. Her experience is part of an academy between Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and the Pennsylvania Bankers Association (PA Bankers).
“The academy is the perfect connection between my internship and college,” she said. “Because of the academy, I’m a stronger individual and will have a better start to my career.”
PASSHE and PA Bankers Collaboration
Leah is one of more than 100 college students who participated in the Career and Leadership Skills Academy this summer. The 19 participating banks, including C&N Bank, Dime Bank, Fulton Bank and Penn Community Bank, select the interns who will participate in the nine-week Academy. The banking interns attend weekly online sessions led by industry experts and instructors from Shippensburg, Indiana, Kutztown and Commonwealth universities in the State System.
PASSHE universities and the PA Bankers developed the courses to focus on essential workplace skills, such as professionalism, time and stress management, teamwork and networking. Each session focuses on a specific topic with students holding small group discussions, then reconvening to share what they’ve learned with interns from banks across Pennsylvania.
Universities have so much to offer, at so many levels, and this was a powerful example.”
— Dr. Jonathan Cooper, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
After the program is complete, academy graduates receive a digital badge that can be added to email signatures, digital resumes, LinkedIn profiles and other platforms to verify their training.
State Grant Helps Serve More Students
The Academy started in 2022 through the PA Bankers, partnering with Shippensburg University’s Center for Career, led by Executive Director Victoria Kerr. After the successful launch, the program shifted to the university's Office of Workforce Development.
“The academy complements what students learn with the internship,” said Tracy Montoro, director of workforce development at Shippensburg. “Together, we are preparing students to be more successful, and it gives them an advantage when they enter the job market and workforce.”
The program nearly doubled in size this year thanks to a $250,000 Industry Partnership grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.
The PASSHE Foundation secured the grant to expand the program to include instructors from Commonwealth, Indiana and Kutztown universities.
“We focused on conflict resolution, teamwork, and communication, but what stood out were the conversations about values and being a good colleague,” said Dr. Cooper. “That will really set them up for success.”
Cooper also appreciates the connections between PASSHE universities, the employers and the community.
“Universities have so much to offer, at so many levels, and this was a powerful example. I enjoyed the whole experience and was impressed by the incredible group of student interns,” said Cooper.
While PASSHE instructors teach the courses, the academy is open to interns at PA Bankers member banks from any college or university.
“We are appreciative for the opportunity afforded by the PASSHE–PA Bankers grant.
Through this grant, we were able to design and implement a specialized training program
aligning with the banking industry’s needs. This training provided students with a
strong foundation that they will use throughout their careers. We are thankful for
this opportunity and look forward to working together in the future.”
Kristen O’Hara, director of Workforce Development
“The PASSHE and PA Bankers grant strengthened the connection between higher education
and workforce development. The program's success reflects the university's commitment
to offering students more professional development opportunities and enhancing our
partnership with the banking industry.”
Angelic Hardy, director of Workforce Development
“The PASSHE–PA Bankers grant created an exciting opportunity to connect faculty, staff
and industry professionals in meaningful workforce training initiatives. By bringing
higher education and the financial sector together, we were able to develop programs
that not only meet employer needs, but also strengthen Pennsylvania’s talent pipeline.”
Lori Lentz, director of Extended Learning
Growing Innovation across PASSHE
In just four years, the Career and Leadership Skills Academy partnership with the PA Bankers has served 220 students from more than 100 universities and 26 banks across the state.
Montoro has big aspirations for the workforce program. She hopes to grow the collaboration with the PA Bankers and to develop new partnerships with other industries and trade associations in Pennsylvania.
“This program is great for our students, our universities and the banks,” said Montoro. “I believe we could offer the same benefits to other fields in business, health care, STEM and a host of industries where PASSHE universities have a huge number of graduates.”
Leah’s experience has prepared her for the future. She plans to complete her business degree at Commonwealth University and is considering a career in banking. Ultimately, she wants to use her education and the professional experience she gains on the job in the future to bring those skills back to her family’s farm.
“My goal is to maintain and improve operations until my dad is ready to retire,” said Leah.
