September 26, 2023

Fueling the Commonwealth's Workforce

Dr. Chris Fiorentino, President, West Chester University

As I enter my 41st year in higher education, I find that earning a college degree has never been more imperative; it has become a critical need. Today, a glaring gap exists between the demand for higher education in Pennsylvania’s job market and the actual number of adults with higher education. 

 

Specifically, 60% of Pennsylvania jobs require workers with some higher education, while only 53% of Pennsylvania adults have it. The talent gap exists across economic sectors, and it’s growing. To play its part in closing the gap, it is estimated that between 2020 and 2030 the commonwealth will need to award 5.5% more associate degrees, 8.1% more bachelor’s degrees, 15.7% more master’s degrees, 6% more doctoral degrees, and 4% more postsecondary non-degree credentials.

 

In one-on-one conversations and in meetings, business and community leaders continue to share with me what it takes for our graduates to be successful in today’s changing world. I call it the “toolkit” of essential skills and competencies: critical thinking, effective communication, responding thoughtfully to diversity, ethical decision making, and community engagement. 

 

At a time when most people will change jobs and careers several times in their lifetimes, these are the specific skills that provide the foundation for a multitude of positions and that will serve them well through the years. Given this, I find it especially curious that some people question the value of a college degree. The fact of the matter is that a college degree remains vital to the overall economy and the society we live in. 

 

Like our sister institutions, West Chester University is doing everything in its power to connect students to their goals. Last spring we graduated more than 3,300 students, in addition to the 1,357 students who graduated from the university in the previous fall. Our graduates had a lot to celebrate — new degrees and new jobs. Our Twardowski Career Development Center (TCDC) is currently surveying the Class of 2023 to learn just how well our newest graduates are faring in today’s job market. Based on WCU’s recent career outcomes survey of the Class of 2022’s job successes, we are optimistic that the Class of 2023 will be equally as successful.

 

Recent results gathered from a First Destination Survey conducted by the TCDC with members of WCU’s Class of 2022 indicate that 93% of those surveyed were employed or pursuing further education within six months of graduation. Specifically, 82% of WCU graduates were employed, 11% went on to pursue higher education, and 7% were either seeking employment/continuing education or were not seeking employment or education.

 

In fact, more employers than ever before have been recruiting West Chester University students. This past academic year, a total of 474 employers recruited on campus through events like career fairs, networking events, information tabling, and on-campus or virtual interviews facilitated by the TCDC. This represents a 46% increase in employers recruiting WCU students over the highest number in the previous five years, as well as the highest number of all time. 

 

I am proud that 75% of West Chester University graduates settle around greater Philadelphia or eastern Pennsylvania. What’s the lesson learned? A public university is a massive asset for a region, especially for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We are known for reaching deep into the community and bringing higher education to those who might not have been able to attain it before. For example, West Chester University signed a degree-completion agreement with Reading Area Community College (RACC). The agreement enables qualified, enrolled RACC students to earn an associate degree and then transfer seamlessly to WCU with a renewable scholarship and priority housing. We have a similar agreement with Bucks County Community College. These two new agreements are modeled on our highly successful and long-lasting partnership with Delaware County Community College.

 

To help alleviate our state’s dramatic shortage of teachers, Dr. Desha Williams, dean of the College of Education and Social Work, has developed the PRIZE Program; PRIZE stands for Partnering in Raising Inclusive, Zealous Educators. By partnering with school districts in the area, our university is working to inspire and cultivate future teachers while they are in high school. Through this program, high school students who plan on becoming teachers can start taking education classes at West Chester — for free.

 

Thanks to Dr. Brandon Mitchell, associate professor of physics, we also have a new 3-2 dual degree program in Quantum Science and Engineering with the University of Delaware. It’s the first and only bachelor’s/master’s program of its kind in the United States, and it’s preparing students for a technical revolution — specifically, an emerging $3.2 billion quantum-computing market. This collaboration is at the forefront of cultivating a new workforce that integrates the fields of computer science, physics, chemistry, and materials science. 

 

Distinctive and impactful pathways can be found throughout our other nine state-owned universities, as well. As a result, PASSHE schools provide the bulk of our commonwealth’s workforce. All PASSHE schools are significant economic drivers for our communities, our businesses, and our organizations. Our collective work advances student success, transforms our graduates into productive citizens, and continues to make our commonwealth thrive.