Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and Shippensburg University announce an exciting public-private educational partnership to benefit students and high-growth job market sectors.
This week, the two schools signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing the universities to exploring the development of joint programs that build upon their individual strength with the mutual goal of helping graduates find high-demand employment in the southcentral Pennsylvania workforce. The first industry certificate program focuses on the social determinants of health and health equity around population health and connecting human services and social work to health.
“We at Harrisburg University are particularly focused on career advancement and meeting the needs of the workforce. And we’re thrilled to partner with Shippensburg University by doing that exact thing, particularly in our shared part of the world here in Central Pennsylvania and meeting the great needs that our region has. Not only today, in terms of its workforce, but in terms of its future,” said HU President Dr. Eric Darr. “I look at this as just a place to start, and as we continue the conversation and have wins in the short-term, I know there will be more energy and more opportunity to work together.”
“This agreement will increase the competitive advantage of our workforce region by significantly broadening the array of relevant programs and services our two institutions can offer,” said Shippensburg University President Dr. Laurie Carter. “And the changing face of southcentral Pennsylvania requires a renewed commitment to higher education and educational partnerships in ways that benefits students and provides additional choices and opportunities. Shippensburg University values Harrisburg University as a partner and commits to continuing this joint leadership to work together to develop the talent our region needs.”
The new agreement also will allow for:
- A faculty research symposium focusing on the rural and urban perspective of population health, behavioral health, gerontology (end of life care), and more.
- Exploration of a dual bachelor-master degree programs for students in the common workforce region in areas such as:
- SU bachelor’s in biology and chemistry to HU master’s in biotechnology and pharmaceutical science
- SU’s computer science into HU’s master’s in next generation technologies, computer information science, and information systems engineering management
- SU’s bachelor’s in mathematics to HU’s master’s in analytics
- SU’s psychology and sociology to HU’s master’s in human-centered interaction design
