Three Universities Pilot New Advising Model to Boost Career Connections
Shippensburg University, Kutztown University, and PennWest are piloting a new student advising model called "Connecting Credentials to Careers" to enhance student connections to career opportunities.
Harrisburg Lancaster Lebanon York, PA, September 20, 2026 — Shippensburg University, Kutztown University, and Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) have initiated a pilot program designed to strengthen the link between academic pursuits and future employment prospects. The new student advising model, titled “Connecting Credentials to Careers,” aims to provide students with enhanced pathways to understand and access career opportunities relevant to their chosen fields of study.
The initiative, currently in its pilot phase at these three state-owned universities, focuses on proactively guiding students through their academic journeys with a clear emphasis on career development. While specific details regarding the implementation timeline or the precise mechanisms of the advising model were not provided, the core objective is to ensure that students graduate with not only a degree but also a clearer vision and plan for their professional futures.
University officials involved in the pilot stated that the program is intended to foster deeper connections between students, faculty advisors, and career services professionals. The goal is to offer a more integrated approach to advising, where academic planning is directly aligned with the exploration of internships, co-op programs, and post-graduation employment opportunities.
The “Connecting Credentials to Careers” model is expected to help students identify how their coursework and extracurricular activities contribute to developing in-demand skills and competencies valued by employers. This approach seeks to demystify the transition from higher education to the workforce.
Further information on the specific outcomes or expansion plans for the “Connecting Credentials to Careers” advising model was not immediately available. The participating universities are evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program as it progresses.
Story summarized from the original created by Kaylee Lindenmuth on www.abc27.com, see more information here.
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