PathForwardPA will reduce the cost of a four-year degree while helping Pennsylvania employers develop skilled workers for leadership roles.
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Foundation announced an initiative today that will expand opportunities for manufacturing workers to earn a bachelor’s degree, preparing them for management roles while providing Pennsylvania employers with a highly qualified workforce.
PathForward IUP Council of Trustees Chair and PASSHE Board of Governors Vice Chair Sam Smith
PathForwardPA will allow workers to earn credit toward a bachelor’s degree at one of two participating State System universities—Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Western University—for experience gained during an advanced manufacturing apprenticeship.
“PathForwardPA demonstrates that students do not need to choose between working or pursuing a college degree. They can enter manufacturing or the trades and earn credits toward a college degree,” said Shelley Scherer, president and CEO of PASSHE Foundation. “For employers, this program addresses workforce shortages by equipping current employees with the advanced education they need to move into management and leadership roles.”
PASSHE Foundation is partnering with industry and education organizations across western Pennsylvania on this initiative, including Catalyst Connection and the German American Chamber of Commerce – Pittsburgh Chapter, both of which are providing qualifying apprenticeship programs. Other partners include Greensburg-Salem School District, The Pittsburgh Promise, and the Consortium of Public Education.
The Richard King Mellon Foundation and Henry L. Hillman Foundation are funding the program.
“IUP is very proud to be part of this and any initiative that provides an opportunity for promising students to achieve their educational goals while addressing the commonwealth’s workforce needs,” IUP President Michael Driscoll said. “We thank all of the PathForwardPA partners for their support.”
PathForward IUP Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Lara Luetkehans
While apprenticeships provide a valuable pathway to well-paying careers, workers who complete them can face significant barriers to earning a bachelor’s degree, including cost, which could help them advance into management and leadership positions. PathForwardPA awards apprentices with college credits for their training and on-the-job experience, providing an affordable option for workers to obtain a four-year degree while helping employers build a pipeline of workers prepared to fill increasingly complex and higher-level positions.
“People who complete an apprenticeship bring hard-earned knowledge and skills to their education, and those accomplishments should count toward a college degree,” said James Fisher, interim president of PennWest University. “PathForwardPA will help us build on that foundation, giving working adults a way to continue their education while supporting themselves and their families. For PennWest, this partnership is a continuation of our current efforts, such as our partnership with the American Injection Molding Institute, to help more people move into leadership roles and build their futures in the communities they call home.”
Here is how the program will work: Catalyst Connection and the German American Chamber of Commerce sponsor paid apprenticeship programs in advanced manufacturing fields. IUP and PennWest will award college credit to those who complete these apprenticeships toward related bachelor’s degrees.
For example, a worker who completes an apprenticeship through the German American Chamber of Commerce as a chemistry lab technician will receive credit toward a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at IUP. An apprentice in Catalyst Connection’s industrial manufacturing technician program can earn credit for a bachelor’s degree in applied technology management at PennWest. They could complete their remaining coursework at their own pace, and many employers provide education benefits that would cover the cost of tuition.
PathForwardPA will create an affordable, accessible path to a college degree for high school students considering their post-graduation plans as well as journey people who already have completed an apprenticeship.
“Manufacturers across our region need skilled workers whose training goes beyond high school, and apprenticeship is one of the most effective ways to develop them,” said Rachel Mauer, president of the German American Chamber of Commerce – Pittsburgh Chapter. “What sets PathForwardPA apart is that it recognizes the real learning that happens in an apprenticeship and turns it into credit toward a bachelor’s degree at PASSHE universities. Apprentices don’t have to start over to advance, and employers gain a workforce that’s ready to grow into leadership. PathForwardPA provides the critical ‘missing piece’ for high school students in pre-apprenticeship programs. It’s a game changer for students, apprentices, and employers.”
Pennsylvania faces a growing need for skilled workers to support expansion in advanced manufacturing, energy, and related industries. Apprenticeships are playing a key role in meeting that demand, providing workers with paid, hands-on training while helping employers develop the talent they need. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry reports that more than 26,800 new apprentices have enrolled in programs across the Commonwealth since 2023. Nationally, more than 700,000 apprentices were participating in registered apprenticeship programs in fiscal year 2025.
“Apprenticeships deliver a strong, skilled workforce to manufacturers across southwestern Pennsylvania and help employees advance in their careers,” said Scott Dietz, managing director of workforce development at Catalyst Connection. “PathForwardPA makes possible the opportunity for apprentices to continue gaining skills and credentials to advance their careers in manufacturing by pursuing college degrees in related fields. With thousands of manufacturing career opportunities available in southwestern Pennsylvania, these pathways can attract more talent to the manufacturing sector while providing opportunities to grow with regional companies."
About PASSHE Foundation
PASSHE Foundation drives innovations in talent strategy, delivers labor market insights to inform academic decisions, and invests in opportunities that help students complete their education and launch careers. Through these efforts, PASSHE Foundation benefits PASSHE’s 10 universities, its students, and Pennsylvania’s employers by forging partnerships and raising funds that deliver a stronger workforce and a more competitive commonwealth.