From Classroom to Career: Higher Education’s Role in Economic Growth

Douglas Lee

As the cost of higher education grows, the value of a college degree is a hot topic of conversation.  High school graduates are carefully considering their options and looking into alternatives to the traditional educational path unlike ever before.

During the Washington County: State of the Economy, Community Bank Market President Nick Walsh moderated an esteemed panel of college presidents including Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls of Washington & Jefferson College, Dr. Jon Anderson of Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) and Mr. Douglas Lee of Waynesburg University.  The panel shared their insights into the importance of higher education in Western Pennsylvania and their thoughts on what the future may hold.   

“There is a lot of skepticism in higher education at the present,” Dr. MacLeod Walls said. “We at W&J are reevaluating our strategies and focusing on teaching our students adaptability under changing circumstances. We teach our students how to think, not what to think, so that they have the high-level skills they need to excel in the workforce post-graduation.”  

“This is not a new conversation,” Dr. Anderson said.  “Pennsylvania Western University traces its history to 1852, and it is well known that the value of higher education has been discussed throughout our history. The most important thing an institution of higher learning can do is align our offerings with both industry needs and the goals of the students.  We strive to prepare our students for their entire career, not just their first job.”

All three panelists agreed on the importance of looking beyond the academic setting to develop educational programs that provide students with the skills in high demand in the workforce.

President Lee said, “We understand that employers value analytical thinking and critical reasoning skills.  With this knowledge, we created an Entrepreneurial Leadership program at Waynesburg University which fosters a culture of innovation and problem solving for students.  We are always trying to identify these niches that set our university apart from others.”

Lee also described the university’s Pathways Center, which is an initiative to provide comprehensive student support services from tutoring to career development.   

The Pathways Center gives our students the tools they need to succeed in college.  We have seen retention grow from 70 to 90 percent since its opening,” President Lee said.

Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls

Washington & Jefferson College has always had a focus on innovation and adding majors that respond to workforce demands.

“We recently added a nursing program in collaboration with Washington Health System School of Nursing. It filled immediately and is already full for 2025.  We are always trying to give more opportunities to our students in those critical areas, like health sciences,” Dr. MacLeod Walls said.

The structure of PennWest University is different than the other two institutions on the panel.  PennWest University was founded in 2021 as the result of the merger of three well established institutions of higher education: California University, Edinboro University and Clarion University. 

“We have a unique student profile at PennWest University, and we know that each student learns differently,” Dr. Anderson said. “In addition to our three established campuses, we also offer an online program which has been well received. Students can choose between active in-person learning, an online curriculum, or a mix of the two to best meet their own personal needs.” 

Graduating employable individuals is a key goal of all three universities and ultimately, the most effective way to learn is from hands on experience and mentors from the workforce.

“Support from the community is invaluable to our students,” Dr. MacLeod Walls said. “We often bring in business leaders to mentor and build relationships with our students, which helps them to gain confidence and better prepare for interactions in the real world.”

President Lee stated, “We work with advisors from various industry sectors who give advice on curriculum development and help the students as they transition into the workforce. We as a university really lean on the community.”

Dr. Jon Anderson

Dr. Anderson agreed.  “The best thing we can do for our students is give them real world feedback by bringing in leaders from the community to teach them what the job market is really like.  We appreciate our partnership with the community.”

Understanding the student demographic that the colleges and universities serve is an important key to success in higher education.

“At PennWest University, our real niche is serving the regions surrounding our three campuses,” Dr.  Anderson said. “Many of our students return to their hometowns after graduation, so it is important that we look into the needs of our surrounding regions and identify the ways that our students can elevate their communities if they choose to return.”

“Ninety-nine percent of Washington & Jefferson College students are employed or in graduate school within six months.  That is an important statistic,” Dr. MacLeod Walls said. “I give a lot of credit to the local economy and to the alumni who are dedicated to the school through assisting with job placement and philanthropic donations for scholarships.”

In a time when the rising costs of education is a barrier for some students, Washington & Jefferson College is doing things differently than most colleges and universities.

“In the fall of 2023, we cut the tuition by 44 percent,” Dr. MacLeod Walls relayed. “We at W&J believe that it’s important for education to be affordable and accessible.”

The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on colleges and universities, and of course the student population. 

“The pandemic dramatically changed the learning process,” President Lee said.  “Many of our students spent time as young people learning at home alone. Bringing them to the university setting is a big transition.”

Dr. Anderson concurred. “As we navigate the post-pandemic world, we find that many students prefer a mix of active learning in the classroom with maybe one or two online courses for the direct, one-on-one learning experience.” 

Looking ahead to the next five years, the panel discussed where they see the higher education sector moving. 

Our focus over the next five years will be stability and growth,” Dr. Anderson said. “We will be stronger and more intentional as we continue to deepen our connections in the community.”

“There is a strong correlation between a college degree and employability,” Dr. MacLeod Walls said. “Over the next five years, we will continue to respond to the workforce demands to graduate employable, transformational and successful members of society.”