The collaboration between Southern Connecticut State University’s (SCSU) Office of Workforce and Lifelong Learning (OWLL) and The WorkPlace, a regional workforce development board, exemplifies how higher education and workforce systems can unite to address regional labor market needs while expanding access to education and career advancement opportunities. The success of this collaboration has been recognized with the 2026 UPCEA New England Regional Program Award, which honors exemplary and/or innovative programming that expands access for learners and/or connects across geographic boundaries and demonstrates regional impact.
UPCEA is an American non-profit association for professional, continuing, and online higher education, primarily engaged in adult education.
Launched in 2023, the OWLL and WorkPlace partnership bridges post-secondary education and workforce training to create stackable, credential-based learning pathways that prepare individuals — specifically disengaged youth ages 18 to 24 — for in-demand careers in fields such as technology, business, and emerging industries. By integrating employer-aligned training, wraparound support, and credit-bearing pathways, the program advances UPCEA’s mission of expanding access and demonstrates the power of collaboration across institutions and systems.
Youth connect with OWLL by engaging with The WorkPlace, where they meet with Mark Lazarus, program manager of information technology at The WorkPlace. Lazarus analyzes their skillsets and experience to help them choose a pathway. Most students are focused on project management and IT or cybersecurity.
“SCSU’s Office of Workforce and Lifelong Learning is honored to be recognized for our partnership and groundbreaking work with The WorkPlace,” said Amy Feest, OWLL senior director. “Our partnership is changing the lives of our learners, and we hope that the work we are doing becomes a model for other programs through this award.”
Southern Connecticut faces persistent workforce challenges, including skill shortages, equity gaps, and the need for lifelong reskilling opportunities. Employers across the Greater New Haven region report difficulty filling roles in high-demand sectors such as information technology, cybersecurity, and business operations—fields that also provide strong opportunities for economic mobility.
The OWLL–WorkPlace collaboration directly addresses these challenges by serving individuals who often face barriers to accessing traditional education and career pathways. Through this program, participants gain access to career-connected learning, hands-on skills training, and AI-supported tools that help identify and connect them with the best-fit employment opportunities.
Since its inception, the OWLL–WorkPlace partnership has achieved measurable and transformative outcomes across Southern Connecticut. Graduates are entering high-paying technical fields, helping to close workforce gaps while elevating their own socioeconomic stability. Together, OWLL and The WorkPlace have created a dynamic partnership that redefines how higher education can engage with workforce systems to expand opportunity, strengthen regional economies, and support lifelong learning.
Award recipients will be honored at the 2026 UPCEA Annual Conference, April 15-17, in New Orleans, La.
