Building Pathways in Pennsylvania: Higher Ed Partnerships for Access, Childcare, and Workforce 2026

The American Council on Education's (ACE) Building Pathways Initiative is a limited series of state convenings designed to advance student success by elevating state-led priorities and connecting them with national insights and resources. This in-person convening brings together Pennsylvania's higher education leaders alongside employers, students, and state partners to explore how innovative cross-sector partnership can simultaneously expand student access, address childcare barriers, and develop workforce solutions that meet Pennsylvania's economic growth needs. The convening---generously hosted by Northampton Community College with funding from Imaginable Futures---will highlight how Pennsylvania institutions are partnering across sectors to solve interconnected challenges. Higher education institutions across the commonwealth are advancing innovative programs that remove student barriers, build workforce pipelines, and strengthen employer partnerships. The higher education ecosystem is uniquely positioned to drive innovation that benefits Pennsylvania's learners, employers, and communities. By bringing together leaders from across Pennsylvania's higher education landscape, employers, and state partners, this convening will strengthen our shared commitment to addressing critical challenges facing the commonwealth. This is the third in ACE's series of state-focused convenings. Individual events highlight a particular state's cross-sector goals, strategies, and programs and will culminate in Spring 2026 with ACE's national summit, which will leverage higher education's state strategies to advance national impact.