Health care providers, behavioral health agencies and public safety organizations across Northeast Ohio face a common challenge: finding enough qualified professionals to meet growing workforce demands.

Rather than simply recruiting graduates, many organizations are partnering directly with The University of Akron (UA) College of Health and Human Sciences to help educate and prepare the next generation of professionals.

By aligning academic programs with workforce needs, the college is helping students launch meaningful careers while strengthening the communities the University serves. These partnerships, along with other recruitment efforts, are helping drive momentum across the college, with undergraduate enrollment increasing 115% since 2024.

“With this creative response to changing enrollment trends, our employer partners are helping shape the workforce they need, our students gain affordable pathways to meaningful careers, and our communities benefit from a steady pipeline of well-prepared professionals,” said Daniel Friesner, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences.

Summa Health Smart Start grows the field

One of the college’s longest-running workforce partnerships is with Summa Health through its Smart Start Program, which helps employees earn degrees while preparing for careers within the health system.

Current Summa employees can enroll in UA’s School of Nursing or School of Allied Health to pursue degrees including nursing (traditional, or RN to BSN), respiratory therapy or health services-radiologic technology. Students receive tuition and fee support from Summa and continue working during the program before transitioning into full-time clinical roles after graduation through a two-year employment commitment.

The program has already demonstrated its success: five RN to BSN students and one respiratory therapy student have graduated so far. The first radiologic technology cohort will graduate in summer 2027, with the first BSN cohort expected in spring 2028.

Akron Children’s Career Launch removes barriers

Akron Children’s Hospital is taking a similar approach through Career Launch, a workforce development program designed to eliminate financial obstacles for aspiring nurses.

In partnership with UA’s Associate Degree in Nursing program, Career Launch covers 100% of tuition, books, uniforms and required supplies. It also provides transportation and childcare assistance when needed, along with mentorship, professional development and a guaranteed nursing position at Akron Children’s following graduation. UA’s Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree is offered exclusively at UA’s Wayne College Campus in Orrville.

Now educating its third cohort, Career Launch is helping nearly 90 students pursue nursing degrees.

Summit County ADM Board strengthens behavioral health professionals

The need for behavioral health professionals continues to grow, and UA is addressing that challenge through an innovative partnership with the County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADM) Board.

Established in 2023, the collaboration created a dedicated behavioral health campus coordinator who bridges UA’s School of Social Work and Family Sciences with community agencies. The coordinator recruits students into social work programs and helps place them with partner agencies for field experiences.

UA and AMD also established the Behavioral Health Partnership Program, giving social work students field placements within the ADM Board’s provider network, along with scholarships, specialized training and professional development. Coupled with new online offerings, the approach has resulted in more than 30% growth in the undergraduate incoming class this fall.

“We are incredibly grateful for this public partnership between the University of Akron and the ADM Board,” said Aimee Wade ‘05, the Board’s executive director. Wade is a member of the CHHS Alumni Advisory Committee and earned a Master in Social Work degree from UA. “By bringing together public higher education and our community behavioral investing in students while building the skilled, committed workforce Summit County will depend on for years to come.”

Peace Officer training raises the standard

The college’s workforce partnerships extend beyond health care into public safety through its collaboration with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. Together, UA and the Sheriff’s Office operate an Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission-certified police academy that combines law enforcement and University expertise.

Each year, about 75 cadets complete more than 700 hours of training before taking Ohio’s Peace Officer Certification Exam. The curriculum goes beyond state-required training, providing hands-on experience with specialized equipment and vehicles and access to instructors from 25 law enforcement agencies. Cadets may also earn up to 15 hours of college credit.

“Our partnership with The University of Akron gives our cadets a lot of opportunities that go beyond traditional police academy training,” said Commander William Holland, who also serves as chief deputy with the Sheriff’s Office. “We have high standards for our cadets, and we challenge them learning environment that emphasizes character, problem-solving and safety.”

The academy was the first open-enrollment police academy in Ohio to receive the state attorney general’s STAR Award, which recognizes law enforcement training programs that voluntarily exceed minimum state standards.

Future opportunities for collaboration

As workforce needs evolve, the College of Health and Human Sciences is committed to helping employers build the skilled workforce they need. Organizations facing critical shortages in health or human services are encouraged to partner with the college to explore new ways to support students and strengthen their talent pipelines.

“These partnerships represent the best of what higher education in the healing, helping, and justice-seeking professions can be,” said Friesner.

Contact the College of Health and Human Sciences at chhs@uakron.edu about potential partnership opportunities.

Media contact: media@uakron.edu