The PA Chamber of Business and Industry applauded two cohorts of East Stroudsburg University (ESU) students previously selected to work with AT&T on a first-of-its-kind workforce development partnership in Pennsylvania.
“It was inspiring to see the students working together to make recommendations to address corporate challenges that are discussed so often in the employer community,” PA Chamber Foundation Executive Director Elizabeth Bolden said. “We congratulate these bright and driven students on their accomplishments and encourage them to seek out and build their promising careers in Pennsylvania after they graduate from ESU.”
The ESU students, who participated in the Employer Provided Innovation Challenges (EPIC) program, presented the culmination of their efforts to university faculty and staff, along with the PA Chamber, the U.S. Chamber, and AT&T representatives during a recent event at ESU.
The partnership, which is affiliated with the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s EPIC initiative and was facilitated with the support of the PA Chamber, brought together the university and the telecommunications company to help pilot a collaborative workforce development solution.
During the eight-week program, the students were divided into two cohorts and worked in teams to address real-world challenges identified by AT&T. Their tasks included reviewing the company’s hiring and recruiting strategies and creating new, innovative techniques to attract new learners of all ages to the AT&T sales and distribution team, and developing a list of onboarding practices to make new employees feel welcome and included.
The PA Chamber added that the ESU students also reviewed current employee benefits to determine if they are aligned with the priorities and desires of new employees, and recommended changes to improve AT&T’s recruitment and retention practices.
”The students did a fantastic job. East Stroudsburg University can be very proud of the hard work and time that these students put into developing solutions for AT&T,” said David Kerr, president of AT&T Pennsylvania. “It was a great experience for them and for us.”
During the on-campus event, the students presented their findings and responded to attendees’ questions regarding the business challenge provided by AT&T. The event offered an opportunity to showcase the research, analysis, problem-solving, and communication skills they were able to strengthen as part of the hands-on learning experience, the chamber said.
“The U.S. Chamber Foundation is grateful for the partnership of the PA Chamber Foundation in standing up for EPIC,” said Sarah Castro, executive director of programs for the U.S. Chamber Foundation. “With deep relationships in the community, the PA Chamber Foundation has been able to help us scale project-based learning opportunities with the goal of growing these partnerships across Pennsylvania and the country.”
The ESU students and the leadership of AT&T are prime examples of what EPIC success looks like, Castro added. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with the PA Chamber Foundation and bringing more project-based learning opportunities to students,“ she added.
The EPIC program aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application, providing students with valuable skills and experiences that align with Pennsylvania’s job market needs, said the PA Chamber.
Notably, the EPIC program is designed to scale, be credentialed, and deliver high-impact career awareness and preparation for learners.
“We are thrilled that our ESU student cohort teams had the incredible opportunity to participate in the inaugural EPIC project in Pennsylvania alongside AT&T,” said Sylvester Williams, Dean of the College of Business and Management at ESU. “This transformative experience is not just about learning; it’s about empowering our students to sharpen their problem-solving abilities, enhance their communication and presentation skills, and tackle complex, unstructured challenges head-on. Such real-world projects underscore the vital importance of applying academic knowledge to contemporary issues.”
The ESU students who participated in the AT&T cohorts have been invited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to travel to Washington, D.C., to present their findings at the national EPIC convening in June.