PARTNERSHIPS OF DISTINCTION 2022 Year-in-Review

The leadership team at Saint Francis University considers strategic partnerships as a key tool in shaping the next 175 years of the institution. The goal of these substantive relationships with outside entities is to bring the institution new student enrollment in different market segments, increase revenue, enhance the skills of our graduates, and secure the institution’s place in the marketplace.

Here are a few examples of Partnerships of Distinction that are already bearing fruit.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

• Alignment on workforce development issues benefiting Francis Worldwide School of Continuing Education offerings

• Expanded medical services for SFU employees and students

• Enhanced clinical sites for current students

The Association of Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)

• Certification and stackable credentialing offerings for current students and new market segments

• Ability to form regional manufacturing council to evolve as regional certification leader

Curry Supply

• Hands-on student research and premier internship experiences

• Workforce development alignment for future programming

• STEM outreach with K-12 populations

Milton Hershey

• New Student enrollment

• Workforce development alignment and ability to open new market segments

SFU @ The Curry Innovation Center Altoona, PA

This new space is home to SFU’s Curry Innovation Lab, STEM youth outreach programs, Francis Worldwide: School of Continuing Studies and the on-site residency for SFU’s hybrid Executive Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership and Innovation.

The Saint Francis University Curry Innovation Center is located on the first floor of the former Vipond Appliance Store building, a facility beautifully rejuvenated by Curry Supply Holdings. The University officially opened its new presence in downtown Altoona with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 22, 2022.

Speakers included Father Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R., Saint Francis University President; Mark Ritchey, Curry President; Steve McKnight, ABCD Corporation; U.S. Representative John Joyce, State Senator Judy Ward and State Representative Lou Schmitt (SFU class of 1984).

Today inside the space, strategic business and educational collaborations are at work to produce solutions that will impact everything from workforce readiness and STEM literacy to improving advanced manufacturing processes for regional businesses.

Francis.edu/curry-innovation-center