Degrees that Deliver

How Goldey-Beacom College is evolving to meet the state’s changing demographics and employer demands

BY COLLEEN PERRY KEITH, PH.D. AND JANINE G. SORBELLO

GOLDEY-BEACOM COLLEGE, along with Delaware’s other colleges and universities, is proactively addressing the state’s evolving demographics to ensure a skilled and adaptable workforce. Here are three ways that Goldey-Beacom College is responding:

1. Developing Targeted Degree Programs: At Goldey-Beacom, we have created 15 new graduate-level certificate programs, in addition to undergraduate certificate programs, in areas such as business analytics, finance and economic analysis, information technology, and health care management that directly respond to the needs of employers in the state. These certificates are not just standalone opportunities but rather can be stacked toward a graduate degree, paving the way for achieving a marketable credential more quickly.

2. Strengthening Industry-Education Partnerships: Governor Matt Meyer’s commitment to strengthening industry-aligned education calls for more experiential, real-world learning in every classroom. Goldey-Beacom recently launched a partnership with Zip Code Wilmington, which offers a 12-week coding boot camp to provide individuals with indemand software programming skills and facilitate connections with local tech companies.

We also maintain a Career Advisory Board composed of employers who provide direct input into the college’s degree programs to ensure they continue to meet ever-evolving industry needs.

3. Expanding Access to Career Pathways: Also in Governor Meyer’s plan is a vision to guarantee every high school student a career pathway, including apprenticeships, dual-credit courses, and job-shadowing opportunities. His goals align directly with Delaware Pathways and the broader mission of expanding access to post-secondary success.

At Goldey-Beacom, providing access is a key value, and we do that by keeping our tuition as low as possible while still providing scholarship aid.

Delaware Pathways, a collaborative initiative involving schools and industry, offers career and technical education in fields like IT, manufacturing, and STEM. With more than 30,000 students enrolled, the program provides work-based learning experience and apprenticeships, preparing students for the workforce. Along with our sister institutions throughout the state, GoldeyBeacom participates in several career pathways, including a STEM degree, with an overall goal of ensuring the skilled workforce that our state needs.

The state’s education agenda reinforces and expands the very priorities that Delaware’s colleges and post-secondary institutions are pursuing. The Governor’s proposed investment in a modernized, needs-based funding model aims to support programs like Goldey-Beacom’s targeted certificates by ensuring resources flow to where demand and demographic shifts are greatest.

Further adaptation to changing demographics and workforce needs is always top of mind. At Goldey-Beacom, providing access is a key value, and we do that by keeping our tuition as low as possible while still providing scholarship aid. Going forward, the college is seeking ways to leverage artificial intelligence so that we can improve how we serve students, in

ways such as ensuring that emerging trends are reflected in our curriculum and course offerings. As we have for nearly 140 years, we are committed to carefully listening to employers and state officials as they lay out plans and needs so that we can be the trusted provider of Delaware’s workforce.

As higher education continues to work together, these strategies form a cohesive roadmap to prepare Delaware’s workforce for the demands of tomorrow while ensuring equitable opportunity for all students across the state.

Colleen Perry Keith, Ph.D is president and Janine G. Sorbello is the director of external affairs at Goldey-Beacom College.