CSCU Trains More Than 2,600 Students for High Demand Healthcare Jobs Through CT SHIP Grant
Through the grant, students were trained in high demand healthcare positions, ranging from certified nurse aides (CNAs) to sterile processing technicians
Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) announced today that Connecticut State Community College (CT State) has trained more than 2,600 students for high demand healthcare positions as part of the CT State Healthcare Industry Pathways Project (CT SHIP) grant.
The four-year grant enhanced workforce readiness and employment opportunities within the healthcare field by using evidence-based approaches, including demand-driven, sector-based training, accelerated learning programs, and stackable credential initiatives.
Through the CT SHIP grant, 2,644 students were trained in high demand healthcare positions, ranging from certified nurse aides (CNAs) to sterile processing technicians, and 400 students participated in work-based learning as part of their program.
“The CT SHIP grant was a gamechanger for the healthcare sector. Through this grant, we were able to partner with leading employers to develop micro credentials and provide work-based training for hundreds of students,” said CSCU Chancellor Terrence Cheng. “This grant underscores the critical need for us all – the state and federal government, our colleges and universities, and the private sector – to work together to address Connecticut’s workforce challenges.”
The multimillion-dollar grant was funded through a U.S. Department of Labor (U.S. DOL) Education and Training Administration (ETA) grant, and through non-federal state and local resources. The U.S. DOL ETA grant was part of the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants program awarded to 11 colleges nationwide.
CT State Norwalk served as the lead institution for the grant-funded project, and had four consortium partners including CT State’s Gateway, Housatonic, Middlesex, and Tunxis campuses.
“This grant has advanced our mission to re-skill students for vital roles in healthcare while addressing critical disparities in credential attainment,” said CT State President O. John Maduko, M.D. “By focusing on high-demand health career pathways and offering accelerated training, we have equipped students with industry-recognized credentials and essential skills to expand their employment opportunities and strengthen Connecticut’s workforce. We are grateful for the support, partnerships and collaboration that made this possible."
Through the CT SHIP grant, four regional healthcare sector partnerships were established, including the Capital Healthcare Regional Sector Partnership, the Eastern CT Healthcare Regional Sector Partnership, the Northwest Healthcare Regional Sector Partnership, and the Southwest Healthcare Regional Sector Partnership.
These partnerships, supported by key stakeholders such as the Governor’s Workforce Council and NextGen Sector Partnerships, played a crucial role in aligning training programs with evolving industry needs and fostering collaboration among employers, workforce boards, and CT State Community College.
Another key success of the program was the development and deployment of micro credentials tailored to industry demand, which will continue to be available to students. Employers actively participated in designing these credentials, ensuring that training aligned with the most in-demand skills across healthcare settings.
The grant began in February 2021 and concluded on January 31, 2025.
The success of the grant underscores the effectiveness of CT SHIP’s workforce development strategies within Connecticut’s healthcare sector.