ECPI University Recognized for Innovation in Employer Collaboration by Career Education Review

CER Award recognizes ECPI University for reducing student barriers and strengthening the workforce through employer-driven partnerships.

Virginia Beach, VA (October 7, 2025) – ECPI University has been honored with the 2025 Career Education Review (CER) Innovation in Employer Collaboration Award, recognizing the University’s leadership in building partnerships that lower costs, accelerate education, and create direct pathways to high-demand careers.

With 18 campuses across the Southeast and a nationwide online presence, ECPI University partners with more than 2,100 employers. These collaborations link classroom learning with workforce opportunities, lowering financial barriers for students while helping companies recruit and retain talent.

“Our partnerships show what happens when employers and educators work together with a shared goal,” said Kristie Cumbee, University Director of Workforce Development. “Companies gain a powerful tool to support and retain their people, and students are able to finish their degrees faster and with less financial strain. It's a true win-win model that delivers meaningful results.”

Examples of ECPI’s innovation in employer collaboration include:

  • University Partnerships (UP) Program: Since 2015, ECPI has matched employer contributions dollar-for-dollar, saving students more than $20 million while giving companies a no-cost education benefit.
  • Apprenticeship and Workforce Programs: Registered apprenticeships and on-the-job training models blend classroom instruction with paid experience, addressing critical workforce shortages.
  • Employer Engagement Plans: Every partner receives a structured plan that includes hiring events, career fairs, lunch-and-learns, and campus visits, ensuring ongoing collaboration.
  • Advisory-Driven Curriculum: More than 600 employer partners serve on advisory boards that meet twice annually to review curriculum, certifications, technologies, and soft skills, keeping programs aligned with industry needs.

“We prepare students to step into the workforce with the skills and professionalism employers need,” said Dr. Candice Melton, University Director of Career Services. “Businesses want dependable talent, and our graduates are ready to contribute from day one. By connecting employers to a reliable talent pipeline and supporting students at every stage, we help them succeed together.”

Through these efforts, ECPI University has established a collaborative approach that connects students, employers, and industry leaders. The CER award recognizes ECPI University’s national leadership in building employer partnerships that deliver meaningful results for both students and the workforce. 

The 2025 Career Education Review (CER) Awards, presented by Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU), celebrate excellence across the sector, honoring organizations that strengthen communities, schools that forge standout employer partnerships, and educators who elevate teaching and student success.

Media Contact:

Madison Dudley
Director of Public Relations
ECPI University
PR@ecpi.edu
757-213-3613
 

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ABOUT ECPI University

Founded in 1966, ECPI University is a regionally accredited institution offering career-focused degree programs in technology, health science, business, criminal justice, and culinary arts. Headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, ECPI University has 18 campuses across Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas, and also delivers programs online to students nationwide. With accelerated learning and hands-on education, ECPI University has prepared more than 75,000 graduates for the real world through industry-driven curricula and strong employer partnerships.

Alumni Spotlight: Enahoro Omoarukhe, B.S. Cybersecurity

By Sarah Campo, Director of Alumni Engagement

When I spoke with ECPI University graduate Enahoro Omoarukhe, he reflected on everything that led him from Nigeria to earning his bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity and jump-starting his own company. It began with a summer in Greenville, South Carolina, in 2019, seeing an ECPI billboard, doing some research, and eventually deciding to make the move to the United States.

ECPI University Expands Nursing Access with New Night and Weekend RN Program in Roanoke

Flexible nursing education for working adults, parents, and military families in Southwest Virginia. 

Roanoke, VA – ECPI University is expanding opportunities for aspiring nurses in Southwest Virginia with the launch of a Night and Weekend Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) option at its Roanoke campus. The flexible program is designed to serve working adults, parents, and military-affiliated students who are ready to answer the call to care for their communities but require a nontraditional schedule. 

Students enrolled in the program will receive the same hands-on, career-focused training that ECPI University is known for, including access to modern labs and clinical experiences, while benefiting from evening and weekend clinicals that accommodate work and family responsibilities. 

Virginia, like much of the nation, is facing a significant nursing shortage. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) reports that as of 2025, the Commonwealth has only about 70 percent of the registered nurses it needs to meet demand, with roughly 82,500 positions and just 57,700 filled.  

“Healthcare providers across our region are struggling to find qualified nurses,” said Campus President Kevin Newby. “This program expands access to nursing education in Roanoke, giving more people the chance to enter the profession without putting their lives on hold. By creating flexible pathways for working adults, parents, and military families, we’re helping more students pursue their goals and helping local hospitals and clinics get the nurses they need.” 

ECPI University is a top 10 national educator of nursing graduates. The average student is 29 years old, with nearly one-quarter balancing studies with raising families and about one-third connected to military service. The new Night and Weekend RN program is designed to meet students where they are and help address the community’s growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals. 

Learn more and apply for the Night and Weekend Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) by visiting the ECPI University Roanoke website. 

Media Contact: 
Madison Dudley  
Director of Public Relations  
ECPI University  
PR@ecpi.edu  
757-213-3613   

About ECPI University 

ECPI University, established in 1966, is a regionally accredited, career-focused institution with 18 campuses across five states and a robust online presence. Offering more than 50 degree programs in technology, health sciences, nursing, business, criminal justice, and the skilled trades, ECPI University is recognized as a national leader in applied, accelerated education. With an average student age of 29, nearly one-third military-affiliated, and over 85,000 graduates, ECPI University is committed to preparing students for high-demand careers while meeting the workforce needs of the communities it serves.

Release Date:
Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Mayor Bobby Dyer Visits ECPI University to Highlight Innovation in Education

Mayor Dyer visits ECPI University to learn more about its impact on students and the region. 

Virginia Beach, VA (September 19, 2025) — ECPI University welcomed Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer back to its Main Campus for a tour and discussion focused on innovation in education. 

Since his last visit, ECPI University has expanded its technology-driven classrooms and labs, giving students immersive, hands-on training in healthcare, technology, engineering, and skilled trades. These spaces mirror professional environments, ensuring graduates are ready to step confidently into local careers. 

During the visit, Mayor Dyer toured the university’s Maker Space, a creative hub where students design, build, and experiment. A student told him it feels like a place where “the sky is the limit,” adding that it gives learners the freedom to push boundaries and turn ideas into real-world solutions. 

As a Marine Corps veteran and lifelong learner, Mayor Dyer emphasized his appreciation for ECPI’s large population of military-affiliated students. More than half of ECPI’s Virginia Beach student body is connected to the military, bringing discipline, prior learning, and an eagerness to transition quickly into the workforce. 

“When students walk into our classrooms and labs, they’re stepping into their future workplaces,” said Sam Dreyfus, Executive Vice President of ECPI University. “That experience makes them confident and job-ready on day one, and it’s why so many of our graduates are fueling the growth of industries across Hampton Roads and beyond.” 

From hospitals and clinics to cybersecurity firms, advanced manufacturing sites, and local businesses, ECPI University graduates are contributing their skills and creativity across the region. By working with city leaders like Mayor Dyer and with employers throughout Virginia Beach, ECPI University remains committed to shaping an agile workforce and helping the city remain a hub of opportunity and growth. 

Media Contact: 
 Madison Dudley 
 Director of Public Relations 
 ECPI University 
 PR@ecpi.edu 
 757-213-3613 

 

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ABOUT ECPI University 

Founded in 1966, ECPI University is a regionally accredited institution offering career-focused degree programs in technology, health science, business, criminal justice, and culinary arts. Headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, ECPI University has 18 campuses across Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas, and also delivers programs online to students nationwide. With accelerated learning and hands-on education, ECPI University has prepared more than 75,000 graduates for the real world through industry-driven curricula and strong employer partnerships. 

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