Reach University

09/04/2026

What happens when healthcare workforce experience meets a new approach to building both a college degree and a career?

That question is at the heart of Work Shift's look at the Apprenticeship College of Health (ACH), a partnership designed to connect education, employment, and community impact.
As Reach University President and CEO Joe Edelheit Ross told Work Shift, “These are the jobs that are available to people that make a difference, not just for one’s own livelihood, but also their community.”

Healthcare Training Fund Executive Director Laura Hopkins said, “There is value in what people learn on the job, and a large portion of their college credit is going to come from what's happening there."

ACH combines the Training Fund’s experience partnering with healthcare employers and building apprenticeship pathways with Reach University’s Apprenticeship Degree, connecting college coursework to learning that happens every day on the job.
Starting with behavioral health in Washington, this shared approach is giving working adults a path to advance their education while helping employers grow talent from within their workplaces and communities.

Read more from Work Shift: https://workshift.org/reach-university-steps-into-healthcare/

09/03/2026

After 16 years as a personal chef and assistant, Cory Jackson wanted a career that would let him make a more direct difference in his community. 💜

He began working as a paraprofessional in Shreveport, Louisiana, where his Caddo Parish Public Schools principal recognized his potential and encouraged him to continue his education through Reach University.

Through Reach’s Apprenticeship Degree, Cory earned his bachelor’s degree and completed teacher licensure requirements while continuing to work in a school, without taking on student debt. His daily work became part of his college experience, allowing him to apply coursework directly with students while continuing to serve his school community.

Cory completed the program while navigating significant personal loss, supported by his family, classmates, professors, and advisors.

Today, he teaches third grade and helps his students imagine possibilities beyond what they can see right now. His story shows what can happen when talented school employees have a pathway to earn a degree without stepping away from the work they are already doing.

📚Read Cory's story: https://reach.edu/blog/life-after-reach-cory-jackson-believing-in-yourself-is-just-the-beginning

09/01/2026

🍎 Apprenticeship Degrees are back in session! Reach University is proud to welcome its largest incoming fall cohort to date: 1,020 working adults across 10 states and two career pathways. 🚀

Together with our K–12 and behavioral health partners, these newest Reachers are writing a new chapter in their education, careers, and lives. By bringing higher education into the workplace, we're making it possible for working adults to turn their jobs into degrees while continuing to serve their communities and build meaningful careers.

To our newest Reachers: Welcome to Reach! Please know that you’re never alone. You've joined a nationwide community that believes in you and is committed to your success. Your faculty, candidate success advisors, employer, and fellow Reachers will be with you every step of the way. You’ve got this! ✨

Current Reachers: What advice would you give our newest cohort as they begin their Reach journey? Please share in the comments below. 👇

08/31/2026

Dean Malekah Morgan discusses how Reach University approaches highe...

08/28/2026

The impact of the Apprenticeship Degree is already becoming clear to Albertville City Schools Assistant Superintendent, J. Todd Watkins.

One example Watkins points to is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) candidate putting their experience into action through the Albertville Teacher Apprentice Program. After doing so well in the program, the candidate was recently hired to step into a full-term substitute role as she completes her debt-free B.A. through Reach.

Albertville City Schools is an innovative K-12 leader, creating multiple pathways into the teaching profession, ensuring aspiring educators can begin where they are:

• High school pathway: Students earn an associate degree through Snead State Community College before graduation, then work in Albertville City Schools while completing a bachelor's degree through Reach and preparing for a teaching career.

• Incumbent worker pathway: Current school employees earn a debt-free bachelor's degree while continuing to work, allowing them to become classroom-ready teachers without putting their careers or incomes on hold.

Additionally, Watkins has heard directly from candidates who have shared their appreciation for the support they received from Reach instructors and the broader support network throughout the program.

Is your school ready to Reach? https://reach.edu/

08/27/2026

📚 “My lived experience gives me purpose. I never really felt like I had a purpose before. Since I've started learning and working in the field, my main goal is to help others effectively, accurately, and with compassion.” - Stefan Stowell, ACH Candidate

Stefan Stowell, a candidate in the Apprenticeship College of Health's (ACH) inaugural cohort, says ACH's Apprenticeship Degree enables him to blend daily on-the-job learning with rigorous academic training—ultimately becoming more effective at helping others in his community as a Substance Use Disorder Professional. This flexible, affordable, and proven pathway to lasting career opportunities makes higher education possible, purposeful, and more accessible for everyone.

💡 Learn more about Stefan's ACH journey so far: https://healthapprenticeship.org/stefan-stowell/

08/25/2026

💡 Theory. Application. Relevance. These aren't competing ideas. They are the foundation of Reach University's approach to Apprenticeship Degrees and learning within a Registered Apprenticeship Program. Dr. Malekah Morgan explains why.

📺: https://youtu.be/E22IiKSpEE8?si=CdZVy-cNAU_HP4Qe

Dean Malekah Morgan discusses how Reach University approaches highe...