More Than a Certificate: How D'Youville's Workforce Development Center Creates New Pathways into Healthcare

When D'Youville University announced its new Workforce Development Center, the headline focused on addressing Western New York's healthcare workforce shortage. Behind that announcement, however, is a broader vision, creating new opportunities for people who may never have considered college as their first step.

For Erin Klass, D'Youville's Director of Workforce Development, the goal is simple: remove barriers and create more ways for people to build meaningful careers in healthcare.

"This isn't just for traditional college students," Klass said. "It's for someone entering healthcare for the first time, someone changing careers, or someone looking to expand the skills they already have. We want people to see healthcare as an accessible career path."

The Workforce Development Center, scheduled to open in Spring 2027, will offer short-term certificate programs designed to prepare students for immediate employment in high-demand healthcare careers. Many programs will be completed in as little as 8 to 16 weeks, allowing participants to quickly enter the workforce while also creating a pathway to continue their education at D'Youville if they choose.

Rather than asking students to choose between workforce training and higher education, D'Youville is intentionally connecting the two.

"It's a great way to start a career in healthcare, discover if it's the right fit, and then come back to D'Youville to continue your education," Klass said. "We're building opportunities that meet people where they are today while giving them room to grow tomorrow."

The first programs will focus on some of the positions employers say they need most, including Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Phlebotomy Technician, and Sterile Processing Technician. Additional certificate programs are planned as healthcare needs continue to evolve.

Flexibility has also become a guiding principle in the center's design. Recognizing that many participants will be balancing careers, families, or other responsibilities, D'Youville is developing hybrid, evening, and weekend learning options whenever possible.

"We're thinking about people who are working full time, parents, and individuals with many different responsibilities," Klass said. "We're making these programs as flexible as possible so more people have the opportunity to participate."

That flexibility extends beyond the classroom. D'Youville is also designing many of its certificate programs to become eligible for the federal government's new Workforce Pell Grant initiative, helping make short-term workforce training more affordable once the university meets the eligibility requirements.

For Klass, success won't simply be measured by the number of certificates awarded. It will be measured by the number of lives changed and the impact graduates have on the communities they serve.

"Our hope is that people complete these programs, find meaningful careers, and stay here in Western New York," Klass said. "Every graduate strengthens our local healthcare system while improving care for our community."

When fully operational, the Workforce Development Center is expected to prepare more than 400 healthcare professionals each year, helping meet one of the region's greatest workforce needs while creating new opportunities for individuals seeking careers with purpose.