D’Youville University Launches Workforce Development Center to Address Critical Healthcare Workforce Shortages

D'Youville University is launching a new Workforce Development Center, a major initiative designed to prepare hundreds of individuals each year for high-demand healthcare careers while helping employers address one of the region's most pressing workforce challenges.

Scheduled to open in Spring 2027, the Workforce Development Center will expand access to short-term, career-focused education through stackable certificate programs that prepare students for immediate employment while creating pathways into degree programs and long-term career advancement.

Healthcare workforce shortages continue to impact communities across New York. The state is projected to face a shortage of nearly 40,000 nurses by 2030, while recent surveys show 97 percent of hospitals report nursing shortages and 88 percent report shortages among non-nursing healthcare professionals. D'Youville has already begun working with regional healthcare leaders, including Catholic Health, Kaleida Health, and The McGuire Group, to develop workforce programs that respond directly to these employer needs. 

"The future of higher education must include multiple pathways into meaningful careers," said Dr. Lorrie Clemo, president of D'Youville University. "Not every learner begins their journey in the same place, but everyone deserves an opportunity to build a better future. The Workforce Development Center creates accessible entry points into healthcare while strengthening the workforce our region depends on."

The Center's first wave of certificate programs will include:

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Phlebotomy Technician
• Sterile Processing Technician

Additional programs under development include Pharmacy Technician, Medical Assistant, Behavioral Health Technician, EKG Technician, Neurodiagnostic Technology, Intraoperative Neuromonitoring, and other employer-responsive healthcare certificates.

At full capacity, the Center is expected to train more than 400 healthcare professionals annually, helping address workforce shortages while creating new opportunities for individuals seeking family-sustaining careers.

"Our employer partners have been clear, they need more qualified healthcare professionals, and they need flexible training opportunities that remove barriers to entering the workforce," said Erin Klass, Director of Workforce Development. "Whether someone is beginning a healthcare career, changing careers, or continuing their education, we're building programs that lead directly to employment while creating opportunities to continue learning."

The demand for these programs is already evident. D'Youville's 2025 Certified Nursing Assistant initiative received 290 applications for just 32 available seats, demonstrating both the community's interest in healthcare careers and the need for additional workforce training opportunities.

The university is also intentionally designing many of its certificate programs to qualify for the federal government's new Workforce Pell Grant initiative, which expands Pell Grant eligibility to high-quality short-term workforce programs. D'Youville anticipates becoming eligible beginning in Fall 2027, making many of these career pathways significantly more affordable for students.

The Workforce Development Center will be located on D’Youville’ campus at 284 Connecticut Street and is scheduled to open in Spring 2027.

For more information about D'Youville University's workforce development initiatives, visit dyu.edu.

About D’Youville University 

D’Youville University is a nationally ranked private university founded in 1908 and headquartered in Buffalo, New York, which offers degrees in the health sciences and business. D’Youville University promotes a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Through transformational educational experiences, students are prepared for growth, career success, and upward mobility. For more information, visit dyu.edu.