Everything College Students Need to Know About Voting

Pennsylvania college students can vote either at their school address or their permanent home address, provided they meet voter eligibility requirements, including residency and age rules, and provided they register by Oct. 19 for the Nov. 3, 2026 general election.

There are key voting considerations for students, including updating registration after moving, bringing identification for first-time voting at a new polling place, and understanding mail-in ballot procedures.

This guide outlines options for students studying abroad or voting by mail, noting that mail ballot applications are due Oct. 27 and completed ballots must be received by county election offices by 8 p.m. on Election Day. 

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State Park in Schuylkill County Now Part of National Network

Tuscarora State Park in Schuylkill County has been inducted into the Old Growth Forest Network, becoming the county’s first forest and Pennsylvania’s 45th to receive the designation.

Hosting centuries-old trees and unique ecological value, the park’s mature forests provide important wildlife habitat, improve air and water quality, and store more carbon and nitrogen than younger forests, featuring trees such as a white pine estimated to be about 250 years old.

This article highlights the efforts of longtime volunteer Dennis “Pap” Knauss, whose advocacy helped secure the designation and whose Spirit of Tuscarora Trail showcases many of the park’s most remarkable old-growth areas. 

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Wayne County Nurse Shortage Assistance Program Addresses Gaps in PA Workforce

In Wayne County, Governor Shapiro and Health Secretary Dr. Bogen launched Pennsylvania’s new Nurse Shortage Assistance Program (NSAP), a state initiative designed to address a projected shortage of 22,000 nurses by 2028 and help fill hospital vacancies across the Commonwealth.

The program, funded with $5 million in the 2026-27 state budget, will provide loan repayment assistance of up to $10,000 per year to eligible nursing students, with as many as 200 students expected to benefit in its first year.

Governor Josh Shapiro and Dr. Debra Bogen announced the initiative at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, emphasizing its role in strengthening Pennsylvania’s healthcare workforce and expanding access to high-quality patient care. 



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Promoting Retention and Completion in Registered Apprenticeship Programs

The Urban Institute examines how apprenticeship programs can better support participants ages 16 to 24, finding that completion is strongly influenced by mentoring, structured progress monitoring, and personalized support.

Surveyed program sponsors reported that regular check-ins, flexible program design, mentor training, and access to supportive services such as transportation, childcare, counseling, technology, and tuition assistance help young apprentices overcome barriers and remain engaged.

Based on interviews with 11 apprenticeship sponsors and a survey of 51 youth apprentices, the report explores how strong support networks and responsive program structures are key to improving retention and expanding pathways into skilled careers. 

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Why Investing in Rural Education Can Bolster Local Economies, Help Students Stay Local

Rural colleges and community colleges play a critical role not only in educating students but also in strengthening local economies, supporting employers, and creating pathways to sustainable careers in rural communities.

Local institutions are partnering with businesses and community organizations, aligning programs with emerging industries, and providing stronger student supports to address challenges such as poverty, workforce shortages, declining enrollment, and outmigration of college-educated residents.

This article advocates for greater investment and research into rural higher education, pointing to the new National Rural Higher Education Research Center as an effort to identify and scale effective strategies that increase educational attainment and economic opportunity in rural regions. 

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Integrating AI into Career Navigation Services

The nonprofit SkillUp Coalition incorporated generative AI into its online career-navigation platform to better support job seekers without bachelor’s degrees as they explore careers, training opportunities, and employment pathways.

The report found that AI has the potential to provide personalized, on-demand career guidance at scale, helping address the limitations of traditional one-on-one coaching, though evidence on its effectiveness and potential risks remains limited.

Drawing on SkillUp’s experience, the brief highlights lessons for workforce organizations seeking to use AI tools to improve career navigation while emphasizing the importance of evaluating their impact on job seekers’ outcomes. 

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