Month: January 2026
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Workforce Pell and Universities: a Policy Brief for UEDA Members
Universities are being asked to move faster, align more closely with employers, and show measurable labor market results from short-term training. Institutions that treat Workforce Pell as an economic development tool (rather than a narrow financial aid change) will be better positioned to strengthen their regional role, deepen employer partnerships, and demonstrate tangible return on…
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A Vision for 2026: A New Mandate for University Economic Development Innovation
By Lenore VanderZee, J.D., Ph.D., UEDA President & Vice President for Strategic Relations & Communications, SUNY Canton As we enter 2026, higher education faces intensifying pressure to demonstrate return on investment for students, families, employers, and policymakers. Federal expectations have shifted. State and Federal leaders no longer see institutions of higher education (IHEs) only as centers of teaching and research. It expects them to deliver…
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2026 University Economic Development Association Board Members
Lenore VanderZee Elected University Economic Development Association Board Chair Lenore VanderZee was elected chair of the University Economic Development Association (UEDA) for a term beginning January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. She currently works as Vice President for Strategic Relations & Communications at the State University of New York at Canton. In this role she works on economic development, workforce, and innovation/ entrepreneurship initiatives, including oversight of the Center for Community,…
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What NSF’s TIP Workforce Roadmap Means for Universities and Regional Growth
In late 2025, the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships released a new Workforce Development Roadmap that deserves close attention from university economic development leaders. It lays out the federal view of how talent, innovation, and regional competitiveness now fit together. It also signals where future expectations and investments will land.…