At a recent event on the campus of East Stroudsburg University (ESU), two cohorts of ESU students who had previously been selected to work with AT&T on a first-of-its-kind partnership in Pennsylvania – the Employer Provided Innovation Challenges (EPIC) program – presented the culmination of their efforts to university faculty and staff, along with PA Chamber, U.S. Chamber, and AT&T representatives.

The partnership, which is affiliated with the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s EPIC initiative and was facilitated with the support of the PA Chamber, brought together the university and the telecommunications company to help pilot a collaborative workforce development solution.

During the eight-week program, the students were divided into two cohorts and worked in teams to address real-world challenges identified by AT&T. Their tasks included:

• Reviewing the company’s hiring and recruiting strategies and creating new, innovative techniques to attract new learners of all ages to the AT&T sales and distribution team.
• Developing a list of onboarding practices to make new employees feel welcome and included.
• Reviewing current employee benefits to determine if they are aligned with the priorities and desires of new employees, and recommending changes to improve AT&T’s recruitment and retention practices to help ensure that AT&T remains an employer of choice.

During the on-campus event, the students presented their findings and responded to attendees’ questions regarding the challenges AT&T outlined. The event offered an opportunity to showcase the research, analysis, problem-solving, and communication skills they were able to strengthen as part of the hands-on learning experience.

“It was inspiring to see the students working together to make recommendations to address corporate challenges that are discussed so often in the employer community,” PA Chamber Foundation Executive Director Elizabeth Bolden said. “We congratulate these bright and driven students on their accomplishments and encourage them seek out and build their promising careers in Pennsylvania after they graduate from ESU.”

“The U.S. Chamber Foundation is grateful for the partnership of the PA Chamber Foundation in standing up for EPIC,” said Sarah Castro, Executive Director of Programs for the U.S. Chamber Foundation. “With deep relationships in the community, the PA Chamber Foundation has been able to help us scale project-based learning opportunities with the goal of growing these partnerships across Pennsylvania and the country. The students from East Stroudsburg University and the leadership of AT&T are prime examples of what EPIC success looks like. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the PA Chamber Foundation and bringing more project-based learning opportunities to students. “

EPIC aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application, providing students with valuable skills and experiences that align with Pennsylvania’s job market needs. Notably, the EPIC program is designed to scale, be credentialed, and deliver high-impact career awareness and preparation for learners.

“We are thrilled that our ESU student cohort teams had the incredible opportunity to participate in the inaugural EPIC project in Pennsylvania alongside AT&T,” said Sylvester Williams, Dean of the College of Business and Management at ESU. “This transformative experience is not just about learning; it’s about empowering our students to sharpen their problem-solving abilities, enhance their communication and presentation skills, and tackle complex, unstructured challenges head-on. Such real-world projects underscore the vital importance of applying academic knowledge to contemporary issues.”

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the PA Chamber and AT&T for providing our students with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Williams added. “Through these impactful public-private partnerships, we are paving the way for higher education to equip our students for the workforce of tomorrow.  We look forward to working with these valued partners on future EPIC projects.”

”The students did a fantastic job. East Stroudsburg University can be very proud of the hard work and time that these students put into developing solutions for AT&T. It was a great experience for them – and for us,” said David Kerr, president, AT&T Pennsylvania.

The ESU students who participated in the AT&T cohorts have been invited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to travel to Washington D.C. to present their findings at the national EPIC convening in June 2025.

The EPIC program is encouraging more employer-student partnerships in Pennsylvania throughout 2025. If your organization is interested in getting involved, contact Elizabeth Bolden at ebolden@pachamber.org. More information about the EPIC program can be found on the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s EPIC Initiative webpage.