A new workforce training partnership between Arcadia University and Acts Retirement-Life Communities will give more than 8,600 employees access to career-focused education designed to meet growing demand in healthcare and related fields.
Announced April 30, the agreement opens Arcadia’s catalog of more than 150 certificate programs to all Acts team members.
The programs emphasize allied health, building trades, and leadership development, with broader offerings in IT, business, and manufacturing.
Many lead to industry-recognized credentials and continuing education credits, allowing employees to advance while staying in their current roles.
Acts Retirement-Life Communities, headquartered in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, operates 28 senior living communities across nine states — Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama — and serves more than 11,000 residents.
Founded in 1972, it ranks among the largest not-for-profit continuing care retirement community operators in the country, a distinction that sets it apart from corporate senior living chains.
The partnership reflects workforce pressures felt across the senior care sector. Staffing shortages and rising demand for specialized skills have pushed operators to develop talent from within rather than compete for a shrinking external pool.
Arcadia’s workforce development platform, built in partnership with Core Education, a firm specializing in workforce transformation, is designed for that shift.
Courses run online or in hybrid formats, structured for working adults balancing jobs and career advancement.
“Arcadia University’s Workforce Development initiative was created to help employers invest in their greatest asset, their people, by providing opportunities to upskill and reskill employees for the evolving demands of today’s workforce,” said John Noakes, Associate Provost and Director of the Center for Professional Futures at Arcadia.
“We’re proud to partner with Acts, an organization that shares our commitment to investing in people and preparing them for long-term success.”
For Acts, the alignment goes beyond access to training programs. It reflects a shared belief that investing in frontline workers is the surest path to better care.
“At Acts, we are always looking for ways to support the growth and development of our team members,” said Jo Anne Hartman, Vice President of Education and Research.
“This partnership with Arcadia University allows us to provide valuable opportunities for professional advancement, ensuring our team members are equipped to meet the evolving needs of our residents and the industry.”
The partnership gives Acts employees a clearer path from entry-level roles into clinical and leadership positions, with Arcadia University providing the credentials to get them there — exactly the kind of internal mobility the senior care sector needs as demand for qualified workers continues to outpace supply.
For more information on Arcadia’s workforce development programs, visit arcadia.edu/certificates or contact John Noakes at [email protected] or 215-572-2897.
