Roanoke College is expanding workforce-aligned pathways aimed at addressing regional employment gaps and the mismatch between education and job needs. President Frank Shushok (since 2022) argues that employers’ hiring challenges and graduates’ difficulty finding suitable work reflect pipeline disconnects. The initiative includes accreditation approval to offer associate degrees and a federal grant that will support dual-credit programs for high school students, alongside workforce development bills signed by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger. Roanoke is aligning tracks toward high-demand fields, including healthcare and education. The strategy is framed as creating clearer onramps and offramps between K-12, credentialing, and higher education—particularly for learners who may not follow a traditional four-year route and may need easier re-entry later.