HARRISBURG, PA – At Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU), we believe in the power of education as the driving force in personal and economic development.
One of the ways we broaden horizons and expand opportunities for our students is through the Day 1 CPT program. Day 1 CPT (Curricular Practical Training) is a type of off-campus work authorization available to F-1 students in the United States. It is designed to attract and engage only the most promising international learners and to create life-changing opportunities through off-campus employment opportunities.
HU supports each student’s academic journey through close work with our Designated School Officials (DSOs) and our International Student Office to match their degree with a relevant off-campus experience at a local or regional employer.
F-1 visas bring diverse individuals to our campus; CPT helps us keep them in the workforce. Our high placement rates for alumni at employers of note – regionally, domestically, and abroad – shows that we’re serious about the power of education as a driver of economic development.
Our learners know they are in capable hands. The institution must be reputable, accredited, and compliant with federal regulations. Not all schools can offer CPT. In fact, Harrisburg University stands among just 20 institutions in the US which have been vetted and certified to offer this program. Time and again, audits by the federal government have reconfirmed that our program is well-designed and conscientiously administered.
How Does Day 1 CPT Benefit International Students Studying in the US?
Ordinary F-1 visas provide only for general, on-campus work experiences, such as library assistant or cafeteria worker. CPT goes further by allowing students to gain hands-on experience in their field, which enhances their education and boosts their employability.
Students increasingly need to work to afford to stay in school. As many as 80 percent of students have a job while at college. Working while studying is thought by some to be detrimental to academic outcomes, with some working students reporting lower grades.
What if their employment during their college years was not just an expected part of their experience, due to economic realities, but in fact essential for their growth as a learner and workforce participant? Why shouldn’t they earn a reliable wage during this experience? And why shouldn’t that work be highly focused on their chosen area of study? Anything less is a missed opportunity for the student.
How Does Day 1 CPT Address Technical Staffing Needs in the United States?
Harrisburg University is bringing a highly skilled workforce to the region through the CPT pathway. Talent gaps in the US labor market are a significant issue – but they could be alleviated by utilizing programs like Day 1 CPT for international students.
The CPT program provides opportunities to match enthusiastic students with positions in industries that are relevant to them and to the region. In this case, the Central Pennsylvania region has great need for technology-savvy workers in:
- Healthcare: Foreign-born workers constitute a significant portion of the healthcare workforce, including 25% of personal care aides and 38% of home health aides. The US needs thousands more primary care and mental health practitioners to meet current demands.
- STEM fields in general: The US has a persistent shortage of workers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. There are currently 3 million more STEM job openings than qualified workers, a gap projected to grow to 6 million by 2030. Immigrants already make up over a quarter of the STEM workforce; increasing this percentage could significantly reduce the labor shortfall in these high-demand areas.
- Overall labor force participation: The US has seen a decline in labor force participation since COVID-19. The US Chamber of Commerce notes that if labor force participation were at pre-pandemic levels, there would be an additional 2 million workers. Industries like education, health services, and professional services are particularly affected by these shortages.
By expanding programs like CPT and making it easier for international students to remain and work in the US after graduation, these sectors could better meet their labor needs. This approach would not only address current shortages but also support economic growth, innovation, and national competitiveness.
We are proud of our innovative approach to higher education and our ability to successfully assimilate into our campuses and workplaces the most gifted international students from across the globe. Some cynical elements in the news media may argue against Day 1 CPT in bad faith, but we stand by our successful track record of student outcomes, government audits, and fruitful relationships with science- and technology-focused employers winning the future in America today.
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in the fields of science, technology, and mathematics. For additional information about the University’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.