UMSV and Apex Technical School Launch Innovative Partnership to Reimagine Higher Education
7/9/2026
New Partnership Integrates Career and Technical Education with the Liberal Arts, Creating a New Model for the Future of Higher Education
The University of Mount Saint Vincent and Apex Technical School are proud to announce a partnership to establish a new skilled trades training program on the Mount’s Riverdale campus, creating one of the nation’s first models to intentionally integrate career and technical education with a traditional liberal arts university experience.
Apex Technical School, a member of Fedcap, an international network of nonprofit affiliates, will join the UMSV campus beginning with a program in electrical training, with opportunities to expand into additional skilled trades over time. The collaboration is designed to break down the traditional barriers between vocational education and higher education by creating seamless pathways that allow students to pursue industry-recognized technical credentials alongside college degrees.
The partnership creates a first-of-its-kind educational model that gives students unprecedented flexibility to combine technical training and higher education while redefining who sees themselves as college-bound. By delivering Apex programs on the Mount’s campus, students who may never have imagined pursuing a college degree will be immersed in a university environment from day one— learning alongside a college community and recognizing that higher education is within their reach.
“At the University of Mount Saint Vincent, we believe that higher education should expand opportunity—not limit it,” said Susan R. Burns, PhD, President of the University of Mount Saint Vincent. “Our partnership with Apex Technical School not only reflects our commitment to meeting students when, where, and how they need us, but it creates innovative pathways that honor our learners’ aspirations while preparing them for meaningful careers. By bridging together career and technical training with the strengths of a liberal arts education, students will no longer have to choose between a college degree and technical career preparation. Together, we are creating a model that broadens access, opens new possibilities, and empowers students to continue learning, growing, and leading in their communities and beyond.”
The institutions will jointly develop articulation agreements that recognize technical education for college credit, creating accelerated pathways from industry certifications to associate and bachelor’s degrees and making the transition from skilled trades training to higher education seamless.
Students who successfully complete any Apex Technical School program— whether at the University of Mount Saint Vincent campus or any Apex location—will receive automatic admission to UMSV, providing a seamless pathway from technical certification to a college degree.
Through articulation agreements, Apex graduates may earn up to 30 college credits toward an associate degree, allowing many students to begin their university education already halfway to graduation for an associate degree while saving both time and money.
UMSV students will have the opportunity to enroll in Apex’s industry-recognized skilled trades programs while pursuing their degree, graduating with both a college education and hands-on credentials that employers value.
The partnership reflects a shared belief that career and technical education and traditional higher education are not competing models, but complementary components of a modern education system that must prepare students for success throughout their lives. The model reflects the growing demand from employers for graduates who possess both technical expertise and the critical thinking, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills cultivated through a liberal arts education.
“For too long, we’ve treated college and career education as separate paths when they should be part of the same journey,” said Christine McMahon, President and CEO of Fedcap. “This partnership creates multiple on-ramps to one destination: economic mobility. Whether students begin at the University of Mount Saint Vincent, at Apex Technical School, or move between the two, they will have flexible pathways that will prepare them for immediate employment while opening doors to lifelong learning and career advancement.”
“Apex Technical School has trained more than 60,000 students over the past six decades for careers in the skilled trades, with graduates entering fields including electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, welding, construction, automotive technology, and other high-demand occupations,” said Steve Markowitz, President of Apex Technical School. “We’re creating a learning environment where every student has more options, not fewer. They can earn a trade, pursue a degree, or do both. Some students arrive at Apex believing college isn’t for them. By learning on a university campus, they’ll discover that a college education is within reach while gaining the technical skills employers need today.”
The collaboration reflects a broader vision shared by UMSV and Fedcap to redefine how higher education serves today’s students and tomorrow’s workforce by integrating workforce preparation and academic excellence into a single educational ecosystem.
UMSV and Apex Technical School await program approval from the New York State Education Department and applicable regulatory and accrediting organizations. More information on curriculum, admission requirements, and the application process will be shared with prospective students soon!
About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers a nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational, and career opportunities of New York City, the University equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for lives of achievement, professional accomplishment, and leadership in the 21st century.