Franklin University Celebrates Newest FranklinWORKS Earn + Learn Workforce Partnerships Graduates

Contact:

Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: sherry.mercurio@franklin.edu

Franklin University recently hosted three FranklinWORKS Earn + Learn recognition receptions honoring 167 Spring 2026 graduates from workforce partnership programs with OhioHealth, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and the City of Columbus.

The events recognized working professionals who completed graduate degree programs while continuing to work full time through employer-supported education partnerships designed to strengthen workforce development, employee retention, leadership pipelines, and career mobility. Graduates participating in the receptions will also be invited to participate in Franklin University’s 182nd Commencement Ceremony on May 31, 2026.

The Spring 2026 FranklinWORKS Earn + Learn graduating cohorts included:

• City of Columbus — 89 graduates from the Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM), and Master of Criminal Justice Management (MCJM) programs.
• Nationwide Children’s Hospital — 12 graduates from the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) programs.
• OhioHealth — 66 graduates from the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) programs.

The FranklinWORKS Earn + Learn model is designed to help employers align workforce development strategies with flexible, workforce-focused education pathways that support employee growth while addressing organizational talent needs.

“Strong workforce partnerships require intentional alignment between employer talent needs and educational pathways that prepare professionals to lead and grow within their organizations,” said Bill Chan, Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances at Franklin University. “FranklinWORKS partnerships help employers attract, develop, and retain talent by creating flexible opportunities for employees to advance their education while continuing to contribute in the workforce.”

Chan said employer-sponsored education programs are increasingly becoming a strategic advantage for organizations focused on long-term talent acquisition, retention, succession planning, and workforce readiness.

“When employers invest in employee education, they are investing in leadership development, workforce stability, and long-term organizational growth,” Chan said. “These graduates represent highly skilled professionals prepared to meet evolving workforce and community needs across healthcare, public service, business, and organizational leadership.”

Franklin University’s FranklinWORKS partnerships are structured to support modern learners through flexible online and workforce-aligned graduate degree programs that allow employees to immediately apply classroom learning in the workplace.

The receptions highlighted how partnerships between higher education and employers can create scalable workforce solutions that benefit employees, employers, and communities simultaneously.

“We are proud to partner with organizations like OhioHealth, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and the City of Columbus that recognize education as a strategic workforce investment,” Chan said. “These collaborations create meaningful impact by supporting employee advancement, strengthening leadership pipelines, and helping organizations retain highly qualified professionals.”

The graduates honored through the Spring 2026 receptions represented leadership and workforce disciplines including healthcare administration, business administration, public administration, human resources management, and criminal justice management.

Fact Box
Event: FranklinWORKS Earn + Learn Recognition Receptions
Institution: Franklin University
Workforce Partners: OhioHealth, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, City of Columbus
Program Focus: Workforce development, employee retention, talent attraction, leadership development, employer-sponsored education, and career mobility
Delivery Model: Flexible Earn + Learn graduate education for working professionals
Featured Graduate Programs: MBA, MHA, MPA, MHRM, MCJM
Workforce Strategy Areas Supported: Talent pipeline development, employee upskilling, succession planning, healthcare workforce development, and public sector leadership development

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).