Summer High School U
Summer High School U Program
The Summer High School University (HSU) Program is a FREE eight week program for rising 10th -12th grade low-income students (14-18 years of age) living in the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding suburbs in Allegheny County. Students participants enroll in a college course, engage in tutoring/study skills, and participate in paid summer work experiences. Class, tutoring, and work experience occurs Monday– Thursday, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm. Fridays are reserved for speakers, field trips, and college visits. All course materials, books, bus passes, tuition, and student experiences are 100% FREE. There is no cost for students. Students ages 14-15 will earn $10 per hour and students 16-18 years of age will earn $12 for 20-25 hours of weekly work experience. Paid work experience occurs for six out of the eight program weeks. Program enrollment for the Summer HSU is based on the students age. Students 14-15 years of age and are currently enrolled in at least 9th grade are eligible to enroll in the STEP UP Program. Students 16-18 years of age and are not graduating are eligible to enroll in the Careers Unlocked Program. The program operates June 16 – August 7, 2025. The application will open Friday, March 17, 2025.
Application Process
- Complete the Neighborhood Learning Alliance application.
- Complete the Partner4Work Learn and Earn application and submit the required documents.
- Obtain your work permit from your current high school and submit with your Learn and Earn application.
- Submit your most recent report card to NLA.
- Attend the mandatory virtual or in-person orientation. The dates will be emailed to registered students.
- Nursing & Health Career students must complete their TB test and internship enrollment paperwork by Friday, May 2, 2025.
- The Summer HSU 2024 Program Kickoff Week is Monday, June 16 – Friday, June 20, 2025. All registered students will receive an email for the specific details about the Program Kickoff Week by Friday, June 6th. The orientation will be held at the student’s respective college campus and the information will be in the email.
STEP UP Program (14-15 Years of Age)
The Skills Training and Employment Pathway for Unlocking Potential (STEP UP) Program is designed to expose students 14-15 years of age to various industries in the Pittsburgh region and beyond. Students participants are engaged in workforce exploration aligned to the NLA four career pathways: health, business, technology and the trades, robotics, and advanced manufacturing pathways. During the summer students will explore each of the four career pathways. In addition, students will participate in work readiness activities and learn about post-secondary options (apprenticeships, pipeline programs, 2-or-4 year colleges, and military careers). The summer program is a paid Partner4Work Learn and Earn experience.
Careers Unlocked Program (16-18 Years of Age)
Careers Unlocked is designed to unlock students passion, interest, and talents. The Careers Unlocked program provides high school students the ages 16-18 years old, an immersive workforce experience coupled with college courses at CCAC or Carlow University. Students in the Careers Unlocked Program obtain college credits, gain meaningful internship experience, and are provided college or workforce application support for success post-high school. Interested students must enroll in one of the NLA Career Pathways – Health, Business, Technology or the Trades, Robotics, Advanced Manufacturing Pathway. The summer program is a paid Partner4Work Learn and Earn experience.
Health Careers
Students in the Health Careers Pathway earn college credits aligned to health career college majors through our partnership with CCAC and Carlow University. In addition, students engage in paid work experience at West Penn Hospital where the students participate in rotations of various medical departments and nursing courses.
Work Experience: Students engage in a paid shadow work experience for 80+ hours in the summer at West Penn Hospital and 12-18 hours during the school year.
Professional Engagements: Students participate in career fairs, workshops, site visits, etc.
College Credits: Earn general requirement and STEM based college credits at CCAC and Carlow University. Students have the option to enroll in the High School U School Year & Summer Programs.
Competitive Edge: Students will gain real-world experience shadowing doctors, nurses, and other health career professionals while in high school. In addition, students will earn free college courses.
Business and Entrepreneurship Careers
Students in the Business and Entrepreneurship Careers Pathway meet local business owners, startups, and corporate leaders and gain insights into the various business career opportunities in addition to earning college credits for business majors. Student participants can gain experience to enter the workforce straight after high school or prerequisites for business majors. Summer 2025 HSU students will engage in paid workforce experience where they will learn about starting and managing a business at Happy Day Dessert Factory or with Street Fries.
Professional Engagements: Students participate in career fairs, workshops, site visits, etc.
College Credits: Earn general education requirements and college courses related to business majors taken at CCAC or Carlow University. Students have the option to enroll in the High School U School Year & Summer Programs.
Competitive Edge: Students will gain real-world experience shadowing entrepreneurs, start-ups, small businesses, corporate leaders, etc.
Technology Careers
The Technology Careers Pathway is designed to expose students to different career opportunities in the tech field ranging from Artificial Intelligence (AI), Information Technology (IT), Computer Science (CS), Cyber Security, Multimedia, and much more! Students in the Technology Pathway earn college credits through our partnership with CCAC and Carlow aligned to technology careers. Students work alongside IT professionals, content creators, and meet local professionals. Student participants can gain experience to enter the workforce straight after high school or prerequisites for the technology exploration course of focus that semester. Summer 2025 HSU students will conduct their internship experience with the University of Pittsburgh IT team.
Professional Engagements: Students participate in career fairs, workshops, site visits, etc.
College Credits: Earn general education requirements and college courses related to the tech field taken at CCAC or Carlow University. Students have the option to enroll in the High School U School Year & Summer Programs.
Competitive Edge: Students will gain real-world experience shadowing and interning with tech professionals in the Pittsburgh region.
Trades, Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Careers
The Trades, Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Careers Pathway will launch for the HSU Summer 2025 Program. The career pathway will introduce students to the in demand careers for the trades, robotics, and advanced manufacturing in the Pittsburgh region. Students will learn about careers they can pursue right after graduating high school through a pipeline program, apprenticeship, or certificate earned through CCAC. Students gain work experience with local industry partners and at the new CCAC Center for Education, Innovation, and Training. Students in the Trades, Robotics, and Advanced Manufacturing Pathway earn credits through our partnership with CCAC.
Professional Engagements: Students participate in career fairs, workshops, site visits, etc.
College Credits: Earn general education requirements and college/industry course credit related to the trades, robotics, and advanced manufacturing industry taken at CCAC. Students have the option to enroll in the High School U School Year & Summer Programs.
Competitive Edge: Students will gain real-world experience shadowing various industry professionals and participate in special workforce development workshops.
Summer Courses
The 2025 HSU summer courses will be held at CCAC Allegheny and Carlow University. All courses are taught by university professors on campus. Students can only enroll in one course.
The Summer High School University (HSU) Program enrollment is based on the student’s age. (1) Careers Unlocked Program is for students 16-18 years of age as of June 1st and the student cannot be graduating high school. Students 16-18 of age must apply to the Career Pathway of interest when completing the NLA registration. Students enrolled in the Summer HSU program are eligible to enroll in college courses and paid work experience in the fall and spring semesters for free.
Students are enrolled into the college course based on the student’s career pathway. Summer courses are designed to provide students access to academic coursework aligned to the career pathway.
Medical Terminology ( 4 credits) – Health Careers Pathway
Business Communication (3 credits) – Business Careers Pathway
Intro to Information Technology (IT) (3 credits) – Technology Careers Pathway
Intro to Electronics (3 credits) – Trades, Robotics, and Advanced Manufacturing Pathway