In late September, President Calvin Troup and Geneva staff members took five students to the Pennsylvania State Capitol to meet with senators and representatives throughout AICUP’s Mascot Day. AICUP is the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania. The association focuses on advocacy, collaboration, research and communications with a commitment to support the advancement of PA’s independent, non-profit colleges and universities.

It was a busy day for the Geneva group in Harrisburg, full of discussions, meetings, and connection-making. Throughout the day we had the opportunity to meet with Senator Elder Vogel; Representatives Marla Brown, MSOL ‘00, Joshua Kail ‘08, Roman Kozak ‘11, and Dan Williams ‘92; the PA Chamber of Business and Industry; a State Board of Higher Education Staff Member, Carrie Amann; and other AICUP representatives.

Our discussions were primarily centered on Geneva’s Center of Academic Excellence for the cybersecurity program in order to strengthen the job pipeline for graduate students. During our conversation with Amann of the State Board of Higher Education, the students shared the internship experiences and difficulties we have had. Of the five students present, two were computer science majors and expressed the difficulty in finding positions. These conversations were helpful as they notified staff and representatives of the issues and difficulties that need to be addressed in the workforce pipeline.

Numerous senators and representatives were eager to share thoughts on the increasing need for solutions in PA’s data center industry, energy grid, and critical mineral infrastructure. It was insightful to hear how state and local government officials are viewing these circumstances that are so tangibly affecting families and residents in western Pennsylvania. In all, they recognize the difficulty in making headway to address the issues is due to a misdirected focus of the crux of the problem. In other words, conversations surrounding the data center, energy, and water industry need to be separated from the rightness and/or wrongness of AI development in order to efficiently address industrial issues. Once this compartmentalization has taken place, real change can be made.

We are incredibly grateful to Geneva’s VP of Strategic Partnerships and Government Relations Lindsay Courteau, President Troup, and Geneva’s VP of Information and Technology Services Chris Treib for organizing and facilitating this opportunity.