First online classes built on the foundation of apprenticeship learning begins Dec. 2026 

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Construction projects depend on people who understand how work happens in the field. A new degree launching in December 2026 is designed to help those workers prepare for the next stage of their careers by building a unique degree pathway that builds on what they have learned in the trade. 

The Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters have been primary architects of a unique curriculum for their members to earn a Bachelor of Applied Science in construction management, leveraging the national academic reputation of Slippery Rock University.

“This partnership complements and expands on the skills of people in the construction industry and provides leadership training for their long-term career growth,” said Nicole Dafoe, dean of the College of Engineering and Science at SRU. “Together we will create the next generation of construction managers whose impact will extend far beyond construction, helping build the schools, health care facilities, workplaces and community spaces that strengthen the region and improve everyday life for us all.” 

The jointly developed curriculum focuses on the career growth of apprentices and journey workers, as well as community college students and career and technical education graduates. It provides a pathway into construction management that also prepares them for increased leadership opportunities around safety and construction technology. 

“Our industry faces a significant workforce shortage and an increasing need for skilled craftspeople, project managers, project engineers, estimators, and other construction professionals. Addressing this challenge requires collaboration, innovation, and investment in the next generation of industry leaders,” said John Mascaro Jr., president and CEO of Mascaro Construction Company (MCC), a family-owned company that serves as a catalyst for growth by creating projects that generate lasting value for communities throughout western Pennsylvania. “This partnership between Slippery Rock University and The EAS Carpenters Union brings trade expertise and higher education together to help meet the needs of our Industry. This is the kind of practical innovation that earns our support by creating and growing skilled union workers while helping to develop the next generation of construction leaders.” MCC has been named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s “Top Workplaces” for 10 consecutive years. 

The degree connects skilled trades learning with university coursework in construction leadership, safety and building technologies for apprentices, journey workers and other adults seeking to advance in the construction industry. 

“The concept of an either-or choice between trades education and higher education is outdated and represents a false dichotomy,” said Karen Riley, SRU president. “Both have tremendous value, and together they create greater opportunities for individuals, employers and our region. Bringing these pathways together allows us to respond more directly to what workers need to advance their careers and achieve their life goals, while also addressing what employers need to grow and strengthen the regional economy.”

For apprentices and journey workers, the path through higher education can be difficult to navigate. This program is designed to make that path clearer by connecting prior learning with coursework suited to working adults and a bachelor’s degree focused on the construction workforce. 

“The partnership rests on our mutual mission, education and excellence, and our combined dedication and contributions are essential to building the next generation of leaders,” said Alex Fulton, coordinator, EAS Carpenters Training Center. “The carpenters bring the technical expertise and experience from the job site and SRU has the experienced faculty with the demonstrated expertise needed to help our members take on new responsibilities as their careers develop.”

The degree includes three certificates in construction management, construction safety and construction technologies. Each gives students a focused area of study within the broader bachelor’s degree that also serves as progression milestones to their degree.

“The collaboration addresses a long-standing divide in how higher education and career choices are presented,” said Tim Slekar, associate provost for academic innovation at SRU. “The innovation here is bringing the skilled trades and higher education together in one connected pathway. By building university study on the foundation of apprenticeship learning, we’re combining the strengths of both to create new opportunities for workers and meet the needs of the construction industry.” 

“This program creates a continuum of learning and a clear pathway for career and professional development—from hands-on skills and technical expertise to the leadership and management capabilities needed to lead the next generation of the construction industry,” President Riley continued. “By connecting these educational pathways, we are not asking individuals to choose between trades and higher education; we are creating opportunities for them to build on both. ” 

Designed for adults balancing work and education, the program combines online coursework with in-person learning opportunities.

The first information session is scheduled to take place over Zoom on Monday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. To register visit sru.edu/BASTrade or contact Mike May, vice president for enrollment management, at 724.738.2015 or asktherock@sru.edu with questions.

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SOURCE Slippery Rock University

TORRINGTON, Conn., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Therap Services, the national leader in HIPAA-compliant electronic documentation solutions for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), and Long-Term Services recently hosted a virtual event titled “Program Integrity for States and Providers: How to Identify and Avoid Fraud, Waste, and Abuse.”

More than 1,000 people registered for the event, including state directors, agency administrators and CEOs. The event focused on evolving Medicaid compliance requirements and strategies for identifying and avoiding fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA).

The event provided an opportunity for professionals across the IDD, HCBS, and LTSS sectors to learn about emerging compliance considerations, common FWA risks, and strategies for strengthening program integrity and accountability.

Key Topics Covered

Presenters discussed the changing Medicaid and HCBS regulatory landscape, state enforcement trends, the 2027 Medicaid Employment Mandate, provider enrollment moratoriums, and strategies for improving compliance and audit readiness through electronic documentation, EVV integration, AI-powered quality assurance, and governance controls.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the primary focus of Therap’s Program Integrity solutions for LTSS and HCBS providers?

A: Therap provides automated guardrails, claim-to-documentation linking, and real-time quality assurance tools to help providers prevent billing errors, maintain compliance, and mitigate Medicaid Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA) risks.

Q: How does Therap help agencies prepare for state and federal audits?

A: Therap provides time-stamped audit logs, point-of-care Electronic Visit Verification (EVV), and reporting dashboards that help agencies verify service delivery and allows them to conduct self-audits before post-payment reviews.

Q: How can care providers protect themselves against payment holds or billing anomalies?

A: Providers can use role-based permissions, pre-billing automated checks, and Therap AI tools to identify missing notes and documentation gaps before claims are submitted to payers.

Looking Ahead

Therap Services’ 2026 Fall Showcase: Exploring New AI Analytics is scheduled for October 20, 2026, at 2:00 PM EST, featuring expanded AI analytics and Fatal Five functionality.

About Therap Services 
Therap provides HIPAA-compliant software for documentation, communication, reporting, EVV, and billing in human services settings.

Learn more: https://www.therapservices.net/

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SOURCE Therap Services

Himanshu Sahay set out the four questions institutional borrowers should ask before signing a term sheet at Bitcoin Corporate Day in London, the Midwest Bitcoin Summit in Columbus, and the Bitcoin Treasuries Conference in New York

NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Across three corporate Bitcoin events in September, Arch Lending put the same question to institutional and individual holders: when you need liquidity, do you sell your Bitcoin or borrow against it?

Himanshu Sahay, Co-Founder and CRO of Arch Lending, argued that the answer depends less on the headline rate than on what sits underneath the loan.

Four questions before a term sheet

On a September 22 panel at Bitcoin Corporate Day in London, an invite-only forum for corporates, funds and financial institutions, Sahay set out the questions he believes any borrower should ask a Bitcoin-backed lender before signing:

Who holds the keys to the collateral?Can the collateral be rehypothecated or reused?What exactly triggers a liquidation, and is it partial or total?What happens to Bitcoin if the lender fails?

The panel examined the mechanics of institutional Bitcoin-backed credit and what has changed in the market since 2022.

Liquidity without liquidation

Two days later, Sahay delivered a keynote at the Midwest Bitcoin Summit in Columbus, Ohio, titled “Liquidity Without Liquidation.”

“Most people who’ve held Bitcoin for years don’t want to sell it,” said Sahay. “They want cash for a home or a business without giving up the position. Borrowing can do that, as long as they know where their collateral sits, whether it can be reused, and what happens if the price drops.”

For long-term holders, selling to cover a major expense means giving up the position permanently. Borrowing preserves it, but introduces interest costs, collateral requirements, and the possibility of a margin call if the price falls.

Later the same day, Klint Drici, Head of Institutional Sales at Arch Lending, joined the panel “From Stacking Sats to Enterprise Revaluation,” which traced the path from individual accumulation to enterprise-scale Bitcoin adoption.

A young credit market

Sahay closed the run with a lightning talk, “Bitcoin-Backed Lending Enters the Wall Street Era,” at the Bitcoin Treasuries Conference in New York on September 28.

“Bitcoin as a credit asset class is still very new,” said Sahay. “Real estate got decades and government backstops to earn its reputation. This market is just getting started.”

Arch Lending holds borrower collateral in segregated custody with Anchorage Digital, a federally chartered bank and qualified custodian, and does not rehypothecate it. The company offers loans secured by Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, PAX Gold and Tether Gold.

About Arch Lending

Arch Lending is a U.S.-based lending platform that lets holders of alternative assets borrow against their holdings without selling. It supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, PAX Gold and Tether Gold as collateral. Eligible client assets are held 1:1 in segregated custody with Anchorage Digital, a federally chartered bank and qualified custodian, and are not rehypothecated. Arch Lending is operated by ChainFi, Inc. Learn more at archlending.com.

Media Contact

Nishy Siva
Genius PR
nishy@theprgenius.com 

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SOURCE Arch Lending