UR Career Pathways FAQs

Currently, we are focusing on training employees for a group of high-demand positions at the University of Rochester. Please consider the high-demand position options available that interest you; consider your career goals; and consult with your supervisor for advice and support before applying to the UR Career Pathways program.

The training or academic programs we currently support for each role are listed at the bottom of the high-demand position page for the role. Please refer to the specific role’s page for detailed information about the available programs.

Yes, applicants are required to have served in a full-time role at the University of Rochester for at least a year (or 9 months if pursuing a nursing role) before applying to UR Career Pathways; and full-time employee status is required throughout participation in the program. View program eligibility criteria.

Employees of affiliate hospitals are not eligible for UR Career Pathways. We encourage you to explore tuition benefits offered by those employers.

Career Navigation Service is a support service offered through the UR Career Pathways program, which helps employees identify career opportunities in the high-demand positions that may interest them and help them toward the achievement of their career goals.

UR Employees who have applied for URCP and meet eligibility criteria, but have not yet decided on a single career path, may participate in Coach-led Career Navigation Service.

First, please touch base with your immediate supervisor to discuss your career goals and the possibility of participating in this program; here is a guide you may find helpful for your conversation. Then, if you meet the eligibility criteria, you should submit an application in order to initiate the Coach-Led Career Navigation Service. If you don’t currently meet the eligibility criteria, you are welcome to use our Self-led Career Navigation resource.

The goal of our program is to connect staff members to opportunities for long-term, rewarding careers at the University of Rochester.

Supervisor approval is needed to participate. The program is available to employees who have shown success in their current roles and are in good standing (no disciplinary action within the last six months); as part of the screening process, we will ask your manager to confirm these details and their support via a manager recommendation form.

If accepted into the program, we will work with you to determine which program will least conflict with your work schedule. Because some of the training may still take place during regular work shifts, you may be eligible to receive up to eight hours per week of paid release time (based on FTE status) during an academic program to focus on your studies; you would be expected to work with your supervisor to plan this time in advance and ensure departmental coverage.

Your time in the program will vary depending on your career path. For instance, Outpatient Access Representative positions typically would need between one to two months of training, whereas becoming a Registered Nurse may require two or more years of training.

Unlike many career development initiatives, UR Career Pathways doesn’t require upfront tuition from employees selected for the program. We provide advance tuition payments directly to approved academic institutions.

If you are accepted into the program, we will cover any pre-requisite, required, and transitional courses needed toward the academic program you will apply for. However, paid release time is not available during pre-requisite courses.

Yes, in addition to pathways for participants with a high school diploma, there are pathways available for participants who already have a degree.

The focus of the UR Career Pathways program is on helping current employees begin a new career pathway in a high-demand position.

Individuals who have already been accepted into an academic degree/certificate program toward a high-demand position are not eligible to participate.

Individuals who have not been accepted into an academic degree/certificate program, but who are taking prerequisite courses toward their program of choice, may be eligible to participate.

Individuals represented by collective bargaining agreements may apply for the UR Career Pathways program and participate in the Career Navigation Service. However, the benefits they receive will be determined and administered by their collective bargaining agreements.

No, acceptance into the URCP program does not guarantee admission into any training or academic program. Participants are responsible for applying to and meeting the specific admission requirements of the training or academic program associated with their chosen pathway.

While we will help prepare you with the skills and knowledge you need to obtain a position in the new title, as well as connecting you with recruiters and hiring managers, ultimately, you will be responsible for applying, interviewing, and securing a new position. The UR Career Pathways program does not guarantee a new position or promotion as a result of completing a training/academic program.

If the Career Pathways program is not a good fit for you at this time, please consider the MyCareer Plan Self-Guided Career Development and MyPath Professional Development Workshops to help identify other career options that may be of interest to you.

We also encourage you to explore the University’s Total Rewards Tuition Benefits.

If you meet the eligibility requirements and are interested in being supported for any of the designated high-demand positions, the first step is to submit an application to the Career Pathways program. As a next step, we will be in touch to set up a screening appointment with a member of the Career Pathways team; the screening will be an opportunity to learn more about you and your career goals here at the University of Rochester, and to answer any specific questions you may have.