In my last blog I explained how universities and colleges like ours are adapting creatively to the tremendous financial, political, and demographic pressures that are bearing down on them. They are re-imagining themselves at a rate and pace that is unheard of in higher education, in order that they may continue as essential engines of workforce development, social mobility, and a more accepting and civil society.
As a follow up, I want to share some thoughts about Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposal for major enhancements to Pennsylvania’s public higher education sector – namely the ten PASSHE universities and the state’s 15 community colleges. In a nutshell, it seeks to leverage the strengths of these very institutions to accelerate the pace of innovation we are seeing here in support of students, their communities, employers, and the state.
First, the Governor’s proposal would drive substantially more investment into PASSHE universities and into the community colleges, making them significantly more affordable for Pennsylvanians. That is key to filling the state’s talent gap because these institutions serve nearly half of all low-income (Pell eligible) students in the state. What’s more, these students make up more than a third of enrollments at PASSHE universities and community colleges — a far greater percentage than in other sectors.
Currently, the state is 49th nationally in its investment in higher education. Despite this, these institutions consistently deliver the most affordable, high-quality education options for students and a strong talent pipeline for the state. We are good at what we do in a way that testifies to the quality of our faculty and staff – their creativity and commitment. Imagine what we could accomplish if the state invested more in our work and in our students.
Second, the proposal seeks to create an entirely new system that would include all 25 institutions as equal members. What a tremendous opportunity.
Systems can be enormously powerful. PASSHE is a great example. Our universities have worked as a system to drive innovation that has expanded opportunities for students, grown enrollment, and improved metrics — all while controlling costs. Working as a system, our PASSHE universities have partnered effectively with the state to increase funding, enabling us to keep tuition frozen for six consecutive years — a rare accomplishment in public higher education.
We are all incredibly proud of the progress our PASSHE universities have made, but there’s only so much we can do by ourselves. Imagine what we might accomplish as part of a new system involving our universities and community colleges working together. If done right, this new system can transform how PA delivers public higher education, strengthen our economy, provide pathways for all into and beyond the middle class.
Change is complicated. It engenders all sorts of emotions: excitement, wonder, intrigue, curiosity, apprehension, and more. So you know, I feel excitement about creating an even more effective higher education system; intrigue about what it will take to bring together 25 unique colleges and universities under one, new umbrella; curiosity about how we can tap into the best of what we know and do and leverage it toward something even better.
As the governor has said, this is the start of a conversation that will result in a detailed plan. And the details matter. No doubt these will be difficult conversations that require us to ask difficult questions of each other and of ourselves.
I’m an historian by training, so I feel more comfortable reviewing the past than predicting the future. Still, I can’t help but think that these courageous conversations will present real opportunities for Pennsylvania and the students we serve.
And as an historian, I’ve observed that moments of true transformation are about convergence – the combination of people, ideas, and time. I believe that we have the people. We have the ideas. And now – now is the time.
Dan
No comments:
Post a Comment