Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced a higher education blueprint this week that is expected to significantly strengthen the way the state's public universities operate.
Much of Mr. Shapiro's plan builds on the work of the Higher Education Task Force, which he appointed last year to develop a series of recommendations to improve higher education in the commonwealth. Shapiro cited a series of problems, including 30 years of disinvestment in higher education, duplication of degree programs, rising costs, and declining enrollment. A plan for the division was proposed.
New governance structure
First, it would create a new governance system for the state's 10 public universities and its 15 community colleges, possibly consolidating some operations and reducing duplication of programs.
Although details are still sketchy, the plan would bring community colleges under the same umbrella as Pennsylvania System of Higher Education (PSSHE) institutions. The PSSHE system has already consolidated six former universities into two regional campuses to save money. It costs millions of dollars and must be adjusted for declining enrollment.
Pennsylvania is not the only state to undo the issue of university duplication. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has asked the state Legislature to appropriate $3 million for an independent study of how South Carolina's 33 public universities should be organized in the future.
performance funding
Shapiro would like to see the state move to a funding model in which the distribution of state funds is based in part on schools' performance on a variety of outcome measures. This formula also applies to his four “state-affiliated” institutions that do not participate in the PSSHE system: Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, and Lincoln University.
“This formula takes into account factors including, but not limited to, enrollment growth, the number of first-generation college students receiving eligibility, and graduation rates,” according to a press release from the governor's office. Additionally, educational institutions are increasing the number of degree earners in fields with labor shortages, such as education and nursing, as well as “growth fields such as advanced manufacturing and biotechnology, which will drive the Commonwealth's economic growth in the coming decades.” You will be rewarded.
Mr. Shapiro also plans to have the performance funding mechanism run by the Pennsylvania Department of Education rather than the Legislature, which he contends creates too much funding uncertainty due to political partisanship.
Access and affordability
Finally, Mr. Shapiro promises to recommend additional funding for agencies and more state funding when he delivers his budget statement on February 6th.
He argued that “many of our universities are operating at capacity, and there are not enough students who can take affordable paths to graduate school and get good jobs,” and students with below-median incomes. of Pennsylvania residents will not pay more than $1,000 in tuition. Semester fees for state universities and community colleges. The result, Shapiro said, is a system that “opens doors of opportunity, prepares the workforce, and is central to Pennsylvania's economic success.”
“Every Pennsylvanian deserves the freedom to chart their own path and the opportunity to succeed,” Shapiro said in a news release. “For some, that means going straight into the workforce, but for those who want to go to university or gain a qualification, we need to rethink our higher education system. 1 Whether you want to take a course, earn a certificate to qualify for a promotion, or earn a degree that will lead to a new career, you'll find accessible and affordable higher education options. This is true for all students, whether they attend a historic HBCU, community college, PASSHE institution, state university, or independent university.”
reaction
Higher education officials and Democratic lawmakers were quick to praise the plan. “The governor's proposal is a real opportunity to further strengthen the strengths of PASSHE's universities and community colleges,” PASSHE President Dan Greenstein said in a news release. “Together, we will offer students more pathways to degrees and certifications, adapt quickly to changing knowledge and skills required by employers, and provide students with the lowest-cost options throughout their career.” We can build new, larger systems with better collaboration that deliver.”
Leaders from Penn State University, Temple University, Lincoln University, and the University of Pittsburgh all added statements of support to the governor's press release. “I am very pleased to see that part of Governor Shapiro's blueprint calls for establishing a funding formula based on predictable outcomes,” said Pennsylvania President Neeli Bendapudi. We look forward to implementing such a model.” for example. “This initiative provides an important opportunity for Penn State and other state-affiliated institutions to collaborate with the commonwealth toward common goals of workforce and economic development.” he added.
Still, Mr. Shaprio's blueprint faces a long road in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, where Republicans initially voiced caution and opposition.
In a public statement, Senate Minority Leader Joe Pittman said he believed the plan was well-intentioned, adding, “The types of changes being proposed are not a quick initiative and will make the plan a reality.'' It is notable that the amount of funding required for this is not included in the announcement.” Two important considerations when making substantive changes are the additional cost to taxpayers and the impact on the communities in which the state's higher education institutions are located. ”
Others were more severe.by Pennsylvania Capital StarState Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) called the proposal a “three-step plan for a fiscal crisis” that would deplete the state's surplus and require future tax increases.
Despite the partisan fight that is sure to ensue, Mr. Shapiro's proposal addresses higher education's biggest current challenges: college affordability, organizational duplication, student success, and workforce alignment. We are dealing with some things. It's a bold plan that other states are sure to take note of, giving Mr. Shapiro, widely seen by Democrats as an up-and-coming national star, a policy agenda that is likely to resonate with a wide variety of audiences. It is something to give.
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