Gov. Tom Wolf said the three-year $200 million commitment the state has made in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) was an opportunity to reinvigorate PASSHE universities while making them more affordable, accessible, and equitable for all Pennsylvanians.
So far, $50 million of the $200 million is already on its way, Wolf said.
“Our state university system provides a world-class education that enables tens of thousands of students to achieve their dream of a college degree and to build lives here in Pennsylvania,” Wolf said. “This is an investment in the future of our students that will rebuild our state universities and make a college education more affordable and accessible to generations of Pennsylvanians.”
The state’s higher education system uses the PASSHE funding to address pressing needs while implementing the system redesign implemented by the Board of Governors in 2016. The redesign efforts include improving student retention and graduation rates, ensuring diversity and inclusivity in campus communities, targeting support systems to make PASSHE more affordable for low-income students, growing enrollments, and modernizing essential infrastructure.
“We appreciate the support from the Governor and General Assembly,” PASSHE Board of Governors Chair Cynthia D. Shapira said. “The partnership we have established over the last two years has been beneficial for the System and the Commonwealth. We appreciate the Governor’s commitment to our mission and the General Assembly’s commitment to our partnership.”
The investment in PASSHE was part of the state budget passed on June 30 that also provided $81 million for capital projects at state universities.