Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

The Normal School Act of 1857 was passed on the last day of session on May 20, 1857.John Edward Merryman, The Indiana Story 1875–1975: Pennsylvania's First State University ... Clearfield, Pennsylvania: Kurtz Brothers, 1976 (p. 18). Its passage created 12 normal school districts in the state in which to establish private corporations answerable to the State Superintendent of Common Schools.Merryman, pp. 18–20 Afterward, the School Code of 1911 mandated that the Commonwealth purchase all the normal schools. The normal schools evolved from state normal schools, to state teacher's colleges, to state colleges. Act 188, which was signed into law on November 12, 1982, and came into effect on July 1, 1983, established the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, and converted those state colleges into universities.

Chancellor Dan Greenstein announced in an "open letter to all students, faculty, staff, and supporters of PASSHE" in July 2024, that he would be concluding his six-year tenure as Chancellor effective October 11, 2024. He concluded with the postscript, "P.S. I will let you know of my next steps when I am free to share the information in September."{{cite web |url=https://chancellorgreenstein.blogspot.com/2024/07/open-letter-to-all-students-faculty.html |title=Open Letter to All Students, Faculty, Staff and Supporters of PASSHE |website=Chancellor's Blog (via Blogspot) |last=Greenstein |first=Dan |date=2024-07-23 |access-date=2024-07-23}}

A plan to merge six of the current PASSHE institutions into two multi-campus universities is ongoing as of July 2021. There was opposition to the plan.{{Cite web |title=PASSHE integration plan faces fierce opposition |url=https://www.cityandstatepa.com/policy/2021/06/passhe-integration-plan-faces-fierce-opposition/364577/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=City & State PA |date=June 11, 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Grad student cutting lawns to pay off college debt gives officials a lecture on Pa. state university mergers |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2021/06/09/pennsylvania-State-System-Higher-Education-Clarion-California-Edinboro-Lock-Haven-Greenstein-hearing-APSCUF-mergers/stories/202106090103 |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Snyder |first=Susan |title=Commenters overwhelmingly opposed Pa. state university mergers during first day's hearings |url=https://www.inquirer.com/education/pennsylvania-state-universities-merger-integration-20210609.html |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=inquirer.com |date=June 9, 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-06-09 |title=Pennsylvanians Criticize Plans To Merge California, Clarion and Edinboro Universities |url=https://www.wesa.fm/education/2021-06-09/pennsylvanians-criticize-passhe-merger-plans-at-first-public-hearing |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=90.5 WESA |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Wolford |first=Stacy |date=2021-06-10 |title=Speakers oppose Pa. state university mergers |url=https://monvalleyindependent.com/2021/06/speakers-oppose-pa-state-university-mergers/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=The Mon Valley Independent |language=en-US}} It has faced opposition by the Lock Haven City Council,{{Cite web |title=City Council opposes LHU integration |url=https://www.lockhaven.com/news/local-news/2021/03/city-council-opposes-lhu-integration/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=lockhaven.com |language=en-US}} the Clinton County Commissioners,{{Cite web |title=Commissioners voice opposition to LHU merger |url=https://www.lockhaven.com/news/local-news/2021/04/commissioners-voice-opposition-to-lhu-merger/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=lockhaven.com |language=en-US}} the Clear Coalition,{{Cite web |date=2021-04-06 |title=CLEAR Coalition advocates against PASSHE consolidation, cites economic importance |url=https://local21news.com/news/local/a-look-at-proposed-consolidation-of-pennsylvania-state-universities |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=WHP-TV |language=en}} the Party for Socialism and Liberation Chester County, PASSHE Defenders,{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/defenderspasshe |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Twitter |language=en |title=PASSHE Defenders}} AFSCME Council 13,{{Cite web |last=Kauffman |first=William |date=2021-04-28 |title=PRESS RELEASE: PASSHE consolidation plan worse than expected for workers |url=https://www.afscme13.org/news/press-release-passhe-consolidation-plan-worse-than-expected-for-workers/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=AFSCME Council 13 |language=en}} Pennsylvania AFL–CIO,{{Cite web |date=2021-05-03 |title=APSCUF & Labor Speaks Out Against PASSHE Consolidation |url=http://www.paspotlight.org/2021/apscuf-labor-speaks-out-against-passhe-consolidation/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Pennsylvania Spotlight |language=en-US}} APSCUF{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Jan |date=2021-04-07 |title=Faculty oppose Pa. state universities' proposed consolidation plans |url=https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/04/faculty-buy-in-missing-from-pa-state-universities-proposed-consolidation-plans.html |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=pennlive |language=en}} and from public comments. Groups like APSCUF, AFSCME, and the Pennsylvania AFL–CIO held a press conference May 3, 2021, to speak out in opposition to the consolidation. PASSHE Defenders & the Party for Socialism & Liberation Chester County held rallies across the state at the campuses slated for consolidation{{Cite web |title='An injury to one is an injury to all' |url=https://www.lockhaven.com/news/local-news/2021/06/an-injury-to-one-is-an-injury-to-all/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=lockhaven.com |language=en-US}} and at the state capital Harrisburg.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Liberation |title=Penn. higher education under attack by its own Board of Governors – Liberation News |url=https://www.liberationnews.org/pa-higher-education-under-attack-by-its-own-board-of-governors/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |language=en-US}} The plan being a part of the larger state system redesign was projected to have disastrous effects according to a report out of the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) of the University of Massachusetts Amherst.{{Cite web |last=Weinstein |first=Kim |title=PERI - The Economic Impact of the PASSHE Employment Reductions |url=https://peri.umass.edu/component/k2/item/1439-the-economic-impact-of-the-passhe-employment-reductions |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=peri.umass.edu |language=en-gb}} The report titled "The Economic Impact of the PASSHE Employment Reductions" outlines "[The] large cuts in staffing, both of faculty and of professional and classified staff in good unionized jobs, constitute the core of the restructuring. The cuts, amounting to 14 percent of overall PASSHE employment, are of a magnitude equivalent to the largest private-sector plant closings and mass layoffs of the previous decade in Pennsylvania."

Under the plan, two sets of three schools would merge into single institutions effective July 1, 2022—Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield in the state's northeast, and California, Clarion, and Edinboro in western Pennsylvania. Each three-school group would have a new name, but the plan called for all institutions involved in these mergers to retain their current campus identities and athletic programs. The PASSHE board of governors approved the plan on April 28, 2021, which opened a 60-day public comment period.

The comment period originally was set to have two public comment hearings throughout the 60-day public comment period as outlined in Act 50,{{Cite web |title=2020 Act 50 |url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2020&sessInd=0&act=50 |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. |language=English}} only taking place on June 9 and 10. However after public pressure the Board of Governors announced the addition of two additional hearings the same days.{{Cite web |title=Press Releases - State System provides increased opportunities... |url=https://www.passhe.edu/News/Lists/Press%20Releases/DispForm.aspx?ID=1847 |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=www.passhe.edu}} Additionally, [https://www.apscuf.org/ APSCUF] held their own public comment hearings.{{cite web | url=https://www.apscuf.org/comments/ | title=APSCUF-organized public-comment sessions about university consolidations | APSCUF }}

The NCAA would have to approve the continued separation of the athletic programs at the merged institutions.{{cite news|url=https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2021/04/28/merger-plan-approved-six-pennsylvania-universities/4871911001/ |title=PASSHE OKs merger plan for six state colleges. What would change |first=J. D. |last=Prose |newspaper=York Daily Record |location=York, PA |date=April 28, 2021 |access-date=May 3, 2021}} The board voted unanimously to approve the merger on July 14, but a system press release stated that "the efforts to complete the two integrations will take years."{{cite press release|url=https://www.passhe.edu/News/Pages/Releases.aspx?q=2021-07-11-Board-of-Governors-Integrations |title=Board of Governors approve student-centered university integration plans

|publisher=Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education |date=July 14, 2021 |access-date=July 20, 2021}}

State higher education funding across the country has seen significant cuts. In particular Pennsylvania saw an almost 34% cut in state funding from 2008 to 2018.{{cite web |title=State Higher Education Funding Cuts Have Pushed Costs to Students, Worsened Inequality | publisher=Center for Budget and Policy Priorities |url=https://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/state-higher-education-funding-cuts-have-pushed-costs-to-students |access-date=October 4, 2022 |date=October 24, 2019}} PASSHE over the past two decades has been cut harshly in regards to state funding. As the early 2000's they received over $700 million adjusted to 2022's dollars by the state. However the 2021–2022 academic year they received below $500 million.{{cite web |url=https://www.passhe.edu/Shared%20Documents/FY22-23AppropriationsRequest.pdf |title=2022–2023 Appropriations Request |website=Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education |year=2022 |access-date=October 7, 2022 }}{{cite web |title=State Dollars Per Student Continue to Be Historically Low |publisher= The Quad of West Chester University| url=https://wcuquad.com/6020011/op-ed/state-dollars-per-student-continue-to-be-historically-low/ |access-date=October 5, 2022 |date=April 11, 2022 }}

The system includes ten universities in Pennsylvania:

Starting in the 2022–2023 academic year, six of the PASSHE campuses were consolidated into two universities.{{cite news |url=https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-penn-western-new-name-20211014-qm4nntlkz5bwpmwj6skx2zm2tm-story.html |title=Welcome to 'Penn West University'; 3 merged western Pennsylvania colleges get new name, but will keep some of old identities |date=October 14, 2021 |work=The Morning Call |first=Jan |last=Murphy |access-date=October 25, 2021 }}

• Pennsylvania Western University, comprising the former California, Clarion, and Edinboro universities.
• Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, comprising the former Lock Haven, Bloomsburg, and Mansfield universities. These three institutions, while merged operationally with a common leadership and administrative structure, retain their distinct names and logos and appear as three unrelated universities for branding purposes.{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Jan |title=Three Pa. state universities are given a new name that surprisingly wasn't already taken |url=https://www.pennlive.com/news/2022/03/three-pa-state-universities-are-given-a-new-name-that-surprisingly-wasnt-already-taken.html |website=Penn Live |date=March 2, 2022 |access-date=March 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303043429/https://www.pennlive.com/news/2022/03/three-pa-state-universities-are-given-a-new-name-that-surprisingly-wasnt-already-taken.html |archive-date=March 3, 2022 |language=English}} However, the three universities were legally merged into a single university under the accreditation of Bloomsburg University, henceforth known as Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania by its accrediting body.{{cite web |title=Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania - Statement of Accreditation |url=https://www.msche.org/institution/0468/ |publisher=Middle States Commission on Higher Education |access-date=2 October 2022}}

• Keystone Library Network
• Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference

State System universities also operate four branch campuses. The Office of the Chancellor is situated in the capital city of Harrisburg.

As reported in November 2020, "The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education was given the green light from the General Assembly to sell the Dixon University Center".{{cite web | url=https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/11/look-for-a-for-sale-sign-soon-to-be-posted-on-the-property-housing-pa-state-university-headquarters.html | title=Pa. State university system ready to sell its Harrisburg headquarters | date=November 27, 2020 }} The Dixon University Center was then purchased by the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg.{{cite web | url=https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/10/jewish-federation-of-greater-harrisburg-to-buy-headquarters-of-pas-state-university-system.html | title=Jewish Federation to buy Pa.'s state university system's HQ on 6.5 acres in Harrisburg | date=October 8, 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.pennlive.com/life/2022/04/a-major-milestone-jewish-federation-finalizes-purchase-of-dixon-university-center.html | title='A major milestone': Jewish Federation finalizes purchase of Dixon University Center | date=April 2022 }}

As established by the founding legislation, Act 188 of 1982, the primary mission of the State System of Higher Education "is the provision of instruction for undergraduate and graduate students to and beyond the Master's degree in the liberal arts and sciences, and in the applied fields, including the teaching profession." Additionally, the purpose of the State System is "to provide high quality education at the lowest possible cost to students."PASSHE Board of Governors, Leading the Way, July 2004.

A 20-member Board of Governors oversees the system. Additional power is vested in the Councils of Trustees at the constituent universities.

Board of Governor's membership includes: four state legislators, three students, the Governor of the Commonwealth (or a designee), the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education (or a designee), and 11 citizens appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate.{{cite web |title=Act 188 of 1982 |publisher=Pennsylvania General Assembly |url=http://www.passhe.edu/inside/bog/Pages/Act-188.aspx |access-date=September 2, 2018 |via=PASSHE |date=July 6, 2016 }}

The Board of Governors sets general policy for the State System. They also set recommendations regarding individual university tuition and the university technology fee. They have meetings typically on a quarterly basis.{{cite web | url=https://www.passhe.edu/meeting/Pages/default.aspx | title=Board of Governors Meeting Information | PA State System of Higher Education }}

Act 188 of 1982 states, "Funding for the Board of Governors and chancellor shall come from all operating funds available to the State colleges and State-owned university, but shall not exceed one-half of one per centum (.5%) of such funds. For purposes of this section, the phrase “operating funds” means any federal appropriation, any state appropriation, any student tuition fees and any student fees for room and board".{{cite web |url=https://www.passhe.edu/inside/legal/Documents/Act188.pdf |title=Article XX-A The State System of Higher Education |date=November 12, 1982 |website=PASSHE |access-date=October 3, 2022}}

Additionally, Act 188 states "The Board of Governors shall provide for the holding of regular and special meetings. Eleven (11) governors

attending shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business and, unless a greater number is required by

the bylaws of the board, the act of a majority of the governors present at any meeting shall be deemed the act of the

board. ((b) amended June 23, 1988, P.L.457, No.77)".

More than 82,000 undergraduate and graduate, part-time and full-time, students attend State System universities. Nearly 90 percent are Pennsylvania residents and 80 percent remain in Pennsylvania after graduation. Nearly 20 percent of the total student population are underrepresented minority. There are more than 800,000 State System alumni, including more than 518,000 who live and work in Pennsylvania.

In total the university campuses comprise approximately {{convert|4,700|acres|km2}}. A total of 862 buildings with nearly {{convert|25|e6sqft|km2|abbr=out}} house classrooms, residences, administrative offices, and student support services. The State System employs more than 13,700 professional and support staff, most covered by collective bargaining agreements. The various libraries are connected through the cooperative Keystone Library Network.

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Category:1983 establishments in Pennsylvania

Category:Public university systems in the United States