July 12, 2017
State System receives consultant鈥檚 recommendations as part of strategic system review
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg 鈥� The consultant hired to assist with the strategic review of Pennsylvania鈥檚 State
System of Higher Education has completed its data collection and analysis and today
presented a series of recommendations for the future of the State System. The National
Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) presented the recommendations
to the public and System officials during the Board of Governors meeting today.
鈥淲e all have a stake in the future of the State System so we wanted everyone to receive
the same information, at the same time, from NCHEMS,鈥� said Board of Governors Chair
Cynthia D. Shapira. 鈥淲ith these recommendations now in-hand, we will carefully review
them before determining how the System evolves in the months and years ahead.鈥�
The NCHEMS recommendations are the result of a widely inclusive process that included
more than 100 meetings held across the state. Sessions held on each of the 14 university
campuses included hundreds of students, faculty, staff, alumni, business and community
leaders and elected officials. In addition, more than 800 individuals offered comments
and suggestions through the website established for this project. NCHEMS also analyzed
student, program and financial data, as well as regional and national trends in higher
education and workforce demands to provide insights for its recommendations.
鈥淲e asked for an independent, comprehensive, all-inclusive review of our System鈥攊ts
14 universities and the Chancellor鈥檚 Office. NCHEMS has provided that as an important
step in this vital, long-range process,鈥� Ms. Shapira said. 鈥淲ith these recommendations
now in hand, it鈥檚 our turn to be bold鈥攖o seize the opportunity to redefine the State
System for the future.
鈥淲e are thankful to everyone who has participated so far, and look forward to continuing
to work with all of our stakeholders as we reshape the State System in a way that
will ensure its long-term vitality. Because we are Pennsylvania鈥檚 public universities,
everyone has a stake in the outcome of this process, and what we do next.鈥�
Following today鈥檚 presentation made during the regular quarterly meeting of the Board
of Governors, NCHEMS will conduct a series of Q&A sessions with the various constituencies
that participated in the strategic review, including student leaders, faculty and
staff union leaders, legislative leaders, Board members, university presidents and
university trustees.
The Board of Governors will continue to engage with stakeholders to review the recommendations鈥攇athering
feedback from students, faculty, staff and others鈥攁nd will make decisions regarding
which options to pursue for immediate, mid-term, and long-term implementation.
鈥淥ur dedicated faculty and staff do a tremendous job providing outstanding educational
opportunities to students, and have done so for many years,鈥� Ms. Shapira said at the
time the review began. 鈥淲e have the opportunity to do things even better as we move
forward into the future.鈥�
The Board of Governors and Chancellor Frank T. Brogan called for the review last year
as the best opportunity to ensure the future of the State System. Mr. Brogan repeated
that message today.
鈥淲e look forward to digging into the recommendations provided by NCHEMS today鈥攖he
data they collected and the input they received鈥攖o help us make the decisions necessary
to ensure the State System doesn鈥檛 just survive, but thrives well into the future,鈥�
Mr. Brogan said. 鈥淥ur goal remains unchanged: to ensure the State System universities
can continue to provide high-quality, affordable education to students today and long
into the future.
鈥淪o, what鈥檚 our message to our students? As our 14 universities open their doors in
the fall, we鈥檙e confident that we will come out of this process stronger and better
poised to help you succeed. That鈥檚 our commitment to you, and our commitment to all
of Pennsylvania.鈥�
The Board of Governors launched the strategic review in 2016, at a time when the State
System universities were facing unprecedented challenges, fueled largely by lagging
state funding and decreasing numbers of high school graduates, leading to declining
enrollments at many of the institutions. Those challenges remain.
Pennsylvania鈥檚 State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher
education in the Commonwealth, enrolling more than 100,000 degree-seeking students
and thousands more in certificate and other career-development programs. Collectively, the 14 universities
that comprise the State System offer more than 2,300 degree and certificate programs
in more than 530 academic areas. Nearly 520,000 State System university alumni live
in Pennsylvania.
The State System universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg,
Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery
Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The universities also operate
branch campuses in Oil City (Clarion), Freeport and Punxsutawney (IUP), and Clearfield
(Lock Haven), and offer classes and programs at several regional centers, including
the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and in Center City in Philadelphia.