Gov. Shapiro has been disappointed in the Pennsylvania system since he took office last year. He’s appointed a working group to suggest changes. The state colleges often duplicate efforts, and they are underfunded. The 15 community colleges and the 10 state colleges operate under different management. Pennsylvania ranks 49th in spending for public higher education. Tuition is also high.
The big plan will be unveiled on Feb. 7. The Governor says he won’t eliminate any campuses.
When I moved back to PA I taught classes in pol. sci. at East Stroudsburg University for a number of years. Many students were caught between working and classes, overwhelmed by the need for income and the need for study time. I also learned that many parents, including wealthy parents, did not contribute to their kids’ educations. If Gov. Shapiro’s plan calls for lower tuition or more scholarships, that would be a major improvement.
I also learned that many graduates did not plan to stay in the area. Not too many jobs for a newly minted college grad in Carbon or Monroe County.
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