The House hearing for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education was held Feb. 20. Click here to watch the footage. Here are our collated posts:
PASSHE’s House budget-appropriations hearing begins 10 a.m. today. Watch live here: www.youtube.com/live/CWKKbS3…
We’ll be live-posting here on Bluesky.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Rep. Jordan Harris begins the hearing with introductions. This hearing covers community colleges as well as the State System.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Rep. Paul Friel begins questions. He asks about long-term plans for declining enrollment, overlap with other universities.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino focuses question to address state-related campuses. We need to start having conversations about competition, coordinating, Fiorentino says. Community colleges talk about rightsizing, collaborative partnerships, including with Cheyney.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Friel asks about transfers from community colleges to PASSHE. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino underscores commitment to transfer agreements. Transferring 95%+ of credits and examining other 5%, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Rep. Jeff Olsommer asks about population decline and projected enrollment decline. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about this trend’s history and continuation. He discusses need to focus on aligning resources, variety of students. Community colleges talk about retainment.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Olsommer asks if universities, colleges have employees who make minimum wage, how change to minimum wage would affect universities, colleges. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino explains that most employees unionized and make above minimum wage. He mentions student workers.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Rep. Abigail Salisbury asks about returning students, interest in online. Community colleges talk about online programs.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Rep. Jamie Barton asks about learning loss, behavioral issues in wake of pandemic. Community colleges talk about making up pace, remediation time being reduced. Starting to see rebound, including in enrollment, they say.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says PASSHE seeing different types of problems over time as students move through academic careers. Fiorentino talks about support staff identifying and targeting gaps. Community colleges talk about mental-health support for students, faculty, and staff.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Barton asks about workforce development. Fiorentino says about 21,000 grads per year, about 2/3 in high-demand fields. He talks about certifications. Barton asks about coordination with local economies.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Rep. Regina G. Young talks about parent concerns in wake of pandemic. Need to make sure children are well-rounded, have basic and mental health needs, she says. She asks about programs for basic needs such as food and housing.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Interim Chancellor Fiorentino discusses food pantries on campuses. “Shocking” how many students use on a regular basis, he says. Lots of fundraising, giving around this, he says. He talks about students whose only residence is on campus, keeping campuses open during holidays for those students.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Rep. Ann Flood talks about cost of higher ed scaring people away. She talks about importance of higher ed. She asks about effects of FAFSA challenges.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:43 AM
“We’re all working very hard to right that ship,” Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says. He talks about moving deadlines to help students.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Rep. Tim Brennan asks about capital funding, backlogged projects at community colleges. Community colleges talk about age of buildings, need for upkeep. He also asks about workforce development. CCs talk about programs that respond to current needs.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Rep. Marla Brown asks about community-college projects that could be affected by lack of funding. CCs elaborate on variables, importance. She asks about progress of project process.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Rep. Aerion Abney what can be done to make higher ed more affordable. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino notes national affordability issues. He talks about PASSHE tuition freeze and desire to freeze again this year: passhe.edu/news/release… He discusses increased financial support.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Community colleges discuss savings of starting at community colleges, dual enrollment.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Rep. Marci Mustello asks about “underutilization” of facilities on PASSHE campuses. She asks about an inventory list of buildings and their statuses.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:04 AM
PASSHE does track, says Sharon P. Minnich, executive vice chancellor for administration and finance. Mustello asks for examples of partnerships. Minnich talks about Cheyney, PennWest partnerships.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Rep. Emily Kinkead, a Bloomsburg grad, asks for overview of process for holding university presidents accountable.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about 360-degree evaluations (underway now). Board “looks at (votes of no confidence) very seriously.” Presidents given great autonomy and held accountable for outcomes, he says. “There is true accountability on the presidents,” he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Kinkead asks about process for removal. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about processes for different circumstances.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Rep. Eric Davanzo asks community colleges about dual enrollment. CCs talk about growth and quality of programs.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Rep. Kyle J. Mullins asks for update on consolidations. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about economies of scale, preservation of opportunities. Still a great deal of work to be done, he says. All schools must ensure appropriate array of programs within budgets, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about progress being made at consolidated universities. Fiorentino talks about importance of realigning resources.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Rep. Kristin Marcell asks about workforce programs at community colleges. CCs talk about how funding could benefit programs and access to them.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Rep. Gina H. Curry talks about dual-enrollment in her district, calling it a gateway for students to enter higher ed. CCs talk about educational, social value.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino shares his experience with dual-enrollment when he was at West Chester University. “Students are capable of doing this work,” he says. Need to provide opportunity. Seeing variety of students, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa asks what work still needs to be done at consolidated universities. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about stabilizing existence of schools. Need to continue to rightsize, he says. Need to reduce number of programs, he says. Must teach out, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Have gone through demographic decline, he says, and another on horizon. Need to maintain “flexibility,” he says. Ongoing challenges, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Krupa asks about programs to be cut. Fiorentino offers to track down info, mentions software system to enable System to offer programs to students at other universities. Need deliver programs efficiently, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Krupa mentions complaints about name of PennWest. She asks about students unable to take courses at their campus. Fiorentino says courses available online. Krupa asks about new programs. Fiorentino talks about STEM, engineering.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Rep. Joshua Siegel talks about higher ed still being “deeply unaffordable.” He mentions PA Promise, asks chancellor to talk about importance of such a program. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about expense. He talks about how costs kept down for most vulnerable students.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Siegel lauds faculty, staff, coaches who serve students. He asks about support for public-sector disclosure act, relationship with collective-bargaining units.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Relationship is critical, Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says. He talks about grounds crew and look of campus. Would follow and maintain law, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Rep. Eric R. Nelson also talks about dual enrollment. He asks about graduation times, why not earlier with dual credit. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino shares State System data.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Nelson also asks about students who have experienced foster care. CCs talk about connections. Chancellor talks about housing aid.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes asks about ways to advocate for Black maternal health, community-college training. CCs talk about doula program, partnership.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Rep. Torren C. Ecker mentions PASSHE report: passhe.edu/offices/publ…. He asks about focus.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about graduates and students who stay in PA, impact on Commonwealth. Focus on program arrays, downsizing, he says. “We need to be focusing on creating as much flexibility as possible,” Fiorentino says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Ecker asks about what higher ed is doing for agricultural industry. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about noncredit opportunities and minors.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Rep. Joshua D. Kail talks about employers who do not require four-year degree. CCs talk about training programs, trades. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about noncredit credentials for people looking for skill set, not degree.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Kail asks about possible medical school at IUP. “Long process” and early in process, Fiorentino says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Rep. James B. Struzzi II, Republican chair, asks if all funding will be used to freeze tuition. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says requested amount would enable operation without increasing tuition. Struzzi asks about removing buildings to save money. System confirms savings.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Rep. James B. Struzzi II asks about timeline for program creation. Approval is a process, Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says. Must be careful when assessing need, he says. He talks about need to be agile.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Struzzi asks about delays with financial aid. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about working with PHEAA, software issues.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Chair Rep. Jordan A. Harris ends with shoutout to his alma mater, Millersville University, and concludes hearing.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 20, 2025 at 12:12 PM