The Senate hearing for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education was held Feb. 18. Click here to watch the footage. Here are our collated posts:
We’re live-posting from today’s Pennsylvania Senate budget-appropriations hearing for PASSHE. Watch live: www.pasen.gov/Video/nob.cfm
[image or embed]— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Sen. Lindsey M. Williams, minority chair, asks what PASSHE needs from Pennsylvania. Interim Chancellor Christopher M. Fiorentino talks about how System has kept tuition frozen. Asked about community colleges, he talks about how PASSHE has been working with community colleges on transfers, savings.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is also included in this hearing. Williams now directs questions to James H. Steeley, president and CEO of PHEAA.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Williams asks interim chancellor about no-confidence vote. Fiorentino discusses 360-degree review of Hanna. Williams urges accountability. More about the vote: www.apscuf.org/faculty-coac…
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Sen. Tracy Pennycuick asks about savings from sale of buildings and rightsizing of dorms. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about strategies being used.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Sen. Pennycuick asks about future consolidations. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says not actively pursuing consolidations at this point. He talks about efficiencies that can be achieved without consolidating. PASSHE still in process of rightsizing, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Sen. Judith L. Schwank, who served on PASSHE Board of Governors, asks about programs and high-demand areas. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says it’s important to give students choice but must ask about ability to deliver. Talks about strategy of how programs are offered.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Schwank talks about possible medical school at IUP. Fiorentino discusses hiring, fundraising. “They’re working towards that goal,” he says of multi-year process.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Schwank asks about universities carving their own paths. Fiorentino talks about autonomy and guidance from PASSHE.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill asks about PASSHE coordinating with other universities about right-sizing. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about working closely with community colleges. State-related universities make decisions independently, he says, mentions shrinking demographics.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Phillips-Hill talks about competition in higher ed and taxpayer funding. She talks about enrollment drop. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about graduates who take jobs and stay here in Commonwealth. Our universities remain an investment, he says. Phillips-Hill calls for rightsizing.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Sen. Elder A. Vogel Jr. asks about advertising and recruiting from other states. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says recruiting done now not likely to be seen by general public: intense electronic communication in target market.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Vogel asks about enrollment decline and PennWest. Fiorentino talks about online programs, nontraditional learners, other markets, rightsizing. Vogel asks about Pell-grant retention.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Sen. Patty Kim asks about best practices Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino brings from West Chester, from which he retired as president. Fiorentino talks about WCU’s size, avoiding temptation to keep adding programs. WCU focused on optimizing use of resources at all times, he said.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Kim asks about AI. Fiorentino talks about how we cannot pretend it’s not there.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Kim asks James H. Steeley, president and CEO of PHEAA, about FAFSA difficulties. He discusses challenges.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Sen. Cris Dush asks if other universities have asked to merge. Fiorentino says no. Dush asks about closure of Commonwealth Lock Haven’s Clearfield campus. Fiorentino talks about teachout. Read more www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t…
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Dush talks about business owners who say graduates don’t have skills. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about critical skills achieved in general education, strengths of liberal arts.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Sen. Art Haywood, now on the PASSHE Board of Governors, talks about his Enough report: www.pa.gov/content/dam/… He asks about enrollment.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about how PASSHE schools are inclusive. If students don’t feel welcome on a campus, they’re not going to attend that campus, he says. Must provide students with welcoming community, support, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Sen. Rosemary M. Brown asks whether students required to have financial-literacy classes. Not a curricular requirement as far as he knows, Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says. Support offered for financial literacy, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Brown asks about new funding formula from three years ago. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino breaks down fixed components and enrollment elements. He explains adjustments for school size. Must continue to make sure it’s working effectively.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Sen. Jarrett Coleman asks about “dear colleague” letter and PASSHE stance. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about need for legal counsel. Coleman asks about implementing executive orders related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Fiorentino reiterates that PASSHE universities admit inclusively. Coleman asks about name change of Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance at WCU. “If it waddles like a duck and it quacks like a duck, it’s certainly a duck,” Coleman says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Sen. Sharif Street begins time talking about discriminatory laws in this country, equity issues. Street asks about alignment with industry needs. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about programs in high demand, certifications. Street asks about continuing ed.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Sen. Joe Picozzi asks about student debt, affordability. He asks questions about costs. PASSHE’s funding request and information: passhe.edu/offices/publ… Picozzi asks about educating on student debt.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Beginning second round of questions, Sen. Lindsey M. Williams talks about how PA needs students / future workers of all kinds. She asks about programs for adult learners. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about making sure programs offered are convenient to them — often online.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill talks about bill for “fairness in women’s sports.” She asks about compliance with president’s executive order. Interim Chancellor Fiorentino talks about how PASSHE part of PSAC, which follows NCAA guidance, expects to continue. Phillips-Hill asks for assurance.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Sen. Judith L. Schwank asks about effects of possible federal funding loss, Department of Education going away. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about need to adapt but hard to know without more information.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Sen. Elder A. Vogel Jr. asks PHEAA questions during his followup time.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Sen. Sharif Street asks about importance of PASSHE schools to community economies. He confirms they are not selective institutions. He talks about programs that benefit campus diversity as well as PASSHE and Commonwealth financial health.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about need to attract students from different populations to meet PA workforce needs.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Sen. Cris Dush talks about construction and deferred-maintenance costs whether “project-labor agreements” required. He talks about contractors available and budget requests. View the System’s funding request: passhe.edu/offices/publ…
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Sen. Rosemary M. Brown talks about mental-health services. Asks about access for students on Medicaid. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says he will look into issue described.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Sen. Tracy Pennycuick asks about PASSHE veterinary school. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says he’s not aware of conversations about creating veterinary school.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Sen. Jarrett Coleman says Shippensburg and West Chester “force students to complete a three-credit diversity course.” Coleman says, “I can’t find any required coursework on the topics of democracy, the United States Constitution, or the operation of free markets and capitalism.”
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Coleman quotes from letter. He says, “all of you pay attention to the executive orders and follow the law, so that you’re not coming back to us asking for more funding.”
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Sen. Joe Picozzi asks more questions about student debt, why it’s higher for PASSHE versus state-related. Length of time to graduation or family incomes, he asks. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says income and age.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Picozzi asks about graduation, retention, placement rates.
View PASSHE funding request data: passhe.edu/offices/publ…
View more System data: passhe.edu/system-data/…
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Picozzi asks about what PASSHE is doing to improve rates. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about identifying impediments to success, adding personnel who are supporting the work of the faculty. Seeing gaps starting to close, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, in third round, asks about student-teacher stipends. She asks about suggestions for Year 2.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Sen. Cris Dush talks about son who attended Slippery Rock and changed major. He asks about fifth- and sixth-year students and asks what is being done to “get kids out and into the marketplace instead of tying them up to bring more revenue into the schools.”
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 2:59 PM
“No student should ever be unable to complete their degree within the time that they want to complete it because we were unable to offer the courses that they needed,” Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Typically 5, 6 years means other circumstances are in play such as having to work, changing major, interim chancellor says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Sen. Vincent J. Hughes talks about history of discriminatory American laws. Calls out ugly history. Adding to populations is good for whole community, he says. “Additive, not exclusionary,” he emphasizes.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:06 PM
We look to education to be the vehicle to grow communities that respect and are responsive to different kinds of individuals — because of a very ugly history, Sen. Vincent J. Hughes says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Hughes also asks about student-teacher stipend program. PHEAA describes first year.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Hughes talks about proposed federal cuts, taxes affecting affordability. “We’re going to have to pick up the slack, if this stuff comes to fruition,” Hughes says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:13 PM
“This is the entry point for many families who don’t have an entry point,” Hughes says of PASSHE.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Sen. Vincent J. Hughes asks for responses to federal proposals. “They impact the work that we have to do,” Hughes says. This makes it less affordable, makes it harder for PA students to go to college, he says. He asks for response.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:17 PM
“The direction of everything you just described would be to make it more expensive,” Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino responds. Devil will be in details, PHEAA says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Sen. Scott Martin wraps up questioning, talks about Grow PA program: www.pheaa.org/funding-oppo…
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Martin asks about System promoting the program. “We’re ready to go,” Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Martin, who served on PASSHE Board of Governors and went to Millersville University, said he was always blown away by “presence” of West Chester University out of state. He asks about marketing.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:31 PM
“You have to do things,” Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says. He mentions campaigns in Penn Station, Long Island Railroad, Union Station. “Part of it is a mindset,” he said. He talks about reaching today’s students and importance of marketing. He talks about digital marketing strategies.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Fiorentino also talks about in-person connection.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Sen. Scott Martin asks about programs. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about how some programs are small — in itself not a reason not to do something. Some fields don’t need huge numbers of graduates.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Fiorentino talks about students picking a school and determining major later. “We need to make sure that we’re offering a sufficient array of programs so that they can get what they ultimately need,” he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:40 PM
“We need to be very thoughtful about how we operate,” Fiorentino says, to maintain affordability.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Sen. Scott Martin asks about students being able to take course at other PASSHE universities. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about upcoming student-records system that will enable such opportunities.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Sen. Scott Martin asks about enrollment, financial outlook at PennWest. Continues to be a challenge, Fiorentino says. He talks about recruiting variety of students. Need to continue to face reality of demographics, that enrollments are down, he says. He talks about matching resources.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Sen. Scott Martin asks about funding. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino talks about hard decisions being made. They both laud IUP President Driscoll.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Sen. Scott Martin asks for update about Mansfield, now part of Commonwealth University. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino says it’s “part of a bigger operation that is gaining strength.” It’s going to be stabilized, he says. Need to continue to realign, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Sen. Scott Martin talks about low completion rate of FAFSA in Pennsylvania and completion bill. Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino quotes former Chancellor Greenstein, “Why should we leave money on the table?” Need to get people access, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:54 PM
That wraps the hearing. PASSHE’s House hearing is slated for 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 20.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) February 18, 2025 at 3:55 PM