Be engaged

February is Black History Month, a celebration of African American culture and its enormous contributions to the United States and the world. We must never take for granted—nor take lightly—our opportunities to stand up for and act upon our beliefs in a way that will promote positive results. Through courageous advocacy, great things can be accomplished.

Black History Month serves as a reminder of that simple but profound fact.

Whether it is participating in the electoral process by supporting your candidate for president of the United States, advocating for increased investment for our universities, or simply volunteering in your community, each of us can be involved in shaping the future of our nation, our Commonwealth, and our universities. Don’t pass up that opportunity.

Our universities are bursting at the seams with exceptional men and women who are eager to help improve the lives of others, both on- and off-campus. Day in and day out, our students, faculty, and staff give back to the communities that are such gracious hosts for our universities. That campus and civic engagement is what makes State System universities such great places in which to live, learn, and work.

We all must recognize and appreciate the privileges and opportunities afforded to us as a result of the dreams and determination of individuals who came before. And it all begins with being engaged. Your words, your actions, and your influence matter.

A few words of advice

As we bring 2015 to a close, I want to offer this message to our students—recent, current, and future. First, we all extend congratulations to our recent graduates who were joined by family and friends last weekend to celebrate the conclusion of a very important chapter in their lives. Commencement is a testament to all of the hard work and dedication these students demonstrated throughout their time at one of our 14 State System universities. My advice to them: remember that as this chapter closes, a new one will begin. Whether you choose to pursue graduate school or launch your career, you have been given invaluable tools by university faculty and staff—tools such as critical thinking and communication skills—that will equip you for success in life.

For our returning students, who are still working toward their degrees, consider 2016 as an opportunity to start fresh. My advice to them: reflect on how far you’ve come; take pride in those things you knocked out of the park; and double-down on your effort with those things that are most challenging. Your friends who walked across the graduation stage last week are living proof that you can achieve this goal.

If I didn’t mention high school seniors, I would be remiss. My advice to them: the year ahead will require very important decisions for your future. Finding the right path to fulfilling your dreams is extremely important. Take a hard look at all of the opportunities that universities, community colleges, and technical schools provide, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. If one of our 14 State System institutions is the best place to start your next chapter, we’ll be excited to welcome you into our family of more than 107,000 students.

To the students, faculty, staff, and administration, we extend our wishes for a very happy holiday season and look forward to an exciting new year.

Embracing Innovation

Now in my third year as Chancellor of the State System, I find that sometimes we may be tempted to fixate on our immediate challenges and lose sight of the remarkable opportunities that are right in front of us. It is important to pause, raise our sights, and recognize the excellence that permeates our universities. In the recent “State of the System” address, I talked about how our 14 universities are embracing innovation as we continue to deliver Pennsylvania’s best value in higher education. In this month’s blog, I wanted to highlight just a few examples of the kind of innovation that proves we are a force to be reckoned with in the 21^st century.

Innovation in the classroom: IUP’s Department of Employment and Labor Relations uses a unique technology that brings students from all over the country into the classroom…virtually. This goes way beyond Skype, allowing an almost unlimited number of students to be live on-screen while enabling the students to interact with the professor and other class members in real-time. Students who can’t get to campus now have access to the same rich classroom experience.

Innovation in the marketplace: David Tini, a music education major at Slippery Rock University and trumpet player in the Marching Pride, noticed the need for a mouthpiece warmer during a cold game at Edinboro University. So, he created a device called “HotLips” that heats the mouthpiece of an instrument prior to use. SRU’s Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator is working with him to develop a business plan to bring the product to market.

Innovation in society: East Stroudsburg University is providing all graduating seniors at winter commencement with environmentally friendly gowns made of recycled plastic. The new regalia, which won’t cost any more than traditional gowns, will be used in all future commencement ceremonies.

While these universities aren’t the first to demonstrate innovation, they show that our students, faculty, and staff are contributing to the success of the Commonwealth and its future. I hope you will share with me your stories of innovation, by emailing chancellor@passhe.edu.

You can also check out this episode of Infinite Opportunities to see even more examples of innovation in the State System. 

A few thoughts for the new year

The start of the academic year is an exciting time for everyone. For new students, the questions range from ‘what will classes be like?’ to ‘where can I get coffee?’ No matter how big or small the questions seem, teams of faculty, staff, and other students across our 14 universities make it a priority not only to answer the questions, but to welcome students into their extended families.

My son is entering the fourth grade, so I know how important it is for students to have leaders on campus to help him navigate the right path. Let’s face it, no matter if you are 10, 18 or 35, you want to know that the time you spend as a student will be rewarding and fulfilling. So, don’t be afraid to ask questions. After all, this whole experience is about seeking, learning, and sharing knowledge.

For our newest students, remember that the title of “freshman” is just that—a title. Soon enough, first-week jitters will fade away as students of all ages and backgrounds come together in classrooms and laboratories all across our campuses to take a few steps closer to fulfilling their dreams. And while it’s important to lean on your past successes for motivation, know that it’s what you do today and tomorrow—and the tomorrows to come—that will matter most. Successes and failures…learn from them all.

Now, I hope you’ll take a minute to view a short video message from me and some images from move-in day across the State System.

Big decisions ahead for the State System

It’s June. For college students, that means the summer break is half over. For those of us who work in higher education, we are spending these days closing out the fiscal and academic year and preparing for the next. And for the State System’s Board of Governors, that means a very full agenda for its July meeting. Amid all of the important initiatives underway, I want to point out a few that will be key to shaping the future of our System.

For the first time in the State System’s history, all universities have developed multi-year Action Plans that outline their goals and aspirations, strategic priorities, challenges, and opportunities. The plans will be discussed in the coming weeks and will be updated annually to provide our stakeholders with a transparent opportunity to understand the future path of each university.

Obviously, a big part of that effort will be ensuring the proper mix of academic programs. As the Commonwealth’s economy continues to evolve, the State System is changing right along with it. Next month, the Board will consider 16 new academic programs—bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees—that have been designed to meet the needs of the 21st century. In fact, many of the new programs were developed with direct input from business and industry partners; several will be offered online and be available to students virtually anywhere, anytime.

Even during these challenging fiscal times, we must invest in the future. That means not only developing and offering new academic programs that better align with changing times, but also making strategic decisions involving existing programs. (And on the operational side of the house, we must continue to maximize shared services and System collaboration.)

Over the last five years, the universities have introduced more than 60 new degree and certificate programs and minors. During the same time, more than 150 programs that no longer meet student demand or needs of the Commonwealth have been placed into moratorium or discontinued, and more than 60 have been reorganized or reinstated to meet new market demands. It is that kind of flexibility that will foster the long-term viability of all of our universities.

Summer will soon have come and gone, but the important decisions we make in the coming weeks will help our state universities ensure they are ready and able to serve the students of the Commonwealth for years to come.

Supporting our students’ success

At commencement ceremonies held all across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania this past weekend, nearly 17,000 students became alumni of our 14 State System universities. More than 80 percent of those will remain here to live, work, and raise their families—making them vitally important to Pennsylvania’s economic future. To each and every one, we say, “Congratulations!”

The education that our graduates received at their universities—both inside and outside of the classroom—has prepared them for success in the future. As they succeed, so will our state. As they thrive, so will our state. We need their knowledge and expertise to drive the economy of Pennsylvania and to create a foundation that future graduates can ultimately build upon.

So how do we continue to support our students’ success?

That’s easy. Give them the tools and resources they need to reach their greatest potentials. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to that purpose, and we are working now to secure more state funding as part of that equation. The State System generates $11 in positive economic impact for every one dollar invested by the Commonwealth. That’s an investment that will benefit us all.

On Saturday, I saw firsthand the great things our students can achieve. Those freshly minted graduates are optimistic about what lies ahead. Not only do they want to build a greater future for themselves and their families, but also to help shape the success of our state moving forward. They are ready and prepared for the next chapter, and I know their spirit and courage can show us all why the affordable, high-quality education provided by the State System is worth the investment of time and treasure.

State System Day on the Hill

Last week, approximately 140 representatives from our 14 universities descended upon the Capitol for our yearly advocacy day. The group worked as one to share the important message of investing in the System. Our students—who are the best ambassadors for the State System and our universities—took center stage as they shared their educational experiences with legislators, many of whom went through the same experiences, sometimes at the same schools. It’s a valuable connection from both perspectives.

We also announced the results of an economic and employment impact study that revealed the State System has a $6.7 billion total positive impact on Pennsylvania. That means the State System produces nearly $11 in economic impact for every $1 invested by the Commonwealth through its annual appropriation. This funding is an investment—not an expenditure—in a reinvented system that is dedicated to the success of 110,000 students. This return on investment is a tremendous added benefit to the high-quality, high-value education the universities provide to students.

(Watch the press event held in the East Wing Rotunda of the Capitol during State System Day on the Hill to release the results of the study.)

We know there are many other groups that ask the General Assembly for support, but I think it’s fair to say that our well-informed representatives and our economic impact study made a very compelling case on the System’s behalf.

While our advocacy day on the hill is over, our job is not. Advocating for investment in the System can be accomplished by everyone in various shapes and forms throughout the year. The stronger our unified message is, the harder it will be for anyone to doubt what the State System can and will do for the students we serve and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.