This week, more than 17,000 students will participate in commencement ceremonies across the System, proving—yet again—why these students are worth the investment of the state’s financial resources. They are also worth the investment of time—the time our dedicated faculty spend to help students find the right major, develop a plan to get their degree, and help them achieve success.
One of those faculty members—Dr. Robert Ziegenfus, a professor of geography at Kutztown University—will be retiring after more than 33 years of service to his university and alma mater. He invested time into the university for two reasons: first, he wanted to serve the next generation of students as a way to repay, in some small way, the gifts he received when he was a student at Kutztown University; and, second, he hoped to serve as a role model for students to demonstrate that they, too, can be successful as a graduate. By all accounts, Dr. Ziegenfus succeeded at doing both.
So to our graduating class, don’t forget about the investment so many have made to see you succeed. While commencement is a time to celebrate your hard work with friends and family, be sure to say “thank you” to that special faculty member, staff person, or administrator for all the time and energy they’ve spent to help you achieve your goal.
And finally, I’ll leave our graduates with one last piece of advice from Dr. Ziegenfus:
“Commencement means, of course, to begin. To begin a new phase of life in graduate school or a career is entering into the largely unknown future. Graduates should do so with confidence while remembering this, too, requires more learning!”
The State System’s annual Business Plan Competition provides student entrepreneurs a real-world opportunity to pitch their business plans and to win funds to assist in the start-up of their businesses. While last week’s awards ceremony highlighted the work of 10 finalists, including this year’s winner Blaise Delfino of East Stroudsburg University (ESU), the hard work all 223 teams put into their projects is a direct result of the support each received at their universities along the way.
For example, Blaise started graduate school at ESU in the Fall of 2015 and learned of the competition through the ESU Career Development Office. For his winning entry, he proposed developing ear plugs that provide hearing loss protection. ESU’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Center Coordinator, Gerald Ephault, met with Blaise weekly to go over his business plan and provided him with contacts and ideas to implement his concept. Perhaps most notable, three faculty members in the Speech-Language Pathology Department—Drs. Susan Dillmuth-Miller, LuAnn Batson-Magnuson, and Rachel Wolf—were part of Blaise’s research team that helped measure the effectiveness of the product. Their experience was invaluable to the ultimate success of his business plan.
I’m certain similar stories would be told by many of the participants, which reaffirms the fact that our students’ success as entrepreneurs cannot be achieved alone. Our dedicated faculty and staff support students and go the extra mile every day. As Blaise so eloquently pointed out, “faculty members truly care about the success of their students.” I couldn’t agree more.
On behalf of the entire State System, I offer congratulations to all the students who participated in the 2016 Business Plan Competition and express sincere gratitude to everyone behind the scenes for making student success a priority across the system.
“Access, Success, and Completion” was the focus of the
second annual joint meeting of the State System and Community College
presidents and chief academic officers this Wednesday in Harrisburg. This was
another historic meeting between these public higher education partners that
continue to work together to better serve the students of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
Did you know that nearly half of the new undergraduate
students who transferred to the State System’s 14 universities last year came
from one of the 14 community colleges of Pennsylvania? That’s an impressive
number, but we can do more. A recent study by the Georgetown University Center
on Education and the Workforce notes that, by 2020, 60% of jobs in Pennsylvania
will require some post-secondary education or training. In order to fill this
demand, partnerships and collaborations that remove barriers and focusing on
access will be vitally important.
The landmark Reverse Transfer Agreement that was announced
during Wednesday’s meeting is a great example of how both the universities and
community colleges are committed to improving student completion rates. The
agreement will allow State System students who began their studies at a
Pennsylvania community college to receive their associate’s degree while
continuing their education. Those who earned at least 45 credits at their
community college before transferring to the university are able to reverse
transfer credits back to their community college once they have earned enough
to apply for an associate’s degree, at no additional cost.
Why is this so important? The completion of an associate’s
degree would enhance the student’s earning potential as they work toward a
bachelor’s degree, certification, or other credential from a State System university.
I applaud our community college and university leaders for
taking this step forward, together. It’s crucial for all of us to continue to
think of ways to partner with others to better meet the needs of students and
employers.
By now, you’ve already heard the numbers: 90 percent of students who attend State System universities are Pennsylvania residents, and 80 percent of all graduates will remain in Pennsylvania after graduation and go on to contribute to the state’s economic future.
But who are these students we so often talk about? Recently, I had the pleasure of getting to know Drew Johnson, East Stroudsburg University’s Student Senate president, as he joined me on a panel that appeared before both the House and Senate appropriations committees during the State System’s 2016-17 budget hearings. Drew spoke from the heart about how the lack of funding is affecting the educational experience of students at all 14 universities. Members of the General Assembly appreciated his openness and thoughtful remarks.
Drew is just one example of the many students who are worth our investment, and I’d like to introduce you to a few more:
Edinboro University student Katherine McAtee aspires to be a speech language pathologist to work with children to help overcome speech delays or impediments; IUP student Erika Fenstermacher will pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology thanks to the opportunities to participate in research as an undergraduate; Mansfield University student Marquise Isaac-Rivers will continue his education with the goal of being a leader in student affairs; and Bloomsburg University student Rebecca DeMuth believes everyone has the right to a healthy environment and plans to make a difference in the world through environmental justice.
Browse through our “Invest In Me” site, where you can see more students who are worth the investment. They are helping with a social media advocacy campaign designed to let the voices of our 100,000+ students be heard leading up to the 2016-17 State System’s Advocacy Days at the Capitol (April 5-6) .
When the Commonwealth invests in our State System universities and students, there is a tangible, measurable return on that investment—many times over. So, now is the time to invest!
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.
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.
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 21st 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.
