The new chancellor of the State System of Higher Education says the way forward for the state-owned universities is removing barriers and forging new pathways.
In his new blog, Christopher Fiorentino writes that the State System continues to attract its share of traditional students, but must also appeal to “career changers, adult learners, first-generation students, and rural and underserved populations.”
Fiorentino has served as interim chancellor since last October and on May 10th was selected by the Board of Governors to be the permanent chancellor. He retired last June as president of West Chester University after 42 years at the school in faculty and administrative positions.
He writes that he will spend the months ahead working to secure a 6.5 percent increase in state funding to keep college affordable and invest in programs for the future. You can read the blog with this story on our website.
THE BLOG:
I’m a runner. I have been for a long time.
On my runs, I usually follow a familiar route. Of course, there are alternate routes—shorter or longer—depending on the day.
And there are times when I’m compelled to chart a new path.
I suppose you could say that is how I’m approaching my leadership of PASSHE, first as interim chancellor and now as the permanent chancellor. I’m honored to have been asked to serve, and I look forward to the new pathways we can establish together.
Here’s one example: to supply the talent our state needs, we must create educational pathways that serve all students, meeting them where they are and guiding them toward success.
PASSHE universities continue to attract a consistent share of Pennsylvania’s college-going population; however, that overall population becomes smaller each year. Meanwhile, the state requires a well-educated workforce, as jobs that require a college degree are projected to grow at twice the rate of those that don’t.
How do we reconcile these two diverging points?
We must remove barriers and forge new pathways.
Thanks to ongoing support from the Governor and General Assembly, PASSHE universities have maintained a tuition freeze since the fall of 2018 — and we hope to do it again this year. What’s more, the average net price paid by our students is lower today than in 2018, thanks to increased financial aid offered by our universities. So, that helps remove the barriers for students.
We know people will change careers — not just jobs —multiple times in their lifetime, so we prepare our students for those evolving roles. Our focus goes beyond specific job skills and fosters critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, enabling students to succeed and advance over their lifetime.
Our faculty and staff are dedicated, talented, and passionate, and PASSHE university students are graduating with a remarkable education — prepared to launch or advance their careers and meet the needs of the commonwealth.
But while the familiar path is predictable and comfortable, it risks ignoring those running along alternate routes: career changers, adult learners, first-generation students, and rural and underserved populations.
Think about this: more than a million Pennsylvanians have earned college credits yet do not hold a degree or credential. They started down a path but — for any number of reasons — veered off. Those individuals represent a significant opportunity to fulfill our mission. Attracting even a fraction of them back to our universities would boost their career trajectory and bolster the state’s talent supply.
As we align our program array with the needs of these students and the commonwealth, we recognize how the world is changing. We have to do more than just remove barriers; we must forge new pathways for these and other students who deserve access to a lifetime of opportunities higher education provides.
In the months ahead, I will be focused on helping PASSHE secure the 6.5% increase we have requested from the commonwealth. Those funds will help us keep college affordable (remove barriers) and invest in programs (new pathways) for the future.
And as I begin this journey as PASSHE’s sixth chancellor, I look forward to working with you — our students, faculty, staff, trustees, and friends — as we build on PASSHE’s momentum and sustain its upward trajectory.
Chris Fiorentino
Chancellor
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