NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Regional representatives from community colleges, and universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education vowed Monday to make it easier for students to complete their education and earn degrees.
Lehigh Carbon Community College President Ann Bieber said the move is partly motivated by Gov. Josh Shapiro’s recent comments on his concerns about the state’s higher education system.
- Local colleges and universities say they want the transition from community college to a four-year university to be "seamless"
- Gov. Josh Shapiro says current higher ed system "isn't working"
- The schools' pledge contains new initiatives leaders say will help students earn a degree
In his first budget address, Shapiro said the system “isn’t working.” He complained about colleges competing with each other for a limited pot of money, duplicating programs, high costs and a lack of access. One of his first acts in office was to remove a bachelor’s degree requirement from thousands of government jobs.
“The governor is looking at higher education and he was very clear,” Bieber said. “Next year at this time he wants to see how everyone is working together.”
Lehigh and Northampton counties don’t lack higher education options. In Lehigh, there’s Cedar Crest College, DeSales University, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Muhlenberg College and the Lehigh Valley campus of Pennsylvania State University. Northampton has Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Moravian University and Northampton Community College.
Bieber said the initiatives they are developing would allow a student to transfer credits they earned at a university back to a community college in order to obtain an associate’s degree. Other concepts include making sure community college graduates receive financial aid at universities and helping make transition to a four-year school more seamless.
Emma Hope is in her second year at LCCC. She was a dual-enrollment student while finishing school at Tamaqua High School. She is also on the All-Pennsylvania Academic team, which means she has earned top grades and other achievements. She plans to graduate from the community college next month and go to Kutztown University.
“The governor is looking at higher education and he was very clear. Next year at this time he wants to see how everyone is working together.”Lehigh Carbon Community College President Ann Bieber
Hope said being a dual-enrollment student helped motivated her to continue her education. She said it was also more affordable so she didn’t have to take on more debt.
“It was actually really scary to me to be in so much debt going to a four-year university for the four years,” she said. “So coming here, I just knew it would be the next best step for me to start and achieve, and lo and behold I’m actually going to be able to go to Kutztown now for free tuition.”
The university leaders said the pledge is designed to show their commitment to providing high-quality, affordable academic and career education programs and to contribute to the development of a highly skilled competitive workforce in the commonwealth.
