Proposal would make college free for many students in Pennsylvania…
http://www.wtae.com/article/proposal-would-make-college-free-for-many-students-in-pennsylvania/15855289
Proposal would make college more affordable for Pennsylvania families…
http://www.wpxi.com/news/top-stories/proposal-would-make-college-more-affordable-for-pennsylvania-families/688138642
I was hoping that something like the Excelsior in NY would be adapted in PA.
I think it is coming. PASSHE has so much to gain. Increased enrollment, greater competition, more funding and so on. Could be a huge benefit to residents and the long term health of the state. Community Colleges would benefit as well. Could reduce the amount of funding to the “State Related” PSU/PITT/Temple schools.
@Portercat I have a senior graduating this year. We only applied to Bloom & WCU. I don’t know who else has seniors. I know the one parent looking at Ship vs Pitt thread has a senior but she never posted here.
Just looked at the link, @bester1. Wow, sounds like it would go into affect rather quickly if it gets past. That would be terrific. Though DD got the full tuition at WCU, there was a couple of thousand just in fees; still nice award, but tuition & fees would be so much nicer!
Thanks @bester1. I like the idea, but I am not a fan of income cutoffs. In NY I was told (on other threads) that there are many more opportunities to make up funding (from other grants, etc.) for those families that hover around 125K. Some areas like around Philadelphia and Pittsburg are much more expensive than other areas. Property taxes are higher. If you have a 2 wage household, could one earner just making the difference above 110K stop working for a few years? What if one spouse makes 90K and another makes 20K? Just stop working the 20K job? Cut back on a few hours? What if a family has 2 children in college at the same time? While I do not like the current need based aid system (which takes into account a calculated EFC), straight income cutoffs are worse IMO.
@Portercat…good point. At least it is a starting point and that there is finally a serious look at Higher Education in PA.
Shippensburg University program ranked 17th by College Choice…
http://www.theslateonline.com/article/2017/12/su-program-ranked-17th-by-college-choice
BEST DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DEGREE
https://www.collegechoice.net/rankings/best-doctor-of-business-administration-degrees/
I love the proposal but I am afraid that the Republican-dominated state legislature will never pass it. They are virulently anti-any-new-tax, including a tax on natural gas severance (PA is the only state in the country that does not tax drillers).
I am very pessimistic. I hope I’ll be proved wrong.
@Gatromama, I agree. Maybe they can modify the proposal over time to minimize the tax burden for such a program.I think this is the first stab at the apple, and it is a way to get the conversation moving.
Do not forget that the state uncovered that at least some of the state related schools have been favoring non resident acceptance/enrollment. So, if that is the case and they would take away that funding and apply that to the passhe schools…it is nearly a wash so that residents attending the passhe schools would have the reduced cost of tuition. No change in the state budget or tax increase. Just using the tax dollars for resident serving institutions.
I know it isn’t that simple but please let me dream…lol
Four-year guaranteed tuition rate approved for East Stroudsburg University…
http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/01/four-year_guaranteed_tuition_r.html#incart_2box_politics
State System of Higher Education board approves $19.7 million in faculty raises
http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/01/state_system_of_higher_educati_2.html
State university system creates 6 new degree programs
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20180125_ap_7e06049da9f34fad8554db01cf08147b.html
IUP cuts tuition fees for regional undergrads, out-of-state students
http://triblive.com/news/education/career/13226811-74/iup-cuts-tuition-fees-for-regional-undergrads-out-of-state-students
California University of Pennsylvania adds new data science degree
http://triblive.com/news/education/career/13223899-74/california-university-of-pennsylvania-adds-new-data-science-degree
It’s nice to see the effort that many of these schools are putting into their programs.
Have to say, it annoys me no end whenever I see posts on this site that mention PASSHE schools and how they’re on the “verge of closing.” There are a few we wouldn’t consider under the present circumstances, but there are still quite a few that are very appealing and worth looking at, though probably not by the large majority of posters on CC. 
Cal U inks deal with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine…
http://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/13239062-74/cal-u-inks-deal-with-lake-erie-college-of-osteopathic-medicine
Edinboro University Designing Unique MBA Program
http://www.erietvnews.com/story/37376997/edinboro-university-designing-unique-mba-program
In case anyone comes looking, I thought I would post about DD’s latest trip to West Chester.
She had gone last Sat for an interview for the Honors College. I, unfortunately, got the stomach bug early that morning so couldn’t attend. I had plans w/ DH to see West Chester itself as I had knee problems last time, but alas, it was not to be. He hadn’t been there yet, so he was able to see the campus & thought it was “good.” 8-|
She felt there were about 50 kids there, and there were 3 separate dates to interview. I haven’t read anywhere the number that are invited to interview, so don’t know if that number would be seen over the 3 interview days. I do know only 40 are selected.
She said there were a lot of “really smart kids” there, and many were coming out feeling they really aced the interview. She was not in that category! She did get to see the HC dorms, which are $4K more than the traditional and the HC kids are expected to live in them, if only for the first year. Have to say, I am not that happy with that, as I think it is nice to have options with housing if possible, but she really liked them, of course.
They asked her about why she wanted to be in the HC, her roles in any clubs where she was an officer, her major & what she hoped to do with it, those types of things. She got to speak w/ current HC students and I think she would be happy if she got in. After wanting a larger school, I think she is now getting a little nervous about it, so that smaller circle of students would offer some security.
They did ask her if she would be available to attend HC events in June & July and asked her when she might commit to WCU. She said within the month. I wonder if committing to WCU early would result with improving her chances of acceptance?
Anyway, our journey so far, should anyone be interested.
@laralei congrats to your D for being selected to interview for honors!
Does honors come with extra scholarships?
I know she already got free tuition.
Would the increased housing cost for honors be covered by Pell Grant, state grant and a small subsidized loan?
edit
@mommdc I “think” when DD applied for scholarships at WCU, it was a general app for all possible scholarships. Then she was invited to apply for the Board of Governors, so I am thinking she won’t get anything more for HC.
When she was getting ready for the interview, she looked online & couldn’t find anything about the process, so I posted that here in case anyone comes looking.
She really needed that BoG scholarship to even consider attending WCU, so there really isn’t anything extra towards the expensive dorms. IF she got accepted, we would swing it, but I don’t like the lack of options. Though w/ only 40 students, I can see where the single location would work best.
I have one concern, when looking at WCU, they didn’t have a true Computer Science program in the recent past. I know one poster here stated her son liked Blooms department better, and their program is rated highest out of the PASSHE schools. So I wonder if she should take a longer look at Bloom?
Most CC posters reading that above paragraph would probably laugh, but I would still like to get her the best option in our limited options.
It looks like Computer Science is ABET accredited at Bloom, WCU and IUP, also at East Stroudsburg (the one with the new fixed tuition proposal), and several more PASSHE schools.
She could go visit each of them and talk to CS department in depth to be able to compare them more.
I don’t know how far you are from IUP and you said your D wasn’t interested, but I really think it would be worth it to apply, just to see what she might get in merit.
And that would give her another possible option.
The Cook honors college made a good impression on me, they have their own residence hall, and it used to be cheaper than the suite style housing, not sure what it is now, as they were doing renovations.