Legislation that would allow universities to separate from Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) has been introduced in the state Senate, and that might cause an increase in tuition for some students.
If SB 1275 is signed into law, any of the 14 state-owned universities that have enrollment over 7,000 students and the adequate finances would be eligible to secede
According to PASSHE spokesperson Kenn Marshall, allowing universities to leave the State System could be detrimental to students.
“We have some concerns about the legislation, certainly the most important issue we think in any of these discussions should be the impact the legislation could have on students; on their tuitions, the amount they pay for their education, on the quality of education they receive.”
Currently tuition rates, room and board prices, and programs are set by PASSHE. According to Marshall, legislators have already indicated that tuition would be raised 500-1000 dollars a semester at the newly independent university.
Marshall says that costs might rise for universities that remain with PASSHE as well. The state system charges fees from all of its universities for some services that are provided. If one university leaves it could mean an increase in fees for the remaining universities.
Currently nine of the universities have high enough enrollments to separate. Senators Robert Tomlinson (R - Bucks) and Andy Dinniman (D - Montgomery) introduced the bill with West Chester University (15,000 students) in mind. Marshall says officials from PASSHE have been discussing the bill with it’s sponsors regarding changes the state system plans to make without the need for legislation.
“A number of the issues that have been raised by the bill actually are issues that we are already dealing with. One of those is tuition flexibility, also the approval process for new programs. There are a number of things in there that we believe we are addressing,” said Marshall.
