December 09, 2014

Former state Sen. Jane M. Earll named to Board of Governors

Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu

Harrisburg – Former state Sen. Jane M. Earll of Erie has been named to the Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.

Earll will join the 20-member board, which is responsible for overseeing Pennsylvania’s 14 public universities, after being sworn in Wednesday morning at the Porreco College of Edinboro University. The oath will be administered by Erie County Judge Robert A. Sambroak Jr.
The Board of Governors establishes broad educational, fiscal and personnel policies, and oversees the efficient management of the State System. Among other tasks, it appoints the chancellor and university presidents, approves new academic programs, sets tuition and coordinates and approves the annual State System operating budget
The Board comprises 11 members appointed by the governor, three students, four legislators, the governor or a designee and the state secretary of education or a designee.
“I look forward to Jane Earll joining the Board and to working with her on behalf of the State System universities and our nearly 110,000 students,” said Board Chairman Guido M. Pichini.
Earll, an attorney who formerly represented the 49th District in the Pennsylvania State Senate and served as assistant district attorney for Erie County, was nominated by Gov. Tom Corbett and confirmed by the state Senate.
“I am honored that Gov. Corbett nominated me to this important board,” Earll said. “I will do my best to serve diligently, as this board's decisions affect all of the faculty and students at our 14 State System universities.”
Earll served in the Senate from 1997 until retiring in January 2013. She also was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in 2002.
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, with about 110,000 students. The 14 State System universities offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study.
The universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The universities also operates branch campuses in Oil City (Clarion), Freeport and Punxsutawney (IUP) and Clearfield (Lock Haven), and offer classes and programs at several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and in Center City in Philadelphia.