April 13, 2015
Robots, drones—and students—to visit Capitol Wednesday to talk about education, funding
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg – The robots are coming. And the drones will be watching.
Both will be part of “State System Day on the Hill” as students from all 14 universities
that comprise Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education visit the Capitol Wednesday
to meet with legislators to talk about their college experiences and how important
the education they are receiving is to them, to their families and to the future of
the Commonwealth.
The students will meet throughout the day with members of both the state House of Representatives and state Senate, many of whom have a State System university in their district or are alumni of a State System university themselves. About one-fourth of the General Assembly falls into one of those two categories.
Each university will send a team of students, administrators, trustees and alumni to take part in the day-long advocacy effort. The universities also will showcase some of their top programs in the East Wing Rotunda and provide information about their schools to Capitol visitors.
The students will meet throughout the day with members of both the state House of Representatives and state Senate, many of whom have a State System university in their district or are alumni of a State System university themselves. About one-fourth of the General Assembly falls into one of those two categories.
Each university will send a team of students, administrators, trustees and alumni to take part in the day-long advocacy effort. The universities also will showcase some of their top programs in the East Wing Rotunda and provide information about their schools to Capitol visitors.
Students from Edinboro University’s nationally ranked animation and computer animation
programs will demonstrate Oculus Rift, a virtual-reality system that enables video
game players to look around a three-dimensional virtual world as if they were in a
real-life setting. California University of Pennsylvania will feature its commercial
music technology program, which gives students a complete repertoire of skills that
prepare them for a variety of careers within the music industry. Cheyney University
will provide samples of basil, which is fertilized tilapia, both of which are grown
in the school’s aquaponics facility. Millersville and Slippery Rock universities will
bring along a pair of robots and Mansfield University,drones, to help demonstrate
some of the high-tech learning opportunities available at the State System universities.
“The State System universities offer an extraordinary range of leading-edge learning
opportunities for students,” said Chancellor Frank T. Brogan. “Some of those will
be on display. We hope to demonstrate throughout the day what a good investment our
universities are for the Commonwealth.”
State System university alumni are invited to stop by during the day and record a
brief video message about their experience at their alma mater.
Students will lead the university teams during the visits with legislators.
“They can talk about their educational experiences in a way no one else can,” Mr.
Brogan said. “And, in many cases, the legislators they will be meeting with understand
exactly what they are saying because they went to the same schools. It’s a valuable
connection, and a valuable learning experience, from both perspectives.”
State funding is an important investment in Pennsylvania’s economic future, Mr. Brogan added.
“Nearly 90 percent of our students are from Pennsylvania; about 80 percent of our graduates stay here to begin their careers,” he said. “Clearly, there is a close connection between the State System universities and the health and vitality of the Commonwealth.”
State funding is an important investment in Pennsylvania’s economic future, Mr. Brogan added.
“Nearly 90 percent of our students are from Pennsylvania; about 80 percent of our graduates stay here to begin their careers,” he said. “Clearly, there is a close connection between the State System universities and the health and vitality of the Commonwealth.”
The State System is the largest provider of higher education in Pennsylvania, enrolling about 110,000 degree-seeking students and thousands more who are enrolled in certificate and other career-development programs. They also provide the lowest-cost four-year degree programs in the Commonwealth.
The universities work closely with employers in their regions to help ensure their
academic programs align with the needs of the workforce. Recently introduced programs
have focused on high-demand fields in areas such as computer software design, engineering,
international studies, business administration and healthcare, including nursing.
Collectively, the 14 universities offer more than 2,300 degree and certificate programs
in more than 530 academic areas. The vast majority of the universities’ academic programs
are accredited by professional organizations nationally, and many are ranked among
the best in the United States by a variety of sources.
The average total cost of attendance at a State System university—combined tuition,
fees, room and board—is several hundred dollars below the average among all four-year
colleges and universities in the United States, and about $2,500 below the average
in the Middle States region, which comprises Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., according to the latest College Board survey.
The State System 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 operate 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.
The State System 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 operate 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.