Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) is the 2024 Exceptional Agency Award recipient from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO).

The Exceptional Agency Award honors higher education agencies across the country for innovative actions, policies, or practices that advance student success in their state and display exceptional governance or overcome exceptional challenges.

“Thanks to the tremendous vision and leadership of Chancellor Dan Greenstein, PASSHE is undergoing a remarkable transformation that includes restoring our partnership with state leaders, securing historic state funding increases, keeping tuition flat, and much more,” said Dr. Cynthia Shapira, Chair, Board of Governors.

“We continue to face the same headwinds that all public universities are facing, but we are better positioned today because of the important steps we are taking — all of which are making education more accessible and expanding the college-to-career pipeline that is strengthening Pennsylvania’s workforce and economy.”

SHEEO highlighted PASSHE’s significant “System Redesign,” which emphasizes access and affordability for students and meeting the state’s economic development needs by freezing tuition, streamlining community college transfers, increasing dual enrollment, aligning academic programs to workforce needs, implementing strategies to sustain low-enrolled universities and fiscal responsibility

“PASSHE is fundamentally transforming its education and business models to continue its historic mission as an engine of workforce development and social mobility,” said Chancellor Dan Greenstein. “The work is not easy, but it is in the best interests of our students, their families, communities, and the commonwealth.

“I’m incredibly proud that the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of people across our system are being recognized with the Exceptional Agency Award from SHEEO. Higher education is undergoing enormous changes, and PASSHE is evolving to emphasize affordability, student success, fiscal responsibility, and transparency.”

With System Redesign, PASSHE has rebuilt its partnership with state government leaders through strong transparency and by delivering on its promises. As a result, PASSHE has received a significant state funding increase since 2021, plus $370 million in one-time funds, while the State System saved more than $430 million through efficiency efforts since 2019.

PASSHE’s Board unanimously voted on July 17 to freeze tuition for the 2024-25 academic year. This is the seventh consecutive year tuition will be at the same rate, a rare accomplishment in public higher education. Tuition would be 25% higher if it had kept pace with inflation since 2018.

PASSHE is also expanding student learning and career opportunities by coordinating with employers, governments, philanthropy, civic associations, and others to enhance internships and credentials linked to in-demand jobs in teaching, healthcare, business, STEM fields, IT, social services and other high-growth fields important to Pennsylvania’s future.

SHEEO also highlighted PASSHE’s action to help preserve higher education in many rural communities by uniting six legacy institutions into two new universities. The transformation enables rural students to have more access to courses and experiences.

The 10 state-owned public universities comprising PASSHE serve the most in-state students of four-year colleges and universities in Pennsylvania. Nearly 90% of the State System’s 82,000 students are Pennsylvania residents, and many are from low- and middle-income families.