Pennsylvania Republican lawmakers on Wednesday unveiled a counterproposal to Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro's plan to increase college enrollment, providing aid to in-state and out-of-state students enrolling in degree programs in high-priority fields such as teaching. promised. and nursing care.
The proposal revolves around subsidies and tuition discounts and is supported by Republican leaders in the Republican-controlled Senate and Democratic-controlled House. Republicans also suggested that key elements of the higher education plan that Mr. Shapiro laid out earlier this year are effectively dead in Congress.
Republicans see the proposal as an effort to counter demographic trends such as a shrinking Pennsylvania workforce, declining enrollment at higher education institutions, and a shortage of talent in high-need fields. States are fighting over who to hire.
“How do we not only get our kids educated here, but also keep them here? We're going to have a serious workforce shortage, so we have to find a way to bring all of that together,” the Senate said. Appropriations Committee Chairman Scott Martin (R-Lancaster) said in an interview. “We already have them. They're only going to get bigger, especially as all the baby boomers retire and age. And we're now hearing voices from employers that are really sounding the alarm. I hear it all the time.”
Enrollment has declined in recent years at Pennsylvania's state university system, Penn State's satellite campuses and the state's 15 community colleges.
The state's $2 billion in higher education spending this year is about the same as 16 years ago, and Pennsylvania ranks last among states in higher education aid levels, student debt levels, and college affordability. is ranked. There are all kinds of measurements.
The Republican plan comes after years of debate over Democrats pushing to send more money to higher education institutions, including former Gov. Tom Wolf's 2020 proposal for a $200 million college scholarship program. Republicans have balked at increasing aid due to rising tuition costs, and have instead discussed redirecting aid from educational institutions to student subsidies.
The Republican plan has one new program that would provide a $5,000 annual stipend to Pennsylvania students attending Pennsylvania schools. Another new program would extend in-state tuition discounts in the Penn State University system to out-of-state students who maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average.
To be eligible, these students must be enrolled in a degree program in a priority field. After graduation, each grant requires her to stay in Pennsylvania for 15 months.
Republicans also want to expand an existing $2,500 annual grant program for in-state students by relaxing grade point average requirements and raising household income eligibility.
They refused to put a price tag on the program. Martin cited nursing, education, the criminal justice sector and large animal veterinarians as examples of workforce shortages, but said lawmakers will decide how to determine which fields are considered high priority. Stated.
The plan does not envisage cutting off aid to educational institutions.
One element similar to Mr. Shapiro's plan is a proposal to create a new process for approving hundreds of millions of dollars in annual state aid to three major state-affiliated universities: Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh, and Temple University. is.
Schools would receive incentives if they met certain performance incentives, such as graduation rates or students enrolling in particularly high-need degree programs. However, educational institutions do not necessarily receive more aid each year.
Mr. Shapiro's office said in a statement that it welcomes the signal that Republicans agree with Mr. Shapiro that doing nothing to improve the state's higher education system is “not an option.”
“Senate Republican leadership agrees we must take action to make our higher education system more competitive, create more opportunities for students and families, and address Pennsylvania's workforce needs,” Shapiro's office said in a statement. I was encouraged by what he did.”
But Republican leaders also suggested that key elements of Mr. Shapiro's higher education plan are effectively dysfunctional.
This includes consolidating 10 state universities and 15 independent community colleges, including 14 campuses, under a governance system and offering state college tuition to Pennsylvania students with household incomes less than $70,000. It included lowering fees and charges to less than $1,000 per semester.
Penn State University System Chancellor Dan Greenstein has long warned that Pennsylvania's economy needs to significantly increase the number of adults with degrees to meet demand and keep pace with other states. .
