Welcome to the Pennsylvania State System
of Higher Education

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), with 14 universities and more than 112,500 students, is the largest higher education provider in Pennsylvania. PASSHE’s mission is to increase the intellectual wealth of the Commonwealth, to prepare students at all levels for personal and professional success in their lives, and to contribute to the economic, social, and cultural development of Pennsylvania’s communities, the Commonwealth, and the nation.

PASSHE is led by a 20-member Board of Governors that sets broad policy and direction for the System and the universities. PASSHE’s Executive Offices provide advice and support to the Board of Governors, and leadership to our universities as we work to harness the power of public higher education for the benefit and prosperity of all in the Commonwealth.

What's Happening at PASSHE

Pennsylvania Association of Councils of Trustees re-elects officers

Guido Pichini, a trustee at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, has been re-elected president of the Pennsylvania Association of Councils of Trustees (PACT), a group that comprises the members of the Councils of Trustees of the 14 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities.

Dr. James H. McCormick named Chancellor Emeritus

The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has conferred the status of Chancellor Emeritus upon founding Chancellor Dr. James H. McCormick, who served the State System as chancellor for its first 18 years.

Board of Governors approves new degree programs in speech-language pathology, criminal justice and graphic design

The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) today approved new degree programs to be offered at three universities.

West Chester senior wins ninth annual Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award

Andrew Thomas McLaughlin, a music performance major at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, is the recipient of the ninth annual Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence presented by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education recognizes 25th anniversary

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) recognized its silver anniversary today during an event held in the state Capitol Rotunda. PASSHE was established when former Gov. Dick Thornburgh signed Act 188 in November 1982, bringing together the 13 former state colleges and Indiana University of Pennsylvania to establish the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. With the stroke of a pen, the 14 state-owned universities came under the umbrella of PASSHE.

Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola named to Board of Governors

State Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola of Susquehanna Twp. (Dauphin County) has been named to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s (PASSHE) Board of Governors. The 20-member board has overall responsibility for planning and coordinating the development and operation of the State System. The governors establish broad fiscal, personnel and educational policies under which the 14 PASSHE universities operate.

More "What's Happening "

Higher Education in the News

Pa. universities fighting for U.S. stimulus funds

Penn State University wants the Obama administration to stop Gov. Ed Rendell from reclassifying it and three other state-related universities as non-public and ineligible for $42 million in federal stimulus aid.

Calif., Pa., other states face tough budget choices

Legislators in more than a half-dozen states, their revenues evaporating in the recession, frantically worked to stave off government shutdowns and devastating service cuts. Across the country, lawmakers were feeling the heat as their legislatures began the new fiscal year without a budget in place.

Community Colleges See Demand Spike, Funding Slip

Hundreds of thousands of students are likely to be turned away from low-cost community colleges across the country over the next year because of funding cuts at the very time that record numbers of students are flocking to the open-admission schools.

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Higher Education Resources

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Right-to-Know Policy

Click here to download PASSHE's Right-to-Know policy.

Welcome to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

Welcome to the Pennsylvania State System
of Higher Education