The Power of 14

Our 14 universities are remarkably diverse places at which to learn and work. While they have much in common, it’s their differences that make each of them—and the entire State System—extraordinary. Leveraging the unique strengths of our universities is what will help advance every student’s success for years to come.

Recently, I had the privilege of being part of our 10th Annual Summit on Inclusive Excellence and International Education at West Chester University. And—like our 14 universities—the diversity among our students, faculty, and staff is what makes our campus communities so vibrant. Because we are Pennsylvania’s public universities, we must continue to recruit and graduate students who have not had opportunities in the past to start and finish college. We are determined—now more then ever—to enroll more students of color; older students; students with some college/no degree; students from a variety of family income levels; and students from across the entire state.

We are redesigning ourselves to be a dynamic System of constituent institutions focused on the needs of every student and their surrounding regions. We are creating a climate of trust, transparency, and collaboration, across every level of the System.

The Summit is just one example of the collective power of our 14 universities and our 100,000 students when we work together. I challenge us all to look for new ways to help each and every student succeed.

“Giving back” is more than a slogan

As a former university president, I know first-hand how much you—the students, faculty, and staff at our 14 universities—do to make your local communities a better place. Whether it’s cleaning up a neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon, raising money to support a local program, or utilizing student and faculty expertise to solve a problem, our universities are deeply woven into the community.

We don’t do this because we have to; we do it because we want to. We want to give back to the communities we call home—the communities that make it possible for our universities to provide enriching academic opportunities and ensure student success.

Giving back is important to me personally. It’s both rewarding and inspiring. As citizens, I believe we should offer our time, talents, or resources to help impact the lives of others. Our universities continue to answer the call by creating opportunities for you to give back.

To spotlight these selfless acts, the State System is launching the #givebackPA campaign to bring awareness to the impact our universities have on their local communities, their regions, and the entire Commonwealth. Follow #givebackPA on social media (or here) from now until the end of 2017 to see real-life examples of this generosity.

I am so proud to be part of the State System, and look forward to reading the stories of how you are making a difference every day.