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.