The Plan
A strong postsecondary education sector is the keystone to prosperity. Colleges and universities deliver the talent that fuels our economy, provide a pathway to opportunity for our residents, and contribute in countless ways to the quality of life in communities throughout the Commonwealth.
Driving a Prosperous Pennsylvania: A Statewide Agenda for Higher Education is organized around six goals:
- Increase postsecondary credential attainment
- Ensure affordable pathways to postsecondary credentials
- Support the economic development needs of the Commonwealth
- Support the workforce development needs of the Commonwealth
- Ensure accountability and efficient use of state funds
- Strengthen the fiscal health and stability of the higher education sector
Pennsylvania cannot prosper without a higher education sector that aligns to the needs of the Commonwealth and has the resources, direction, and support to meet those needs. Driving a Prosperous Pennsylvania creates the roadmap to transform higher education for our learners, economy, and communities.
The Process
More than 1,300 people participated in the development of Driving a Prosperous Pennsylvania, including business and industry leaders, local and state elected officials, K-12 and higher education leaders, labor leaders, parents, and students. The process involved public comment via regional hearings, public surveys, and the solicitation of feedback via email. More than 55 organizations and groups provided input, and two dozen vested partners expressed support for the Strategic Plan.
The Feedback
Lancaster County Workforce Development Board:
“With the creation of the SBHE and the recent draft release of “Driving a Prosperous Pennsylvania: A Statewide Agenda for Higher Education,” we now have a roadmap to ensure our institutions serve the needs of our residents and businesses. I applaud SBHE for crafting this vision that the Commonwealth has not had for over 20 years.
As the SBHE develops its implementation priorities and process, we want to work with them to ensure higher education pathways are aligned to good careers that fairly and equitably account for past experience and hands-on training .”
TeamPA:
“The plan appropriately recognizes that Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities are critical contributors to talent development, research and innovation, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and regional economic vitality. Just as importantly, it acknowledges that these contributions are maximized when institutions are aligned with industry needs, regional strategies, and public-sector priorities.”
Lehigh Carbon Community College:
“For the first time in recent memory, the plan clearly and intentionally affirms the essential role of higher education in meeting Pennsylvania’s workforce needs—both statewide and regionally. Community colleges have long served as the strongest workforce development partners within higher education. . . [We] look forward to continued partnership with the State Board as we work together in the months and years ahead to advance the goals of Driving a Prosperous Pennsylvania and to strengthen the economic vitality of our region and state.”
NWPA JobConnect:
“Unfortunately, we are often left out of the conversation about higher education. Now, with the launch of the SBHE’s strategic plan, we have the opportunity to connect our workforce systems to our broader educational system so that businesses can have a voice in education and workers can have many pathways to a good career.”
Next Steps
The State Board of Higher Education can’t do this work alone. We invite you to join us and our postsecondary partners as we collaboratively envision—and create—the future of higher education in the Commonwealth.