Goal 1: Increase Postsecondary Credential Attainment.
Year 1 Implementation Priorities.
- On May 20, 2026, the Board released a set of data dashboards that for the first time includes a broad range of information about the higher education sector, including enrollment, attainment, cost, financial aid, funding, and postsecondary workforce credential production.
- The Board is planning a parent and student-friendly dashboard that maps postsecondary credentials to employment pathways, wages, and return on investment.
- The attainment subcommittee will consider options for how to utilize wages and other metrics to assess the value of postsecondary credentials in Fall 2026.
- SBHE is supporting PDE creation of a world-class postsecondary student-level longitudinal data system (PSE SLDS) of public-supported higher education institutions that include links to both K-12 graduates and employment and earnings data.
- SBHE is collaborating with PDE to set priorities around dual credit funding and programming priorities.
- With the Governor’s Economic Development Strategy Group, L&I, DCED, and other stakeholders, SBHE is working to expand higher education apprenticeships pathways.
- Statewide and regional analyses on access and structural barriers to access and attainment planned for Fall 2026.
- SBHE is participating in the Rural Talent Development and Attraction Lab, a national initiative supported by Ascendium Education Group. Pennsylvania was selected as one of five states that receive assistance and expertise to develop multiple middle-skill postsecondary credential pathways aligned to good jobs in rural areas of the Commonwealth.
- Staff will provide attainment subcommittee with research-based best practices in supporting students through credential attainment by fall 2026.
- Review of effective strategies to support adult learners planned for completion during fall 2026.
- Analyses on reinvestment strategies and national best practices in aligning resources to increasing attainment and addressing other critical higher education priorities is planned for summer 2026.
- Under a delegation of authority from the Board, SBHE staff is seeking external support to expand opportunities for non-traditional learners, including adults, through increasing access to credentials of value.
Goal 2: Ensure Affordable Pathways to Postsecondary Credentials.
Year 1 Implementation Priorities.
- Information on costs, aid, and net cost of college attendance has been released through the data dashboards.
- SBHE is collaborating with PDE and L&I to facilitate expansion of CTE (career and technical education) and strengthening alignment between K-12 and postsecondary credentials.
- SBHE is collaborating with PDE to increase the effectiveness of dual credit programs and expand access to them.
- SBHE is collaborating with SBHE to effectively launch the Commonwealth’s Workforce Pell efforts, which will expand access to financial aid to PA learners seeking high-quality short-term postsecondary credentials.
- SBHE will seek an external contractor to conduct an analysis of the efficacy of the Commonwealth’s state grant aid program in Fall 2026.
- Review of options to reduce additional tuition paid by community college students who do not reside in sponsoring school districts will be completed in Fall 2026.
Goal 3: Support the Economic Development Needs of the Commonwealth.
Year 1 Implementation Priorities.
- A strategy for communicating the value of higher education is underway.
- SBHE is a member of the Governor’s Economic and Workforce Development Strategy Group, which brings leaders together from across state agencies to collaborate and coordinate efforts to expand and strengthen economic and workforce development initiatives.
- SBHE has fostered stronger regional economic development partnerships, and continues to expand them via its workforce development regional convenings.
- Higher education has been included in multiple cross-agency efforts to coordinate and support economic development priority projects, including those with the Governor’s office, L&I, PDE, and DCED.
- SBHE staff has joined DCED, TeamPA, and other state partners to support the development of the Keystone Innovation Initiative, which brings together Pennsylvania’s 7 Research I universities to seek external funds to power tech innovation.
Goal 4: Support the Workforce Development Needs of the Commonwealth.
Year 1 Implementation Priorities.
- During the summer of 2026, six cross-sector regional convenings aimed at closing the credential gap will be conducted to examine regional postsecondary workforce credential gaps and consider how regional higher education and workforce development leaders and employers can work together to fill credential gaps.
- Staff and Board members are actively involved in monitoring trends at the intersection of work and higher education, including through participation and thought leadership in state and national convenings.
- Through Pennsylvania’s cross-agency Workforce Development Implementation Team, SBHE is working with colleagues from the Governor’s Office, the Department of Labor & Industry, the Department of Education, and the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Board to determine how best to align existing workforce development resources with the talent needs of multiple economic development efforts.
- SBHE’s workforce dashboard depicts postsecondary credential supply, demand, and gaps statewide and by region—an important first step in documenting the degree to which the postsecondary sector is aligned with workforce needs.
- The Board is planning a parent and student-friendly dashboard that maps postsecondary credentials to employment pathways, wages, and return on investment.
- SBHE is supporting PDE creation of a world-class postsecondary student-level longitudinal data system (PSE SLDS) of public-supported higher education institutions that include links to both K-12 graduates and employment and earnings data.
- With the Governor’s Economic Development Strategy Group, L&I, DCED, and other stakeholders, SBHE is working to expand higher education apprenticeships pathways.
- SBHE is actively supporting and collaborating with PDE and the State Workforce Development Board on Workforce Pell implementation.
Goal 5: Ensure Accountability and Efficient, Effective Use of State Funds.
Year 1 Implementation Priorities.
- A brief assessing how other states align state funds to advance state and regional goals will be provided to the Board in summer 2026.
- A brief that identifies state-level best practices and policies aimed at reducing unnecessary duplication and competition among higher education institutions, including an analysis of the pros and cons of different strategies, cost, and feasibility within the Pennsylvania context, will be provided to the Board in summer 2026.
- SBHE will be supporting PDE creation of a world-class postsecondary student-level longitudinal data system (PSE SLDS) of public-supported higher education institutions that include links to both K-12 graduates and employment and earnings data.
- On May 20, 2026, the Board released a set of data dashboards that for the first time includes a broad range of information about the higher education sector, including enrollment, attainment, cost, financial aid, funding, and postsecondary workforce credential production.
- Dashboard-based briefs will be developed and posted on the SBHE website in Fall 2026.
Goal 6: Strengthen the Fiscal Health and Stability of the Higher Education Sector.
Year 1 Implementation Priorities.
- Staff will provide the Board with a brief that summarizes best practices on efficiency, cost savings, mergers and closures, and predictive analytics in summer 2026.
- An advisory group to assist on fiscal health and stability will be formed during the summer of 2026.
- The Board will adopt closing procedures for institutions of higher education and guidelines for mergers and closures by the end of 2026.
- The Board will identify and provide tools to support institutions in maintaining financial health and managing transitions by the end of 2026.
- SBHE closing procedures will factor continuing access to higher education programs and offerings in affected communities.