Mar 26, 2017 4 min read

As a member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education, California University of Pennsylvania is part of the strategic review being undertaken by the State System – a top-to-bottom examination of the operations of all 14 of its universities and the chancellor’s office.

What does that mean to an individual university such as Cal U., which is facing the same challenges that many other institutions within the State System and across the nation are facing?

The intent of the strategic review is to help identify new opportunities that will allow us to continue offering the highest value proposition, which is to best serve students in every region of the commonwealth through high-quality, affordable educational opportunities for years to come.

The numbers tell the story: Overall enrollment across the State System has declined by more than 12 percent – or by nearly 15,000 students – over the last six years. The State System is receiving about $60 million less from the commonwealth this year than it did in 2008, prior to the start of the recession, and an amount essentially equal to what it received in 1999. That’s $60 million less to support the operations of the universities. The status quo is unsustainable.

The good news is that Cal U. already has recognized this, and has begun to refocus on its long-standing mission in science and technology. Cal U., like all of the institutions that comprise the State System, has been around for more than a century. It opened in 1852 as California Academy, initially enrolling students in kindergarten through college. It became a normal school in 1865, was purchased by the state in 1914, and followed the same progression as its sister schools. It was first a state teachers college, then a state college, and, finally, it became a university in 1983 in order to provide wider access to higher educational opportunities for the region.

Throughout its history, Cal U. has evolved to meet the needs of its region and the commonwealth. While retaining strength in its historical mission of teacher education, Cal U. has added academic programs in fields that meet the demands of the 21st century and beyond. For example, the university recently introduced its second doctoral program, in criminal justice, added an associate’s degree program in unmanned aerial systems and drone technology, and is offering a bachelor’s degree in technology management. These are part of the impressive list of programs offered via Cal U. Global Online.

Cal U. is taking the appropriate steps to evaluate how it fits into the continuously changing higher education landscape in the region, in the commonwealth, and in the nation. The System needs that kind of introspection, which is why we have engaged a consultant with expertise in higher education management to assist with the strategic review, and why it is so important the Cal U. community be actively involved in this process.

The review will be comprehensive and open to all possibilities. There have been rumors and speculation that some of the universities within the System could be merged or even closed as a result of this strategic review. That is not the goal. The review is about finding solutions that are right for Pennsylvania, and ensuring each university is meeting the needs of its students, its region, and the commonwealth, today and for years to come. What happens as a result of the review – the changes that could be made in the future – must, first and foremost, benefit our students.

We will gain valuable information by looking at the universities individually and collectively. That is one of the advantages of being part of a System – the ability to leverage each institution’s strengths, to share information, to identify what works well and what doesn’t, and to adopt best practices from one another. Every university in the System can learn from each other through this process.

Higher education often is slow to change, but we are working with a sense of urgency. Given the enormous challenges facing virtually every college and university today, change is necessary, and inevitable. We want to be able to guide that change in a positive direction. We approach this challenge with optimism. Cal U., like the entire State System, already is seizing the opportunity to change for the better.

Shapira is chairwoman of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s board of governors. Brogan is its chancellor.