Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu

​Harrisburg, PA – Through a collaboration with community colleges, Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities are providing free tuition to more than 30 students named to the annual All-Pennsylvania Academic Team. 

The annual program is part of PASSHE’s emphasis on supporting community college students transferring into bachelor’s degree programs at state-owned universities. 

“I congratulate each of the remarkable students named to the annual All-Pennsylvania Academic Team,” said PASSHE Chancellor Dan Greenstein. “Each student has achieved academic excellence and exemplifies the power and promise of public higher education and the expanding collaboration between State System universities and local community colleges. 

“The State System universities are proud to work with community colleges so students can seamlessly transfer to a state-owned university. It’s part of our commitment to providing a high-quality education at the lowest possible cost that meets the needs of the workforce and allows students of all ages to focus on learning and preparing for a bright future.”

Earlier this year the presidents of all 10 State System universities and 15 community colleges in Pennsylvania signed a pledge that strengthens their collaboration to help students achieve their educational goals, reduce student costs and bolster the workforce. 

PASSHE universities also guarantee admission to any student who earns an associate degree from a community college in Pennsylvania. The student can transfer into a parallel program with full junior standing. Additionally, students who transfer to a State System university before completing their associate degree can use their university credits toward earning the associate degree from the community college where they started. Individual universities and community colleges also have further coordination agreements to support community college transfer students. 

More than 12,000 community college students have transferred to State System universities in the past five years.

  

Many of the students receiving free tuition at PASSHE universities are pursuing careers in fields with worker shortages, from healthcare and STEM jobs to business, education, engineering and social work. 

 

A few of the students are:

Below are the PASSHE universities where All-Pennsylvania Academic Team students will receive free tuition.