Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Chancellor Dr. John C. Cavanaugh has been selected to serve as vice chair of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ Committee on Policies and Purposes.

The committee serves as AASCU’s “think tank” to help the organization remain on the cutting edge of issues in higher education and society at large that will have an impact on member campuses. AASCU comprises 430 public colleges and universities in the United States, and in Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Dr. Cavanaugh was appointed to the position by Dr. Jolene Koester, president of California State University Northridge, and Dr. James C. Votruba, president of Northern Kentucky University, the current chair and vice chair respectively of AASCU’s Board of Directors. The appointment runs through November 2010.

“I look forward to participating and contributing to the discussion of issues of vital importance to higher education and our nation,” Dr. Cavanaugh said. “AASCU institutions provide access and educational opportunities to more than 3.5 million students, nearly half of all of those attending public colleges and universities in the United States. They are student centered and committed to serving the needs of their communities, their regions and the nation.”

The committee appointment is the second national post to which Dr. Cavanaugh has been named since becoming PASSHE chancellor in July 2008. Last year he was appointed to the State Higher Education Executive Officers’ (SHEEO) Federal Relations Committee. Earlier this year, he was named the committee’s vice chair.

SHEEO represents public college and university systems and coordinating boards for postsecondary education. The Federal Relations Committee is responsible for shaping SHEEO’s federal priorities and strategies and leading its communications with Congress and the Obama administration.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, with nearly 117,000 students. The 14 PASSHE universities offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Approximately 454,000 PASSHE alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.