“Our faculty, meanwhile, will have increased opportunities to put their academic knowledge to work in applied settings and to achieve recognition for their service to the System and the Commonwealth.”

The new center will serve several distinct roles through its various divisions.

The Academy of Leadership Change will support the development, analysis and implementation of public policy by preparing persons for leadership roles in state government, private agencies and schools. The leadership academy will provide professional development opportunities for deans, vice presidents and others from public colleges and universities.

A Policy Internship Institute will provide increased learning opportunities in practical settings for State System university students in the area of public policy, helping to bring fresh perspectives to the policy process.

A third arm of the Center, the Institute for Policy Research and Analysis, will offer informed, neutral research for policymakers, providing System faculty with increased opportunities to conduct research in areas of public policy related to their disciplines. Research could be conducted on behalf of sponsoring organizations and institutions, which could include the General Assembly as well as other state and local government agencies and non-profit groups.

The Center also will sponsor and conduct a variety of lecture and workshop series, as well as seminars and conferences on various public policy topics. Through the use of technology, many of the Center’s programs will be distributed to other locations.

An advisory board will be created to help identify program topics and to oversee the Center’s operations.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to work with my colleagues and the chancellor on a System-wide initiative that will be of great benefit to Pennsylvanians everywhere,” said Ceddia, who will be assigned about two days per month to the Center.

Chancellor James H. McCormick added his support for the new center.

“We look forward to the Center playing an important role in the continuing development of the State System of Higher Education,” McCormick said. “Each of our universities will play a part in the Center’s long-term success, which certainly will benefit our students, our faculty and the entire Commonwealth.”

ERG is responsible for coordinating the System’s statewide programming efforts.

“The Center for Policy Studies and Leadership is another example of how the State System, by combining all of its resources, can offer unique programs to the people of Pennsylvania,” said Charles Clevenger, executive dean and chief operating officer of the Educational Resources Group.

With more than 95,000 students, the State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Its universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Nearly 350,000 System 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. The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and the University Center for Southwest Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. The regional centers also are part of ERG.