Dear Fellow Trustees,

On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, the PACT Board held a meeting to update our bylaws, finalize the 2023-24 budget, and receive information about future PACT conferences.

Bylaws: The major item discussed was the composition of the PACT board to address the implications of integration. Since trustees have been appointed from each integrated campus to staggered terms from 2 to 6 years on the CoTs of Commonwealth and Penn West universities, the board will be composed of representatives from each of the historic campuses; keeping the number of representatives on the board at fourteen. You can find the revised bylaws on the home page.

Budget: The 2023-24 budget and a freeze in dues for the current and 2023-24 year were approved.

Conferences: It was recommended to forego the fall conference and work towards a spring conference. More information will be shared at a later date.

If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you.

Rich Frerichs


Advocacy

PASSHE’s bi-partisan talks with the General Assembly regarding our funding request started months ago by focusing on a base budget increase to cover inflationary costs and new funding for targeted student support that—together—would enable the Board of Governors to consider freezing tuition for a fifth time. More recently, those talks have evolved to address another need—obtaining relief from legacy debt service obligations that threaten the universities’ ability to serve students. 

PASSHE leadership has been working with state Representatives and Senators about the need to increase systemwide funding and obtain relief from debt service obligations, which ultimately impacts all State System universities and the students they serve. 

In an encouraging first step in the process, the House passed a budget bill (HB ​611​) on Monday, June 5, which includes a 6% base increase for PASSHE plus $30 million in additional support. These appropriation levels would allow the chancellor to strongly recommend to the Board of Governors a tuition freeze for a fifth consecutive year. We see this kind of investment as a positive step in the right direction in the budget negotiations. 

HB 611 has been received in the Senate and referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Office of the Chancellor will provide additional budget-related information as it becomes available.


Save the Dates​

Quarterly Call with the Chancellor and System Leaders  
All trustees are invited to participate in these quarterly calls with the Chancellor to review agenda items and other System initiatives. The calls were initially scheduled with the PACT Executive Board, Council of Trustee Chairs and Vice Chairs, however, all trustees are now invited to participate each quarter. Please hold the following dates on your calendar.  Zoom details will follow prior to each call. ​​​

    • October 11, 2023 -  1:00 p.m.

PACT Officers​

    • Comm​onwealth University ​- Bloomsburg - Mr. Ray Zaborney  
    • Commonwealth University - Lock Haven - Mr. Krystjan Callahan  
    • Commonwealth Mansfield, Ms. Karen J. Russell (vice chair PACT treasurer)  
    • PennWest California - Mr. Barry Niccolai  
    • PennWest Clarion - Honorable Donna Oberlander  
    • PennWest Edinboro - Mr. Mark A. Bellini (2nd vice president)
    • Cheyney - Ms. Cheryl E. Harper  
    • East Stroudsburg - Mr. Thomas Grayuski (secretary)   
    • Indiana - Mr. Nathan T. Spade  
    • Kutztown - Mr. John P. Wabby  
    • Millersville, PACT president -Dr. Richard L. Frerichs  
    • Shippensburg, PACT first VP - Mr. L. Michael Ross  
    • Slippery Rock - Mr. Jeffrey Smith  
    • West Chester - Honorable Stephen Kinsey