The Keys to Higher Education –
Affordability, Accountability, Choice
By Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola
(R-15, Dauphin/York Counties)
While post secondary education is not necessary to lead a successful and happy life, a college degree has become increasingly essential to helping achieve the American Dream. From earnings potential to retirement savings and an overall sense of community, higher education often yields significant rewards to the graduate and to society as a whole. However, families are facing painfully high tuition bills. Steps must be taken to address this growing and disturbing trend to aid students and their families and focus on the many challenges facing higher education today.
That’s why I responded to a call from Governor Rendell challenging lawmakers, who do not support the details of his proposed Tuition Relief Act – a plan that would legalize and tax video poker machines in taverns, bars, and restaurants – to come up with an alternative to keep college affordable for families. Recently, I unveiled a real solution which sends the right message to our young people and redirects state spending to essential sources as any budget should do in these tough economic times.
What our Commonwealth needs in this area is simple: Higher education must be made more affordable and accountable to students, parents, business leaders and most importantly, the taxpayers of Pennsylvania. We also need assurances that our existing higher education dollars are being used to make college more affordable, to make the higher education sector more accountable for the state funding they receive, and to target our resources particularly to those most in need of state assistance.
Providing access and choice, my proposal would deliver financial aid to 25,000 more students by redirecting $145 million in state money to grants administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). This allows students to choose the college or university that best suits their needs and targets families most in need of assistance. My plan does not limit students to the State System of Higher Education (SSHE) or community colleges – they are permitted to attend any college or university in Pennsylvania.
Unfortunately, this degree of choice does not exist within the Governor’s plan. As they should, colleges and universities compete for those students that meet the curriculum and services they each provide. Therefore, I believe students and their families should have choice and not be pigeonholed as directed by the Governor’s proposal. I also firmly believe that with many of our SSHE and community colleges at capacity, the taxpayers cannot afford the building program the Governor’s plan necessitates due to the huge influx of new students he projects.
Providing affordability, my plan would redirect our state’s spending and priorities by eliminating funding from Pennsylvania’s $75 million Hollywood film tax credits, direct assistance to some private colleges and museums in the Commonwealth, and cut funding for the arts and college dual enrollment programs, although our colleges and universities would be required to offer dual enrollment to students on a space available basis under regulations developed by the State Board of Education. Additionally, annual increases in tuition would be capped to no more than the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase. There is currently no state plan in place to address the exorbitant increases in tuition for higher education. But my plan requires our higher education institutions to get their costs under control as Pennsylvania's families must do in tough times.
In terms of accountability, my plan, would require PHEAA students to maintain at least a "C" average and their grant eligibility would be limited to four years of undergraduate work. Pennsylvania taxpayers can no longer afford to subsidize students who do not take their studies seriously or graduate late. This accountability measure would also act as an incentive to our higher education institutions to ensure they provide appropriate academic advising and course offerings that allow students to graduate on time.
Now is the time to get a handle on the cost of higher education. Without a plan such as this, costs will continue to increase to the point of pricing the product out of the marketplace. This slippery slope benefits no one, and Pennsylvania taxpayers deserve better. That’s why my plan includes a sound financial foundation and incorporates accountability measures and necessary cost controls.
(R-15, Dauphin/York Counties)
While post secondary education is not necessary to lead a successful and happy life, a college degree has become increasingly essential to helping achieve the American Dream. From earnings potential to retirement savings and an overall sense of community, higher education often yields significant rewards to the graduate and to society as a whole. However, families are facing painfully high tuition bills. Steps must be taken to address this growing and disturbing trend to aid students and their families and focus on the many challenges facing higher education today. That’s why I responded to a call from Governor Rendell challenging lawmakers, who do not support the details of his proposed Tuition Relief Act – a plan that would legalize and tax video poker machines in taverns, bars, and restaurants – to come up with an alternative to keep college affordable for families. Recently, I unveiled a real solution which sends the right message to our young people and redirects state spending to essential sources as any budget should do in these tough economic times.
What our Commonwealth needs in this area is simple: Higher education must be made more affordable and accountable to students, parents, business leaders and most importantly, the taxpayers of Pennsylvania. We also need assurances that our existing higher education dollars are being used to make college more affordable, to make the higher education sector more accountable for the state funding they receive, and to target our resources particularly to those most in need of state assistance.
Providing access and choice, my proposal would deliver financial aid to 25,000 more students by redirecting $145 million in state money to grants administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). This allows students to choose the college or university that best suits their needs and targets families most in need of assistance. My plan does not limit students to the State System of Higher Education (SSHE) or community colleges – they are permitted to attend any college or university in Pennsylvania.
Unfortunately, this degree of choice does not exist within the Governor’s plan. As they should, colleges and universities compete for those students that meet the curriculum and services they each provide. Therefore, I believe students and their families should have choice and not be pigeonholed as directed by the Governor’s proposal. I also firmly believe that with many of our SSHE and community colleges at capacity, the taxpayers cannot afford the building program the Governor’s plan necessitates due to the huge influx of new students he projects.
Providing affordability, my plan would redirect our state’s spending and priorities by eliminating funding from Pennsylvania’s $75 million Hollywood film tax credits, direct assistance to some private colleges and museums in the Commonwealth, and cut funding for the arts and college dual enrollment programs, although our colleges and universities would be required to offer dual enrollment to students on a space available basis under regulations developed by the State Board of Education. Additionally, annual increases in tuition would be capped to no more than the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase. There is currently no state plan in place to address the exorbitant increases in tuition for higher education. But my plan requires our higher education institutions to get their costs under control as Pennsylvania's families must do in tough times.
In terms of accountability, my plan, would require PHEAA students to maintain at least a "C" average and their grant eligibility would be limited to four years of undergraduate work. Pennsylvania taxpayers can no longer afford to subsidize students who do not take their studies seriously or graduate late. This accountability measure would also act as an incentive to our higher education institutions to ensure they provide appropriate academic advising and course offerings that allow students to graduate on time.
Now is the time to get a handle on the cost of higher education. Without a plan such as this, costs will continue to increase to the point of pricing the product out of the marketplace. This slippery slope benefits no one, and Pennsylvania taxpayers deserve better. That’s why my plan includes a sound financial foundation and incorporates accountability measures and necessary cost controls.
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