The Senate budget-appropriations hearing for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education was held March 3. Four university presidents — from East Stroudsburg, Indiana, Millersville and East Stroudsburg universities — testified; typically, the State System chancellor fields questions. Click here to watch the footage. Here are our collated posts:
Today’s Senate budget-appropriations hearing with Millersville University, East Stroudsburg University, West Chester University, and IUP is slated to begin 3 p.m. and stream here: appropriations.pasenategop.com/universities…
Follow along with APSCUF here on Bluesky.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 2:18 PM
After some delays, Senate budget-appropriations hearing beginning now with presidents of Millersville, East Stroudsburg, West Chester and Indiana University of Pennsylvania). Streaming here: appropriations.pasenategop.com/universities…
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 3:27 PM
In the past, PASSHE chancellor has testified at hearings. Chair Sen. Martin begins with questions about enrollment. He asks about strategies to counter declining enrollment.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 3:28 PM
IUP President Driscoll talks about support services, broad range of students. He talks about affordability, flat tuition, changes in IUP tuition structure (stopped per-credit tuition), quality programs.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Millersville President Wubah talks about increasing adult learners, online programs, bringing back students who stopped out, dual enrollment with high school, and global opportunities.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 3:35 PM
ESU President Long talks about doubling down on and targeting regional community, working with community colleges.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 3:35 PM
West Chester President Bernotsky talks about affordability and value of State System. She emphasizes quality and access. She discusses wraparound services and student success.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Sen. Martin mentions GrowPA program: www.pheaa.org/funding-oppo…. He asks about improving the tuition-waver program and making it more successful.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 3:43 PM
ESU President Long talks about working closely with program. Millersville President Wubah talks about retaining students in the community. IUP President Driscoll talks about navigating in-state and out-of-state programs.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Sen. Martin asks about nontraditional students and adult learners. IUP President Driscoll talks about contact with students who have stopped out. IUP offering nontraditional programs to attract adult learners for specific skills, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Millersville’s Wubah talks about online degree programs, partnerships. West Chester’s Bernotsky talks about partnering with other PASSHE institutions where adult learners can finish programs online. She talks about making it easier for students to navigate. ESU’s Long talks about engagement.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Sen. Joe Pittman asks about differentiating as friendly competitors within a larger system. Millersville’s Wubah talks about recruiting from backyards and focus on programs in which universities excel. ESU’s Long talks about expanding hands-on learning. WCU’s Bernotsky talks about Philadelphia area.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Bernotsky talks about students who have multiple jobs, balancing with internships, school. IUP’s Driscoll talks about competition, importance of majors, cost, welcoming campus.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Pittman observes student population migrating to career and tech. He talks about physical footprint, questions size. He talks about right-sizing for demographics
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver asks what presidents are most proud of in way campuses are supporting students. IUP’s Driscoll talks about new program to center on students, helps them navigate. ESU’s Long says “access and affordability.”
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Millersville’s Wubah talks about giving students experiential opportunities. WCU’s Bernotsky talks about student support, being “student ready.”
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:16 PM
(State System economic impact and contributions outlined in PASSHE funding request: passhe.edu/offices/publ... )
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver asks about investments. Presidents talk about facility needs, investing in students, need to invest in infrastructure.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Sen. Lindsey M. Williams asks if technology is working the way universities need it to. IUP's Driscoll talks about faculty doing great work with technology they have, places where more consistent technology could help. Millersville's Wubah talks about intentionally investing to address needs.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:28 PM
ESU's Long talks about technology fees, keeping up with technology needs. WCU's Bernotsky talks about facility needs.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Williams talks about impact of state funding levels. If you weren't flat-funded, what would you do with an increase, she asks. ESU's Long says investing in facilities and infrastructure. Absence of funding means cuts, he says. He mentions expense of personnel.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:28 PM
WCU's Bernotsky talks about how fixing things is lower on priority list when affordability is at the top. IUP talks about keeping costs down, growing workforce programs.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Sen. Sharif Street talks about student concern about getting jobs. He asks about aligning curriculum with industry needs. Presidents talk about their programs. Driscoll talks about programs in moratorium, programs that need more support.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Sen. Rosemary Brown talks about keeping students in Pennsylvania, asks about expanding faculty for nursing programs.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:44 PM
IUP's Driscoll talks about nursing faculty, facilities, clinical rotations. ESU's Long talks about more nursing applicants than acceptance. Millersville's Wubah talks about constraints of space.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Sen. Amanda Cappelletti about how federal research cuts are affecting universities and how state can help. WCU's Bernotsky talks about covering for now. IUP's Driscoll talks about being careful what faculty are hired on grant funds.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Sen. Amanda Cappelletti asks about education fields. Millersville's Wubah talks about high demand, producing teachers.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Sen. Cris Dush praises IUP's Driscoll on "tough discussions."
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Driscoll talks about IUP reducing workforce 40%. "We looked at every option that was available ... had to do something to save the mission of the university, and that meant that we had to let people go" at every level, he says. Driscoll says he's proud of employees still at IUP.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:56 PM
"I think you ought to be giving a class ... for administrators ... on how to address those things," Sen. Cris Dush tells Driscoll.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Sen. Art Haywood starts with stats about the return on investment of State System. He asks about effects if PASSHE is flat-funded.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Long says ESU won't reduce number of students but would try to defer maintenance further. "Flat funding is a cut in many ways," Long says. Must cut facilities or personnel, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Sen. Art Haywood talks about what PHEAA state grant means for campuses. Millersville's Wubah talks about student reliance on PHEAA.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Sen. Art Haywood talks about own resources to make higher education more affordable for students. Driscoll talks about IUP's scholarships. Bernotsky talks about funds that go directly to students, scholarships.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Sen. Judith Schwank asks about work on physical and mental health, food+housing insecurity. Millersville's Wubah talks about compassion fund started during covid, programs for meals and housing. WCU's Bernotsky talks about promise program, resource pantry, career closet.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:06 PM
ESU's Long and IUP's Driscoll talks about similar programs.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Sen. Tracy Pennycuick asks about empty buildings that could be reconfigured or remodeled to expand nursing programs. Millersville's Wubah talks about partnership with Thaddeus Stevens College. ESU's Long talks about growth, need for maintenance.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:13 PM
IUP's Driscoll talks about proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine: www.iup.edu/president/pr...
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:13 PM
WCU doesn't have empty buildings, Bernotsky says. She mentions waitlist due to limits of housing. Sen. Tracy Pennycuick asks about cost of simulation labs. Presidents talk about mannequins and theater students acting as patients.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Sen. Tracy Pennycuick asks about coordinating with community college professors to "bridge that gap." Different collective bargaining agreements, IUP's Driscoll points out. Millersville's Wubah talks about transfer agreements with community college.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Sen. Elder Vogel inquires about ROTC program at IUP, mentions Proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine. Vogel asks about partnering with county mental-health programs and "don't try and reinvent the wheel." ESU's Long talks about how mental-health care is not portable to different counties.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Millersville's Wubah talks about importance of on-campus mental-health support.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Sen. Timothy Kearney talks about architectural background, buildings on campuses. He praises needs PASSHE fills in Commonwealth.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:20 PM
System is one of Pennsylvania's best investments in higher education, Sen. Vincent Hughes says. Need to pursue knowledge, he says.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Sen. Scott Martin, wrapping up hearing, talks about university fundraising. He asks for elaboration about critical need in order to support students. Millersville's Wubah talks about strong alumni base, relationship-building.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:39 PM
ESU's Long talks about engaging community partners, fundraising for scholarships. IUP's Driscoll talks about campus 150th-anniversary campaign. WCU's Bernotsky talks about fundraising as a team sport.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Sen. Scott Martin lauds higher-education funding in Pennsylvania. He says each university needs to be right-sized for the future, mentions Penn State's cuts.
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Hearing concludes. Watch the recording: appropriations.pasenategop.com/universities...
— APSCUF (@apscuf.org) March 3, 2026 at 5:39 PM
The House budget-appropriations hearing with Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education and community colleges is slated for 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 11. Click here to watch live during the hearing.