education 2 - The Latremie Post

Prominent university chancellor says anti-Israel campus protests ‘were encouraged from Iran’

Chancellor Kent Syverud of Syracuse University recently addressed the factors fueling campus protests during a panel discussion held in Washington, D.C.

He noted that the demonstrations involved “activists from elsewhere,” suggesting that many participants were not solely from the university community.

This insight sheds light on the broader dynamics influencing campus activism and the complexities universities face in managing such events.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/prominent-university-chancellor-says-anti-israel-campus-protests-were-encouraged-from-iran

16 Unbelievable Home Upgrades That Transform Your Space

It’s often the small changes in life that bring about the most significant transformations, and our homes are no exception. Whether it’s a modern upgrade or a simple tweak to your existing layout, these innovations can have a massive impact on how you live.

Here are some unbelievable home upgrades that can truly transform your space. From clever storage solutions to mood-enhancing lighting, these tweaks are designed to elevate your living experience effortlessly.

### 1. Soft-Close Cabinets and Toilet Seats
Today’s trend focuses on experiences over things, and soft-close cabinets and toilet seats are just the ticket. Enhancing daily life with gentle, quiet closures adds elegance and longevity to fixtures. It’s about transforming everyday tasks into memorable moments. Choose quality experiences—upgrade your home with these subtle changes.

### 2. Shower Head Hack
Want a luxury shower without redoing your bathroom? Try replacing your shower head! Changing this one thing can make a big difference. Plus, it’s a simple swap that’s renter-friendly too. It’s as easy as it sounds. So why wait? Change your showerhead and enjoy your enhanced bathing experience today. You’ll be pleasantly surprised!

### 3. King-Sized Upgrade
Ever dream of a big, comfy bed? Choosing a king-sized bed is a great idea! It’s an upgrade we often forget about. But once you try it, you won’t want anything else. Imagine stretching out fully after a tiring day. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Treat yourself to this luxury, and you won’t regret it.

### 4. Lighting Makeover
Upgrade your home with new lighting fixtures for improved appearance and even light distribution. Simply replace your old fixtures with modern ones. When installed correctly, they increase safety and transform your space into a more inviting environment.

### 5. Shift to Blackout Curtains
Blackout curtains can help you sleep like a baby. These special curtains block light from coming in, ensuring your sleep isn’t disturbed. It’s a big change that will make your rest wonderful, leaving you refreshed every morning!

### 6. Charge Up Your Lifestyle
Missing your phone charger can be frustrating. To avoid this, place phone chargers with long cables in spots you often use. Doing this saves you time, leaving more hours for important things. This simple adjustment makes life easier and more convenient.

### 7. Motion-Activated Magic
Imagine walking into your laundry room, and the light turns on by itself. A motion-activated light switch does exactly that. It helps when your hands are full of clothes—no more fumbling for the light switch in the dark. It’s a simple but magical change that makes laundry time much easier!

### 8. An Artistic Touch
Make your space feel cozy and personal by displaying artwork you adore. Hanging your favorite drawings or paintings is a great way to show your style. This will also make your home feel more special and inviting. It’s surprising how much warmth and comfort your treasured artwork can add.

### 9. Serene Sanctuary
Eliminate noisy disruptions for tranquility. Soundproof your windows and doors, use quieter appliances, and introduce noise-absorbing materials. This adjustment transforms your home into a peaceful haven, increasing relaxation and enjoyment as your home becomes a serene sanctuary.

### 10. Attic Fan Cooling Upgrade
During hot days, an attic heat exhaust fan can cool your home by absorbing heat and pushing it outside. This simple change makes your living space more comfortable, so even when it’s hot outside, your home stays cool inside.

### 11. Safety First
Battery-operated small motion-sensor lights enhance safety by activating with movement, eliminating the risk of accidents in dimly lit areas. Strategically placing them in dark or shadowy spots helps prevent tripping hazards and creates a safer home environment through these miniature illuminators.

### 12. Superior Wi-Fi Connectivity
A robust mesh Wi-Fi network is a prime investment that eradicates weak signals. This sophisticated solution ensures a consistently strong connection, allowing you to work or relax seamlessly in any corner of your home without dropped connections or reduced internet speed.

### 13. The Humidifier System
Install a whole-house humidifier system to avoid nosebleeds and shocks during winter. It adds moisture to the dry winter air, making both you and your pets happier. This system can create a real difference, improving the quality of the air you breathe.

### 14. Basket Organizing Mastery
Utilize baskets for both functionality and aesthetic appeal to create an organized living space. Store items like remote controls, coasters, and other small belongings easily. This simple yet effective technique can transform your living area into a more harmonious and satisfying space, enhancing your daily living experience.

### 15. The Coffee Magic
Upgrade to an at-home espresso machine for barista-quality coffee, eliminating the need for costly coffee shop visits. With this investment, you gain control over taste, quality, and cost—enjoy exceptional beverages anytime you want. This simple change can significantly enhance your daily coffee ritual, providing unparalleled satisfaction and convenience.

### 16. The Vacuum Wizard
Introduce a salon-style floor vacuum for seamless and efficient cleaning. This compact device transforms your routine, allowing a simple sweep to dispose of debris instantly. Investing in this innovative tool encourages frequent cleaning, ultimately enhancing your home’s cleanliness and your overall satisfaction.

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**Legal Today, Banned Tomorrow: The Future of These 11 Items**
Are you prepared for a future where something currently legal becomes illegal? This intriguing question has been making rounds on the internet, and the top-voted responses are bound to leave you curious.

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With these small but impactful home upgrades, you can transform your living space into a more comfortable, stylish, and functional haven. Why wait? Start upgrading today for a better tomorrow!
https://radicalfire.com/unbelievable-home-upgrades/

These Maine students are sinking to the bottom

Maine, once a national competitor in student achievement, now sits at or below the national average for standardized test performance. While scores nationwide have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic, Maine student performance has been sliding for more than a decade.

A Maine Monitor analysis of 20 years of student test scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) revealed that some students are sinking to the bottom faster than others. Low-income students and children with disabilities saw peak test scores on the NAEP starting around 2007. After that, these students began experiencing significant declines.

Between 2007 and 2024, the portion of all Maine students reaching at least a partial, basic level of understanding in reading and math fell by more than 14 percent. However, the declines were much steeper for certain groups. The percentage of students with disabilities reaching this bare-minimum performance level or higher dropped by more than 32 percent in some subjects—and in some cases, more than 40 percent. Low-income students meeting the same level fell by more than 23 percent during the same period.

Overall, the percentage of Maine test takers performing at or above the basic level is lower than the national average. It is important to note that NAEP results are presented only as percentages, not total numbers, and the exact losses in performance vary depending on the subject and grade level.

To ensure accuracy, The Maine Monitor consulted two education researchers who confirmed that children with disabilities and those from low-income households are sliding significantly. Students with disabilities often have individualized plans that provide accommodations for learning and may include conditions such as autism and dyslexia. Economically disadvantaged students are defined as those from low-income households, homeless children, or those who qualify for programs such as free and reduced-price lunch.

Other groups have been struggling as well. Black students and English language learners have seen significant losses in test scores, although data collection for both groups has been inconsistent over the years due to their relatively small populations in Maine.

NAEP categorizes student performance into four levels:

– **Below Basic:** Students cannot demonstrate even fundamental knowledge in reading or math.
– **Basic:** Students show partial, but not complete, understanding of grade-level skills. For example, fourth graders meeting the basic level in reading can make simple inferences from text, and eighth graders can answer specific questions about the text.
– **Proficient:** Considered the goal for all student performance by the National Assessment Governing Board, this level indicates a solid understanding of challenging math and reading skills.
– **Advanced:** Students have mastered math and reading skills beyond the proficient level.

Maine saw its percentage of students performing at the proficient level begin to decline between 2013 and 2017 across grade levels and subjects. Meanwhile, the proportion of students performing at the advanced level has remained fairly consistent over time, typically between 2 and 10 percent across grade levels and subjects.

Unfortunately, the percentage of students performing below the basic level has been growing since 2007. For instance, about 59 percent of fourth graders with disabilities tested below basic in reading in 2007; by 2024, that number had risen to roughly 78 percent. Similarly, 41 percent of low-income fourth graders tested below basic in 2007, increasing to 59 percent by 2024.

These trends highlight growing challenges in educational equity and achievement in Maine, especially among vulnerable student populations. Addressing these issues will be critical to improving outcomes for all students in the state.
https://www.centralmaine.com/2025/10/27/these-maine-students-are-sinking-to-the-bottom/

Abbott spooks academia after declaring Texas will go after professors for ‘ideological differences’

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has rattled academia and legal experts with his open declaration that his state is “targeting professors” over their personal beliefs.

While Republican governors have increasingly viewed classrooms as ideological battlegrounds, Abbott’s explicit position is raising greater concern. He stated that a Texas educator should have lost his job over “ideological differences,” a stance that has alarmed many in the education and legal communities.

This approach highlights the growing tensions surrounding academic freedom and the role of personal beliefs in education, prompting widespread debate about the limits of ideological expression for educators in Texas.
https://www.kxan.com/top-stories/abbott-spooks-academia-after-declaring-texas-will-go-after-professors-for-ideological-differences/

Arlington Heights mom appointed to District 21 school board

Angelika Husmann, a resident of Arlington Heights and a parent, has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Wheeling Township Elementary District 21 school board.

Her appointment brings a fresh perspective to the board, with a focus on supporting local students and families. As an active member of the community, Husmann is committed to contributing to the district’s continued success and growth.

The school board looks forward to her involvement and the positive impact she will have on the education of the district’s children.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251021/news/arlington-heights-mom-appointed-to-district-21-school-board/

Joe Minter, Renowned Birmingham Sculptor, to be Honored at City’s Classic Week ‘AWAKEN’ Event

The City of Birmingham will present its annual AWAKEN event in celebration of local changemakers who use creativity, advocacy, and service to advance social justice and community progress. This year’s program theme is **“Art as Resistance: Awakening Justice Through Creativity”** and will honor Joe Minter, a world-renowned sculptor, community historian, and founder of African Village in America. His visionary art chronicles the Black experience and the struggle for freedom, justice, and unity.

The event, orchestrated by the Division of Social Justice and Racial Equity, will take place on **Friday, Oct. 24, at 9 a.m.** at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

> “Art has always been a language of liberation,” said Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. “Through AWAKEN, we celebrate artists and advocates like Joe Minter who remind us that creativity is not only an act of expression, but also an act of resistance—a tool to awaken justice in all of us.”

Held annually during Magic City Classic Week, AWAKEN was created to spark meaningful dialogue, reflection, and education around Birmingham’s enduring legacy of activism and leadership. Each year, the event serves as a bridge between Birmingham’s historic civil rights struggle and the city’s modern movement for equity. It brings together artists, activists, and community leaders who continue to push for justice through creative expression.

As part of the program, Mayor Woodfin will present the **Putting People First Award** to Joe Minter, recognizing his vision that embodies Birmingham’s ongoing pursuit of equity and justice.

### About Joe Minter

Joe Minter is an artist and cultural historian living in the Titusville neighborhood, surrounded by his magnum opus — a sprawling didactic artwork he has dubbed the **African Village in America**. He recently exhibited at prestigious venues including the Royal Academy of Arts in London, Mana Contemporary, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

His work has been the subject of solo exhibitions at the Alabama Contemporary, Atlanta Contemporary, James Fuentes Gallery, and Tops Gallery. In 2019, he was featured in the Whitney Biennial, curated by Rujeko Hockley and Jane Panetta.

Minter’s artwork is included in the permanent collections of several major institutions, including:

– The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
– The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
– The National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
– The Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

### Event Highlights

The program will also feature:

– A musical performance by trumpeter **Nathaniel Bagley**
– Poetry by Birmingham Poet Laureate **Salaam Green**
– Spoken word by **Quang Do**, president & CEO of Create Birmingham

Additionally, there will be a panel discussion on **“Art as Resistance”** featuring:

– Storyteller and craftivist **Wilhelmina Thomas**
– Visual artist **Willie E. Williams, Jr.**
– Arts administrator **John Fields**, senior director of UAB Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts

The conversation will be moderated by Gina Mallisham, executive director of the Jefferson County Memorial Project.

### Past Themes & Honorees

Since its inception, AWAKEN has honored Birmingham’s trailblazers who continue to shape the city’s story of resilience and reform. Past themes and honorees include:

– **2024:** Staying Woke in Voting Rights — Honoring Judge U. W. Clemon
– **2023:** Lifting Voices: Changing History — Honoring The Carlton Reese Memorial Unity Choir
– **2022:** Family Reunion: Stories Never Told — Honoring Dr. Shelley Stewart
– **2021:** Building the Beloved Community — Honoring Odessa Woolfolk
– **2019:** Hope for the World — Honoring Mayor Richard Arrington

The event is free to attend, but **registration is required**.

For more information and to register, please visit the City of Birmingham’s official website.
https://www.birminghamtimes.com/2025/10/the-city-of-birmingham-presents-awaken-art-as-resistance-awakening-justice-through-creativity/

Pro-Palestinian students sue over Northwestern’s mandatory antisemitism training

A pro-Palestinian graduate student group has sued Northwestern University, claiming the school’s mandatory antisemitism training is discriminatory and violates the free speech rights of Arab students, new court papers reveal.

The university began enforcing the training modules, ironically named “Building a Community of Respect and Breaking Down Bias,” in February—months after heated campus anti-Israel demonstrations, according to the lawsuit.

The Northwestern Graduate Workers for Palestine alleges the training uses such a broad definition of antisemitism that it limits political discourse and free speech, labeling them as anti-Jewish. “Northwestern equates criticism of political practices and ideologies with discrimination against Jews themselves,” the complaint filed Wednesday in Illinois federal court states.

The lawsuit, filed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on behalf of the student group, seeks to have the training ruled unlawful and eliminated altogether. Plaintiffs also want to remove the disciplinary policy punishing students who do not complete the required training. The suit seeks unspecified damages.

According to court documents, Evanston-based university policy is discriminatory against Palestinian and Arab students by barring them from discussing their national aspirations or protesting alleged mistreatment of their people. The suit charges that Northwestern won’t allow students to oppose a video “dehumanizing Arabs in the process.”

The video, produced by the Jewish United Fund, reportedly includes quotes from Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke interspersed with statements from anti-Israel protesters to suggest “you can’t tell the difference” between the comments, according to a report by the Washington Free Beacon.

The lawsuit alleges the university brands Arab and Palestinian students’ ethnic and religious identities, cultures, and advocacy for their national group’s rights as antisemitic and subject to discipline.

For example, students have been threatened with losing their enrollment or employment status if they do not watch the videos and acknowledge the policies by set deadlines—either by Monday or February 2, 2026, depending on their registration date. “Several members of Grad Workers for Palestine will lose their student status and employment if they do not complete the training,” the filing notes.

At least 300 students have reportedly been blocked from registering for classes because they refused to watch the training video, The Guardian reported last month.

One Ph.D. candidate, Laura Jaliff, told the Evanston Round Table earlier this month that she declined the training because she believed it to be discriminatory. “The number of students who are refusing to take the training on the grounds that it contains damaging political propaganda that has no place in our workplace will inevitably grow,” Jaliff warned.

Students and faculty have widely opposed the training course, arguing the video is “discriminatory and not scholarly,” but the university has not altered its stance, the lawsuit states.

The university’s policy was enacted following anti-Israel protests in April and May 2024, during which students set up encampments on campus. Counter-demonstrators allegedly stole and destroyed property, spat on students, screamed at them, and called Jewish participants “fake Jews,” the suit claims.

One person reportedly told a Jewish student, “You are lucky you are here; if you were in Israel, I’d just shoot you like an animal,” the complaint adds.

Instead of addressing the threats, campus police allegedly cracked down on the pro-Palestinian encampments “with excessive and unreasonable force,” also filing criminal complaints against demonstrators. The Cook County State Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute the four people arrested, the suit notes.

Anti-Israel protesters allegedly vandalized a campus building housing the Holocaust center by scrawling “Death to Israel” and “Intifada Now” on its walls, according to the Washington Free Beacon. Protesters reportedly screamed insults like “dirty Jew” and “Zionist pig” at passing students, the Forward reported.

Former Northwestern president Michael Schill was criticized for his alleged negligence in handling antisemitism on campus and was questioned by a U.S. House committee over the unrest. He resigned last month.

In April, the Trump administration froze $790 million in federal grants and contracts to Northwestern, The Evanston Round Table reported.

Michael Teplitsky, president of the Coalition Against Antisemitism at Northwestern, called the lawsuit “absurd” in a statement to the Free Beacon. “The idea that an antisemitism training could somehow threaten anyone’s civil rights is absurd,” Teplitsky said. “Northwestern worked with JUF [Jewish United Fund] to create a student program aimed at inclusion and understanding—exactly what universities are supposed to do.”

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers New York Representative Elise Stefanik and Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton last week called on the Trump administration to investigate CAIR’s sources of funding, including “potential ties” to Hamas.

Northwestern University declined to comment on the pending litigation.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/20/us-news/students-sue-over-northwesterns-antisemitism-training/

Dialing down dope: Trump White House moves toward easing restrictions on marijuana

Pot was hardly difficult to find on campuses—and elsewhere—back when it was not just illegal but actively targeted by politicians as a menace to society. In fact, it often found you if you stopped in at parties or even small gatherings. When I was in college, there was a real fear of being busted by police, getting kicked out of school, or fired from your job. It made otherwise law-abiding kids see the cops as their enemy. But that was light-years ago.

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### Changing Attitudes Toward Marijuana

Now, the Trump administration is strongly considering loosening the restrictions on weed. It still amazes me to drive up Connecticut Avenue here in Washington and see cannabis shops—like MrGreen and Blunt-and Taste Budz—just a few blocks from the Capitol, openly peddling the stuff. The products are branded under highly marketable names, such as Violet Sky and Hash Burger.

A well-reported story by the Free Press says President Trump is considering reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III. That would put it in the same category as anabolic steroids, ketamine, and Tylenol with codeine. The move “would ease restrictions on it but stop short of making pot entirely legal.”

Of course, medical marijuana is already legal in 40 states and the District of Columbia, and allowed for recreational use in D.C. and 24 states—from New York to Colorado.

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### Minimal Opposition and Political Support

So where is the opposition? Uh, there really isn’t that much. And the White House is being open about this. Marijuana advocate Alex Bruesewitz tells the Free Press that the shift to Schedule III “keeps cannabis as a controlled substance but allows for more testing for medicinal purposes,” calling it a “politically savvy move” with strong public support.

It’s perhaps no surprise. Generations have at least tried weed since the 1960s and ’70s, dismissing the dark warnings about its dangers and the claim that it would lead to harder drugs. They scoffed at the infamous 1936 film *Reefer Madness*.

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### A History of Political Opposition

Richard Nixon, in his war on drugs half a century ago, tried to associate hippies with pot and Black Americans with heroin. As his top aide John Ehrlichman—who later went to prison for Watergate—said in a 1994 interview: “Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.”

Ronald Reagan, who as a candidate called pot “probably the most dangerous drug in the United States,” admitted in his diary that he got mad watching Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton toking up in the movie *9 to 5*. His wife Nancy Reagan later launched her famous “Just Say No” campaign.

By the time Bill Clinton ran for office, his brief experimentation with pot—he famously said he had tried it but “didn’t inhale”—had become a political punchline.

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### Emerging Criticism

Some critics have definitely emerged. Pete Sessions, a GOP congressman from Texas, recently wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi along with eight other lawmakers, warning that rescheduling marijuana “would send a message to kids that marijuana is not harmful.”

Donald Trump himself doesn’t smoke, drink, or take drugs, partly in reaction to his brother’s death from alcoholism. But the White House seems largely on board with the idea of rescheduling. Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio conducted a survey in March that found 66 percent of respondents backed legalized marijuana, and 70 percent supported rescheduling the drug.

A senior White House official is quoted as saying: “For a lot of the base, it’s an issue like gay marriage that people have gotten comfortable with. It’s good politics.” A decision is expected by the end of the year.

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### The Role of Lobbyists and the Cannabis Industry

As with virtually every Beltway issue, well-heeled lobbyists are part of the process. Pot smoking, once an underground pastime, is now a big business.

Bruesewitz’s consulting firm, X Strategies, is reportedly being paid $300,000 by American Rights and Reform, a pro-cannabis group, for “media” services. Another large PR firm, Mercury Public Affairs, represents the U.S. Cannabis Council.

The size of this burgeoning industry was estimated at $38 billion last year—real money, even by jaded Washington standards.

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### Mixed Feelings About Today’s Cannabis

I confess to some mixed feelings. For one thing, today’s cannabis is many times more powerful than the nickel-and-dime bags that used to circulate. I always felt pot’s milder effects were preferable to alcohol, especially when it comes to driving. It does give you the munchies, though. And as a parent, I wonder—what about homework?
https://www.foxnews.com/media/dialing-down-dope-trump-white-house-moves-toward-easing-restrictions-marijuana

Obituary: Helen M. Ludwig

**THOMASTON — Helen M. Ludwig, 86, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2025, at her home in Thomaston, surrounded by her loving family.**

Helen was born on April 7, 1939, in Camden to Fred Leland and Theresa Gray Leland. She grew up in Camden and Rockport, graduating as the Valedictorian of Rockport High School’s class of 1957.

In 1957, Helen married Raymond Ludwig. The couple lived in Massachusetts for ten years before moving back to Maine, residing in Brunswick and Durham. Helen pursued higher education and earned a degree in education from the University of Southern Maine in 1975.

Helen dedicated 28 years to teaching third grade in Brunswick until her retirement in 2003. She was a proud member of the Maine State Teachers Association. After retiring, Helen and Ray moved back to Thomaston, where she devoted her time to crafting, quilting, and caring for her home.

Helen was predeceased by her parents; daughter Laurie Ludwig; sister Betty Lord; sister-in-law Kathryn Archer; brother-in-law John Ludwig; and nephew Michael Archer.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Raymond Ludwig of Thomaston; sons Kurt Ludwig of Thomaston and Edward Ludwig of Naples, Florida; and grandchildren Brent St. Pierre of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Matthew St. Pierre of Baker, Florida, Zachary Ludwig of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Brittany Ludwig of Fallbrook, California, and Kendra Ludwig. Helen also leaves behind her brother-in-law George Baines of Durham; several great-grandchildren; niece Diane Lord of Northport; nephews Scott Archer of Palm Coast, Florida, and Thomas Archer of Warren; along with extended family.

A private family graveside service will be held at Sea View Cemetery in Rockport. Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, located at 78 Main Street, Thomaston.
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/10/17/obituaryhelen-m-ludwig/

Pennsylvania’s higher ed board aims to freeze tuition for 2026-27

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), which includes HBCU Cheyney University in Delaware County, is making significant strides in maintaining affordable education and boosting enrollment.

The Board of Governors for PASSHE has unanimously approved a request for a 5% increase in its 2026–27 state appropriation. This increase aims to freeze undergraduate in-state tuition. As the state budget remains unresolved, the request is based on the 2024-25 enacted appropriation. This announcement was made during the board’s quarterly meeting on Thursday.

In July, the board approved a $278 annual tuition increase for the 2025-26 academic year, raising tuition to $7,994 per year. This marked the end of a seven-year freeze in tuition rates that lasted from 2015 to 2025.

PASSHE includes several universities across the state:
– HBCU Cheyney University
– East Stroudsburg University
– Indiana University of Pennsylvania
– Kutztown University
– Millersville University
– Shippensburg University
– Slippery Rock University
– West Chester University
– Pennsylvania Western University (California, Clarion, and Edinboro campuses)
– Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield campuses)

State System Chair Cynthia Shapira emphasized the importance of the appropriation request during the meeting. “What this appropriations request does is maintain our consistent and firm commitment to hold tuition flat,” she said. “This reflects our mission and brand as a system that provides high-quality four-year education at a cost significantly lower than the published tuition rates of any other four-year institution in the Commonwealth.”

Shapira also noted, “That mission is what really drives this request. We understand that it is a request and it still has to go through the political process, but we will continue to advocate for its approval.”

The announcement comes as PASSHE reports positive enrollment trends for the first time in over a decade. Fall enrollment increased to 83,000 students, a 0.6% rise systemwide. Additionally, seven of the ten universities experienced enrollment growth.

Leading the system in enrollment gains was Cheyney University, with a 37.9% increase—the highest total enrollment since 2014. East Stroudsburg University saw a 4.4% rise, while Slippery Rock and Shippensburg universities reported increases of 2.75% and 2.6%, respectively. Millersville and West Chester universities recorded gains of 1.3% and 1.2%.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania maintained steady overall enrollment but achieved more than an 8% increase in new student enrollment. Transfers from Pennsylvania community colleges grew by 14.3%, reflecting a strong pipeline of students moving into the system.

PASSHE also achieved a record-high retention rate of 81%, the highest since tracking began in 2004. With nearly 89% of students coming from within Pennsylvania, PASSHE remains the state’s leading producer of bachelor’s degrees.

State System Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino praised the faculty and staff for their dedication, saying, “These gains show that our faculty and staff are committed to helping students succeed. We are focused on providing high-quality affordable education that prepares students for real opportunities after graduation.”

He added, “Pennsylvania needs more skilled workers in health care, STEM, business, and education, and our universities are helping meet that demand. Our graduates are making a difference in communities and contributing to the strength of the state’s economy.”

Stay informed and connected—subscribe to The Philadelphia Tribune for the latest news and updates.

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https://www.phillytrib.com/news/state_and_region/pennsylvanias-higher-ed-board-aims-to-freeze-tuition-for-2026-27/article_f075ca3f-50a5-407c-8328-f26a06e3935f.html