UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Tuition at Penn State New Kensington will remain the same for next year, according to a proposal presented to the Penn State Board of Trustees Jan. 16 by President Eric Barron. The freeze on 2015-16 tuition is part of his initiative to help students and families facing financial pressures.
Penn State campuses in western Pennsylvania -- Beaver, DuBois, Fayette Greater Allegheny, Shenango and New Kensington, as well as the Commonwealth campuses of Mont Alto and Wilkes-Barre, will keep current tuition rates, in effect, for another year.
“President Barron’s proposal keeps Penn State New Kensington affordable for students who are fighting to achieve their dreams and transform their lives,” said Kevin Snider, chancellor of the New Kensington campus. “With creative and efficient initiatives, we will continue to provide the Alle-Kiski valley with a high-quality Penn State education.”
The freeze comes on the heels of modest increases in the past two years of a total of $122: $47 in 2012-13 and $75 for the current year. At New Kensington, tuition stays at the rate of $12,718 for residents.
“Penn State remains committed to keeping our tuition increases as low as practically possible, and we are pleased that this year we may favorably impact students at these 14 campuses,” Barron said. “Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses provide educational opportunities for a diverse population of students, many from families with fewer financial resources. The campuses also serve nontraditional students, and about 60 percent of all students work 22 hours a week on average.”
New Kensington and the other campuses were identified based on factors such as higher percentages of need-based students, socio-economic and demographic challenges in the surrounding communities and Penn State’s potential to give relevant career path opportunities to students living in those areas of the Commonwealth. The University also continues to pursue aggressively opportunities for strategic reduction of expenditures at all campuses that can benefit our students and their families.
“Penn State New Kensington is close to home for residents in the Alle-Kiski Valle and access to a quality Penn State education provides a tremendous financial benefit to our students and families,” Snider said. “Many of our students come from households of modest resources and are the first in their family to attend college.”
In addition to offering students the opportunity to gain a quality four-year degree close to home, the initiative allows students to achieve that goal with limited impact. New Kensington provides students the ability to spend two years at one campus and then transition to another through the University’s 2+2 program (http://www.nk.psu.edu/Academics/Degrees/45469.htm). The steady tuition gives students who need to go to another campus the financial benefit of paying a lower tuition for two years.
The steady tuition rate would give many students the financial benefit of paying a lower tuition for two years before moving to another campus to complete their Penn State degree. Students who choose to remain at their initial campus may realize additional financial benefits.
Keeping the campus affordable and accessible is one of the goals of the campus’ five-year strategic plan, (http://www.nk.psu.edu/46037.htm) that Snider unveiled in August at his annual “State of the Campus” Address.
The plan features seven paths to the future: strengthening educational experiences and enhance the quality of academic programs; transforming education by exploring how technology and pedagogies can expand opportunity and discovery; helping to build local communities; developing resources to keep higher education accessible; leading student-centered education; advancing an eco-friendly and healthy campus environment; and embracing diversity and preparing students for a global environment.
Three of the initiatives cut across several of the strategic goals and highlight the campus’ intent to become an even more important leader in the community. Sustainability, poverty initiatives and STEM programming are the key ingredients in the campus plan, and the campus is engaging the community in these critical areas. Snider’s plan complements the six imperatives (http://news.psu.edu/story/315948/2014/05/14/administration/barron-introduces-six-major-topics-spark-discussion-across) outlined by Barron when he took office in May.
“We are delighted to see that the President’s priorities and the needs of the campus and our local community are so closely aligned,” Snider said. “By working with University Park in achieving our goals, we will continue to bring tremendous opportunities to our communities and to our students.”
At the Board of Trustees meeting, Barron suggested five other recommendations for creating accessibility for students, many of which were established by the Penn State Enhanced Education Pathways Committee, charged by Executive Vice President and Provost Nick Jones. The group was challenged to explore ways to provide high-quality education at a cost that ensures expanded access for citizens. The remaining recommendations include:
-- Math, English and foreign language preparation for incoming students to assist in their successful transition from high school to college, while providing students the opportunity to begin college studies at the appropriate level for their intended major.
-- Summer school/on campus employment for first- and second-year students to shorten time-to-degree and lower overall cost; students will make progress toward a degree while working on campus or in the community.
-- Expanding the Student Transitional Experiences Program (http://www.psu.edu/summersession/step/) to provide financial, academic and social support for students who change campuses to ensure satisfactory academic progress.
-- Increased emphasis on financial literacy and well-being to improve student and family understanding of the cost of an education, its benefits, and the long-term consequences of debt.
-- Increasing institutional support for the Provost Awards scholarship program by $5 million in summer-fall 2015. The program, implemented in 2013, uses an allocation of central funds to provide initial financial aid awards of $4,000 per student and annual renewals through graduation. After committing $20 million each of the first two years, Penn State will increase the amount to $25 million.
For a full look at President Barron’s presentation to the Board of Trustees, visithttp://www.psu.edu/ur/2014/President_Report_BOT_1_16_2015.pdf
To view Chancellor Snider’s Strategic Plan 2014-19, visithttp://www.nk.psu.edu/Documents/Giving/PSNK_Strategic_Plan_2014-2019.pdf
For information on admissions at New Kensington campus, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Admissions/default.htm