Testifiers detail importance of dual enrollment & college affordability programs in Pennsylvania
Rep. Peter G. Schweyer October 20, 2023 | 9:29 AM
SHIPPENSBURG, Oct. 19 – The PA House Education Committee convened an informational meeting Thursday morning to highlight the impacts of dual enrollment programs and ensuring college affordability for Pennsylvania students.
“As a first generation college student, I know how having affordable college costs was essential for my path to success,” said state Rep. Peter Schweyer, Majority Chairman of the PA House Education Committee. “By keeping tuition and costs low for families and by encouraging educational programs like dual enrollment, we can help students achieve their academic goals and have the same opportunities for success I had.”
The meeting, hosted at Shippensburg University, featured testimony regarding the benefits for students who participated in dual enrollment programs from Dr. Ann Bieber, President of Lehigh Carbon Community College.
“The educational benefit of dual enrollment begins in high school, as students enrolled in dual enrollment programs are more likely to graduate high school,” said Bieber. “The rigor of the coursework provided by community colleges in turn improves college readiness, which results in higher postsecondary completion rates for dual enrollment program students as compared to their peers.”
The hearing also featured testimony on ongoing efforts to make college more affordable for Pennsylvania students and families from Dr. Kara Lakowski, Chair of the Department of Communication Studies at Shippensburg University.
“Many of the students I teach are also working, with many of them in jobs with hours such as 1am to 8am at a local distribution center, loading and unloading trucks. Others rush from class to get to a retail job. One young man is a member of the National Guard; in addition to his weekend drills, he also works overnight at a local warehouse. They are not working for spending money or saving up for an epic spring break trip. Instead, they are laboring to pay for college, and in many cases, to assist their families at home,” said Lakowski.
Testimony from Thursday’s meeting will be available here along with testimony from the committee’s previous informational meetings. Photos from the meeting will be available here.