The Chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is making the case for the 14 universities in the system.
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Chancellor Daniel Greenstein says PASSHE is a driver of economic prosperity as it seeks to address skill shortages in high demand fields.
Greenstein says PASSHE produces 26,000 career-ready graduates each year, 72 percent of whom live and work in Pennsylvania.
More than 80 percent of those enrolled in PASSHE schools are from low and middle income communities in PA, according to data.
The 14 state schools include Slippery Rock University, Edinboro, Clarion and IUP.