Public higher ed to rally Sept. 28 for affordable college

Aug. 31, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Morton,

A coalition of Pennsylvania higher-ed labor unions and proponents have planned a Sept. 28 rally to advocate for a 15% increase in funding for public higher education in Pennsylvania, for the Pennsylvania Promise plan to make college more affordable, and for other higher-education and labor issues. The Affordable College Now! rally is slated to begin promptly at noon on the front steps of the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg.

Students, faculty, coaches, staff, alumni, and other supporters of Pennsylvania's community colleges, state-owned universities, and state-related universities are invited to attend. For information and to RSVP, visit www.APSCUF.org/Sept28rally.

"For decades, governors and the legislature have underfunded public higher education in Pennsylvania," said Dr. Kenneth M. Mash, president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, one of the rally partners. "Even when there have been increases, they have come with provisos, quid pro quos, and they still have not adequately made up for previous cuts and years of underfunding. Meanwhile, the cost for students has grown, our institutions have cut back course and degree offerings, and too many of our state's public colleges and universities constantly operate at the precipice of failure.

"The benefits of higher education reach beyond the students who obtain the degrees. Graduates go on to become educators, healthcare providers, and so many other professionals who help our Commonwealth thrive. Everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue higher education without being crushed by debt. We are grateful for our line items in the Pennsylvania budget, but that funding needs to be recalibrated for today's realities. It's time for the Pennsylvania Promise, and it's time for the state to increase funding for public higher education. It is way past time for people to stop beating up on higher education and for them to focus on the benefits we all derive."

The Pennsylvania Promise bill passed the Pennsylvania House in June. Visit https://www.papromise.org/about to read more about the plan.

The Commonwealth falls at or near the bottom of U.S. rankings for higher-education investment, college affordability, and student debt. For years, U.S. News and World Report has ranked Pennsylvania 50th in higher education - not for quality but for cost and student debt. After years of flat and/or insufficient funding, Pennsylvania's community colleges, state-owned universities, and state-related universities need a 15% increase in funding, rally organizers said.

Rally partners are: AAUP, AFSCME Council 13, AFT, AFTPA, AFT Local 2067- CCAC, APSCUF, Emergency Campaign to Support Higher Education, FSFCCP, Federation of Reading Area Community College, HELU, IBT Local 8, MCCC Faculty Federation, PA-AAUP, PA AFL-CIO, PSEA, SEIU 668, TAUP, TUGSA, USW District 10, and USW Local 1511.

APSCUF represents about 5,000 faculty and coaches at the State System campuses: Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester.