Authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings to investigate the level and effectiveness of community engagement and outreach initiatives carried out by higher education institutions in Philadelphia that directly impact adjacent neighborhoods.
WHEREAS, Higher education institutions in Philadelphia, including universities and colleges, play a crucial role in the City's educational landscape and economic development. Effective community engagement and outreach efforts can enhance relationships between these institutions and local residents, fostering increased enrollment and academic success; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia's most renowned universities including Temple, Penn, Drexel, La Salle, and St. Joseph's have enormous impacts on the City, with combined budgets of over $6 billion. However, their impact on local communities is not reflected in enrollment; and
WHEREAS, Research indicates that access to higher education is often inequitable, with many local residents facing significant barriers to enrollment; and
WHEREAS, According to the Lumina Foundation, nearly 60% of jobs in Pennsylvania require a postsecondary credential, yet only 48% of adults in Philadelphia hold such a credential. The American Council on Education reports that institutions with robust community engagement initiatives see up to a 15% increase in local enrollment rates, highlighting the potential impact of effective outreach; and
WHEREAS, First-generation college students, who often come from underrepresented communities, face challenges such as financial insecurity and a lack of information about available resources. These barriers can hinder their ability to enroll and succeed in higher education, underscoring the need for targeted community engagement strategies; and
WHEREAS, In 2023 it was reported that just 1,605 students, or about 14% of the combined first-year classes of those five universities, are from Philadelphia. From reports in 2023 from a university spokesperson, at P...
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