The Pennsylvania Department of Education is kicking off an anti-stigma campaign aimed to more openly support the basic needs of college students. The "You Good?" initiative, under the PA MASLOW program, stresses it's A-OK for students to seek assistance with housing, transportation, finances, and their physical and mental health. "In order to do their best, learners must feel their best, and it is incumbent upon us to point them in the direction of resources that will keep them housed, fed, healthy, and emotionally well," Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, Secretary of Education, said in the campaign announcement that was released on the State of Pennsylvania.
The department's latest endeavor involves circulating customizable posters on campuses to easily connect students with essential services. Virtual meetings are set quarterly to improve these anti-stigma efforts, signaling the administration's commitment to not just support, but to actively foster student wellbeing. The move complements Governor Josh Shapiro's bold higher education blueprint which includes a projected funding increase of $975 million for community colleges and Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), a substantial upswing of 15 percent from last year.
Governor Shapiro's budget proposal for 2024-25 also outlines a cap on tuition costs aimed at students from families earning up to the median income, ensuring they pay no more than $1,000 in tuition and fees per semester at state-owned universities and community colleges. Shapiro plans to expand affordable higher education access by hiking PHEAA grants for specific student demographics by $1,000.
The need for such measures is clear as Pennsylvania grapples with a harsh reality: it ranks among the worst in the nation for college affordability. Students are often left saddled with excessive debt, a drawback that has contributed to a steep enrollment decline in state colleges over the past decade. Shapiro's blueprint promises to potentially reverse this trend by simplifying credit transfers and propelling cooperation between public universities, as per the state's education department's statement.
The overarching PA MASLOW initiative is a comprehensive, cross-agency partnership, explicitly drawing on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Basic Needs to scaffold support in areas such as digital access, mental health, and student finances. The program's personalized tactics are designed to ensure students have the tools to succeed not just in education, but in life. With $20 million injected into county mental health services in Shapiro’s budget, the administration is signaling a strong commitment to round-the-clock student care.
