HARRISBURG, PA — Cheyney University and West Chester University will take part in Pennsylvania’s first college-outreach initiative coordinated across all 10 State System universities, extending efforts to connect high school students with admissions and financial-aid resources while reducing transportation barriers to exploring college.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education initiative will hold nearly 20 events across eastern and western Pennsylvania this fall. Cheyney and West Chester are among seven universities participating in the eastern phase from Nov. 2 through Nov. 10.
University employees will meet students at participating high schools and college fairs, while the PASSHE Foundation will pay for buses carrying some students to university campuses. Students will have opportunities to learn about academic programs and financial aid, meet admissions personnel and tour campuses.
The eastern Pennsylvania schedule includes events in the Lehigh Valley on Nov. 2 and 3, two Philadelphia college fairs on Nov. 4 and the Sen. Haywood College Fair in Philadelphia on Nov. 5. Students from participating schools will also travel to East Stroudsburg University on Nov. 6 and Commonwealth University-Lock Haven on Nov. 10.
The program follows an earlier pilot in Philadelphia and represents the first time outreach has been coordinated across all 10 PASSHE universities.
“Students should be able to consider college in ways that work for them, whether by visiting a campus or connecting with our universities closer to home,” PASSHE Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino stated.
Campus access is one focus of the initiative. PASSHE cited a 2025 Ipsos study finding that 70% of students and families visited a campus before deciding where to enroll. The PASSHE Foundation is funding transportation in an effort to extend those opportunities to students who might otherwise have difficulty making a campus visit.
“A campus visit can turn college from an idea into something students can picture for themselves,” PASSHE Foundation President and CEO Shelley Scherer stated.
The initiative begins in western Pennsylvania from Sept. 28 through Oct. 2, with students visiting PennWest University’s Edinboro, Clarion and California campuses, Slippery Rock University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
PASSHE’s 10 universities collectively enroll about 80,000 students and graduate approximately 20,000 annually. Nearly 90% of students enrolled in the system are Pennsylvania residents.
Additional outreach events are being planned for the spring semester.
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