Commonwealth Media Services Gov. Josh Shapiro shakes hands with a student at Millersville University in Millersville, Pa. on Aug. 29, 2023.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, or PASSHE, is one step closer to improving the strength of its schools through sharing advanced courses across institutions.

The schools have obtained a $536,000 grant that will support the training for 165 faculty members to develop the required skills.

The newly trained faculty will join more than 500 other teachers who have already completed the training to improve academic outcomes for students both online and in-person.

“Course sharing will bring students access to more high-quality, specialized courses at other universities, no matter where they are in our system,” said PASSHE Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino.

Many of the students within the PASSHE system opt to attend the school in or near their hometown, which can limit their studies depending on the strengths and individual course offerings of their respective schools. For some students, the availability of more classes can make the difference of whether or not they choose to attend college at all.

“Course sharing reflects PASSHE’s mission to provide a quality higher education at the lowest possible cost as we meet students where they are geographically and academically,” said Diana Rogers-Adkinson, PASSHE vice chancellor and chief academic officer. “This can never replace the on-campus classroom experience, but it gives students an additional option to take specialized or advanced courses offered at other campuses.

PASSHE schools have frozen tuition across the board, maintaining the under $8,000 price tag for in-state students for the past seven years. Their counterparts outside of the system have continued to raise prices, narrowing the academic landscape for many low and middle-income families.

The schools say shared courses could be of particular benefit for rural students. The state’s vast rural region has been hit hard by staffing shortages, and both school and legislative officials have set their sights on developing more homegrown workers.

“By increasing access to faculty expertise from across our universities, this initiative will add value to students’ college education, help them learn advanced knowledge and skills and provide the talent that Pennsylvania needs,” said Rogers-Adkinson.

The new program requires a uniform, shared platform for managing classes, bills and financial aid, which has already been rolled out to some of the schools.

As the system launches pilot programs, it will also be creating a guide for others to use. The project is part of a larger initiative to promote course sharing. The National Association of System Heads has awarded PASSHE a $10,000 grant toward that work.

“PASSHE is well-positioned to be a national leader in designing course sharing strategies, with its universities in rural and suburban communities,” said Shelley Scherer, president and CEO, PASSHE Foundation. “We look forward to working with our peer systems and sharing our experiences to help expand educational access and opportunities for students, particularly those from rural communities.”