Write Your Legislator

Sign Our Petition

Petition: Advance PA: Community Colleges Leading the Way

We are Pennsylvanians who want our state policymakers and candidates for public office to Advance PA through its support of our community colleges.

Pennsylvania needs its community colleges to educate and prepare students with skills for today’s jobs and a better state economy.

One out of every 5 Pennsylvania undergraduates attends a community college, with increasing enrollment as people seek education and new skills in today’s turbulent economic times. Tell your state leaders that students and faculty are doing their part to create success in the future, but we need more help!

We need to make our voices loud and clear to tell them that community colleges make education affordable for students who would otherwise miss out. One of the state’s wisest investments, community colleges contribute to the local economy by educating and preparing workers for state and local industries and businesses:

With the state budget in crisis and elections this year, it’s our moment to be heard. Without more support from state leaders, our community colleges will be forced to turn away Pennsylvanians who seek education and economic opportunity.

By signing this petition we ask our state leaders to Advance PA by making smart investments in our students, our workers and the state’s economic future.

First Name *

Last Name *

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College Affiliation: *

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Once you sign our advocacy petition, you will receive periodic updates and communications from AdvancePA and the PA Commission for Community Colleges.

Write your Legislator

Writing a lawmaker is one of the most effective ways that a citizen can affect public policy with very little effort. A written letter carries significantly more weight than a phone call or an email and has a higher probability of getting read by your legislator or a high-ranking member of his or her staff.

Writing a letter is easy. The first step is to find out who your legislators are and what their contact information is. The website of the Pennsylvania General Assembly has information on how you can find your local Legislator by zip code or by county.

After that, all you have to do is write your letter and send it.

SAMPLE LETTER TO LEGISLATOR

Dear [LEGISLATOR NAME]

Pennsylvania needs its community colleges to educate and prepare students with skills for today’s jobs and a better state economy.

One out of every 5 Pennsylvania undergraduates attends a community college, with increasing enrollment as people seek education and new skills in today’s turbulent economic times. Today, over 400,000 students attend community college in Pennsylvania and the colleges employ tens of thousands more. Students and faculty are doing their part to create success in the future, but we need more help!

Community colleges make education affordable for students who would otherwise miss out. One of the state’s wisest investments, community colleges contribute to the local economy by educating and preparing workers for state and local industries and businesses.

That’s not enough though. When compared to other states, Pennsylvania’s community college costs are high. Families in only six states need to pay a higher percentage of their income than Pennsylvania families to send students to community college. Of the $370,545,268 total of all state financial aid grants awarded through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) community college students receive only $18,984.821, or a 4.4% share, with an average award of only $1,566.

I am asking you to Advance PA by making smart investments in our students, our workers and the state’s economic future.

Sincerely yours,

Name
Address
City, State, Zip
Email