PRINTER'S NO. 811
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
120
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY FONTANA, HUGHES, L. WILLIAMS, COSTA, PHILLIPS-
HILL, YUDICHAK AND MENSCH, MAY 25, 2021
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, MAY 25, 2021
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Higher
Education Equal Opportunity Act of 1971.
WHEREAS, The prime sponsor of the Higher Education Equal
Opportunity Act was Representative K. Leroy Irvis, the first
African American to serve as Speaker of the House in the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the first to serve in
the capacity in any State legislature in the United States since
Reconstruction; and
WHEREAS, Recognizing the barriers to a college education for
low-income and minority students consist of more than just
finances, the Act 101 programs provide essential educational
support to assist students in reaching their full potential by
completing their degrees; and
WHEREAS, The Act 101 Program is administered by the
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and is made
possible with tax-exemption allocations provided by the
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
and support from the Pennsylvania State Treasury; and
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WHEREAS, The Higher Education Equal Opportunity Act provides
participating institutions the flexibility to customize how they
offer academic advising, student orientation, tutoring and other
counseling services to best meet the diverse and always evolving
needs of their students; and
WHEREAS, The Act 101 Program served 3,673 students at 33
participating institutions of higher education throughout this
Commonwealth during the 2019-2020 school year; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, the program is having a positive
impact on the academic experiences of participating students as
exemplified by higher cumulative grade point average in
developmental courses, retention rates and graduation rates; and
WHEREAS, The tens of thousands of students that have been
admitted to colleges because of Act 101 Programs and earned
their degrees have returned back to their communities, becoming
taxpayers and providing essential services, essentially breaking
the cycle of poverty; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the Higher Education
Equal Opportunity Act of 1971 and the Act 101 Program on the
50th anniversary of its enabling legislation and its service to
Pennsylvania students, families and postsecondary institutions.
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