Charles Anderson, chief counsel, Department of General Services Pamela Cross, deputy general counsel, Office of General Counsel Thomas P. Howell, deputy general counsel, Office of General Counsel Marisa Lehr, deputy general counsel, Office of General Counsel Cathleen McCormack, University Legal Counsel, PASSHE Jennifer Whare, deputy general counsel, Office of General Counsel Brian D. Zweiacher, chief counsel, Governor’s Office of the Budget
In recent years, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, the nation’s first historically Black college and university and charter member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), struggled with low-student enrollment and was beset by financial woes.
In 2019, the Office of General Counsel’s (OGC) Cheyney University Legal Action Team, including attorneys from OGC’s central office, the Department of General Services, the Office of the Budget and PASSHE, supported Cheyney through its efforts to monetize campus assets. Income generation was critical to Cheyney as part of its endeavor to achieve long-term financial stability in order to maintain accreditation. OGC created a template facilities-use agreement to use for spaces on campus that will be co-used by the university and third-parties. OGC also provided significant legal support and guidance to Cheyney for other administrative accreditation and financial matters. For instance, OGC worked to establish an agreement between the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and Cheyney to structure a reduced payment of debt over a period of six years, further bolstering the university’s financial stability.
What was your proudest professional achievement in 2019?
Cheyney’s successful accreditation is likely the highlight of our team’s history.
What was your biggest professional challenge in 2019?
What’s the one piece of advice you would give someone when dealing with a crisis?
We found it essential to break this large puzzle down into individual, solvable pieces, without losing sight of unintended consequences that might impact the broader scope of the crisis.
What is the most effective time management tool or technique your team uses?
Our most effective time management tool/technique has been our regularly scheduled meetings, which have provided for excellent communication and organization. These meetings have allowed us to regularly debrief, obtain feedback, and determine next steps. The group operated with regularly scheduled workgroup status/progress calls with prepared agendas and follow-up. Committing to an agenda, and following up on it, was incredibly effective, and we believe, essential.