February 25, 2002
State System chancellor seeks support for 2002-03 appropriations request
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Seeking support for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s 2002-03 appropriations request, Chancellor Judy G. Hample today told members of the Senate Appropriations Committee that “investments in higher education are key to stimulating economic growth and development” in the Commonwealth.
“For Pennsylvania to remain competitive in attracting more high technology industries and businesses, it will be essential that an educated workforce be available,” Hample said in her first appearance before the committee. “In addition, higher education gives citizens the opportunity to reshape and reorient their careers, thereby increasing the probability that talented workers will remain in Pennsylvania and contribute to the state’s social and economic well-being.”
While acknowledging the difficult economic times facing the state, Hample urged the committee to work with Governor Mark Schweiker to increase funding for the 14 state-owned universities next year. The governor’s proposed budget would reduce funding to the State System by 3 percent in 2002-03.
“In submitting his budget, we understand that the governor was faced with difficult choices and limited resources, but a 3 percent reduction will clearly have serious negative consequences on our students, their families and our institutions,” Hample said.
The System is seeking a state appropriation of $477.7 million next year to help fund the operations of the state-owned universities. That amount represents an increase of $24.9 million, or 5.5 percent, over the current year’s appropriation.
The state appropriation covers slightly less than half of the funds needed for university operations. Student tuition and fees provide most of the rest. The current undergraduate resident tuition rate of $4,016 is the lowest charged among all four-year colleges and universities in Pennsylvania.
The universities have been engaged in a variety of cost-saving efforts on their campuses in order to restrain their annual budget growth.
"Our universities have achieved significant operational efficiencies and improved productivity while maintaining levels of tuition and fees that are manageable for the Commonwealth’s citizens, including many of its economically disadvantaged students: said Hample.
A sufficient level of state funding is essential to the System’s ability to continue to offer to students a high quality, affordable education, the chancellor said.
Hample will testify tomorrow before the House Appropriations Committee, which also is conducting a series of hearings as the General Assembly begins work on next year’s state budget.
With more than 98,600 students, the State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. More than 360,000 System alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.
The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and the University Center for Southwest Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.