The System’s overall proposed educational and general budget for the 2002-03 school year totals $1.06 billion – a 4.4 percent increase over the current year’s operating budget.

The state appropriation covers slightly less than half of the funds needed to operate the 14 state-owned universities. 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.

“Our universities provide access and quality educational experiences to many Pennsylvanians who otherwise might not be able to afford to attend college,” said Chancellor Judy G. Hample. “We are committed to continuing to meet that mission for the benefit of our students and the Commonwealth.”

In addition to the base appropriation, Schweiker’s proposed budget would provide nearly $16.8 million to the State System for special projects and slightly more than $1.5 million for programs designed to help recruit and retain minority and other under-represented students and to help them succeed in college. A total of $215,000 also is proposed for the McKeever Environmental Learning Center, which is operated on behalf of the Commonwealth by Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. The center provides environmental education programs to Pennsylvanians of all ages.

The State System could receive additional funding from several other sources in the 2002-03 state budget. The governor’s spending blueprint includes $5.5 million in technology grants for all of higher education and $6 million for equipment purchases. There also is funding in the proposed budget that would help State System universities defray the costs of installing automatic sprinklers in their residence halls. The state funds would help subsidize a portion of the interest schools will have to pay on money they borrow to pay for the projects.

Automatic sprinklers and smoke detectors are being installed in all on-campus dormitories and other residential units. The work began last year and is expected to be completed by 2005 at a total estimated cost of about $40 million.

The governor’s budget was presented today to a joint session of the General Assembly. It initially will be reviewed by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, which will hold a series of hearings with various state agencies beginning later this month. A final budget must be approved by the full Legislature by June 30.

In addition to the general appropriation request, the Board of Governors also is asking for special funding for several key projects. The Board is seeking $15 million for the continued development of a shared administrative computer system that would provide both improved service to the campuses as well as long-term cost savings; $9.5 million for performance funding; $5.5 million to help enhance science and advanced technology programs and to help ensure student success; $1.8 million for social equity initiatives; and $500,000 for the McKeever Environmental Learning Center.

With more than 98,600 students, the Pennsylvania 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 (Armstrong), Oil City (Venango) 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.