Inresponse to current fiscal difficulties facing the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, Chancellor Judy G. Hample today announced a wage freeze for the 2003-04 fiscal year for all State System executives, administrators and managers.

The action will affect all non-bargaining unit employees, including the chancellor and 14 university presidents, whose salaries will be frozen at their 2002-03 levels.

The State System is facing a $40 million revenue shortfall in the current fiscal year, requiring the universities to make significant cuts to their operating budgets. The deficit remains even after the Board of Governors last month approved a modest 5 percent tuition increase for the 2003-04 academic year.

With more than 101,000 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 375,000 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. The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.