The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) would receive $504.2 million in state funding next year under Gov. Edward G. Rendell’s proposed 2007-08 budget.

The governor’s proposed spending plan, presented today before a joint session of the General Assembly, includes a base appropriation of nearly $484 million to support the daily operations of the 14 state-owned universities, an increase of $16.4 million, or 3.5 percent, over the current funding level. PASSHE would continue to receive an additional $20.3 million in state funding for a variety of special programs.

“The State System plays an important role in the economic prosperity of Pennsylvania,” said PASSHE Board of Governors Chairman Kenneth M. Jarin. “It is a sound investment that returns significant value to the Commonwealth.

“We are grateful for the governor’s support of PASSHE as demonstrated in this budget. We will work closely with the Administration and General Assembly throughout the budget process to help ensure the highest possible level of investment on behalf of our students, while, at the same time, we will continue to do all that we can to control our operating costs and to keep tuition affordable.”

PASSHE’s Board of Governors in October submitted to the Governor’s Budget Office an appropriations request of $495.7 million to support its Fiscal Year 2007-08 base operating budget, an increase of $28.1 million, or 6 percent. The request would support an overall proposed operating budget of $1.3 billion. The annual state appropriation provides about one-third of the funds needed to operate PASSHE Universities. Student tuition and fees cover most of the rest.

In addition to funding for its basic operations, PASSHE also is seeking about $24 million in separate funding to support a variety of initiatives, including performance funding, economic development, teacher education programs and diversity and equal opportunity efforts across the System. The separate requests also include funding for the McKeever Environmental Learning Center and Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education, both of which PASSHE operates on behalf of the Commonwealth.

PASSHE Chancellor Judy G. Hample will appear later this month before both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to discuss PASSHE’s appropriations request. At the conclusion of the hearings with PASSHE and other state agencies, the Administration and General Assembly will develop the final state budget, which must be approved by June 30 in order to take effect July 1.

The Board will determine next year’s tuition rate for the 14 PASSHE Universities sometime after passage of the 2007-08 state budget.

“PASSHE is committed to providing high quality education at an affordable price,” Chancellor Hample said. “The support we receive from the Commonwealth is essential to our being able to continue to achieve that vital mission.”

With more than 109,000 students, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. The 14 PASSHE universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. More than 405,000 PASSHE 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. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.