AICUP Message to Friends of Independent Higher Education
September 19, 2011

 

 

PSU and Pitt Discussion with Senate Appropriations Committee

 

The Pennsylvania Senate will convene on Monday, September 19 and the state House is back on September 26, 2011.  Issues such as Marcellus Shale, redistricting, transportation, flood relief and others will be on the agenda.  Higher education issues percolating during the summer may also be addressed.  Recently the Senate Appropriations Committee chaired by Senator Jake Corman (R-Centre) and co-chaired by Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Phila.) held hearings at University of Pittsburgh and Penn State University on the funding structure for higher education and the state-related institutions. 

 

University research, agricultural extension (PSU), medical care, economic impact and job creation were the main focus of the hearings.  Main testifiers at their respective hearings were the President of Penn State University- Graham Spanier and the Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh-Mark Nordenberg.  Others who testified included board of trustee chairs, student government presidents  and senior staff.  The hearings attracted a lot of attention from the higher education community and resulted in some media coverage.  Senator Corman indicated that the purpose of the hearings was to allow the universities to tell the public how tax dollars are used and why cuts hurt institutional mission and the Commonwealth.  Corman noted, after visiting the institutions, his belief that the dollars are well invested.  

 

With the passage of the 2011-12 budget, both of these institutions as well as Lincoln and Temple University took a 19% cut in their state appropriation.  (Independent colleges also lost 19% of funding for the Institutional Assistance Grants.) Senator Corman noted that funding for higher education is at a “crossroads” and that there is talk of a “voucher” program for higher education in Harrisburg.  Spanier indicated that PSU gets about 14% of its general education budget from the state with the rest coming from tuition and fees.  When Senator Fontana (D-Allegheny) specifically asked Spanier about the voucher plan, the president responded that it was a “little scary and that the devil was in the details.”  He said it might not be completely unworkable but in no scenario could he see PSU coming out ahead.  Spanier noted that the state appropriation is crucial to the university and that it moderates in-state student costs.  In similar questioning, Nordenberg said a voucher system would be an end to a system that enables lower in-state tuition.  Pitt gives in-state students about a $10,000 price break with the state only supporting about one half of that.   Pitt took an overall cut of 22% in state funds and the Chancellor said they should not accept this cut as the “new normal.”  Carnegie University President Jared Cohon testified about the value of the University of Pittsburgh as an “international asset.”  Hearings by the Committee are scheduled at Temple and Lincoln in early October.

 

Did you know:  A bill (SB 922) is pending before the Senate Professional Licensure Committee. This bill would limit licenses to graduates with degrees in social work.  Other human/behavioral health graduates would not be eligible for licensure under this bill.   

 

 

 

 

 

AICUP Message to Friends of Independent Higher Education
September 19, 2011

 

 

PSU and Pitt Discussion with Senate Appropriations Committee

 

The Pennsylvania Senate will convene on Monday, September 19 and the state House is back on September 26, 2011.  Issues such as Marcellus Shale, redistricting, transportation, flood relief and others will be on the agenda.  Higher education issues percolating during the summer may also be addressed.  Recently the Senate Appropriations Committee chaired by Senator Jake Corman (R-Centre) and co-chaired by Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Phila.) held hearings at University of Pittsburgh and Penn State University on the funding structure for higher education and the state-related institutions. 

 

University research, agricultural extension (PSU), medical care, economic impact and job creation were the main focus of the hearings.  Main testifiers at their respective hearings were the President of Penn State University- Graham Spanier and the Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh-Mark Nordenberg.  Others who testified included board of trustee chairs, student government presidents  and senior staff.  The hearings attracted a lot of attention from the higher education community and resulted in some media coverage.  Senator Corman indicated that the purpose of the hearings was to allow the universities to tell the public how tax dollars are used and why cuts hurt institutional mission and the Commonwealth.  Corman noted, after visiting the institutions, his belief that the dollars are well invested.  

 

With the passage of the 2011-12 budget, both of these institutions as well as Lincoln and Temple University took a 19% cut in their state appropriation.  (Independent colleges also lost 19% of funding for the Institutional Assistance Grants.) Senator Corman noted that funding for higher education is at a “crossroads” and that there is talk of a “voucher” program for higher education in Harrisburg.  Spanier indicated that PSU gets about 14% of its general education budget from the state with the rest coming from tuition and fees.  When Senator Fontana (D-Allegheny) specifically asked Spanier about the voucher plan, the president responded that it was a “little scary and that the devil was in the details.”  He said it might not be completely unworkable but in no scenario could he see PSU coming out ahead.  Spanier noted that the state appropriation is crucial to the university and that it moderates in-state student costs.  In similar questioning, Nordenberg said a voucher system would be an end to a system that enables lower in-state tuition.  Pitt gives in-state students about a $10,000 price break with the state only supporting about one half of that.   Pitt took an overall cut of 22% in state funds and the Chancellor said they should not accept this cut as the “new normal.”  Carnegie University President Jared Cohon testified about the value of the University of Pittsburgh as an “international asset.”  Hearings by the Committee are scheduled at Temple and Lincoln in early October.

 

Did you know:  A bill (SB 922) is pending before the Senate Professional Licensure Committee. This bill would limit licenses to graduates with degrees in social work.  Other human/behavioral health graduates would not be eligible for licensure under this bill.