Still Life
University Park Airport Emergency Response Exercise
Commencement across Penn State: Spring 2012
Spring commencement 2012 under way
Penn State, Moroccan students problem-solve together
Finals Week Spring Semester 2012
Painting the Lines at Beaver Stadium
Did They Get It Right? - RedTails
Iconic Penn State elm taken down over spring break 2012
We ... are Penn State (December 19, 2011)
Disease stricken matching elm tree slated for removal
Penn State's creamery, from the cow to the cone
Penn State World Campus, Continuing Education, Student Affairs and Undergraduate Admissions are hosting an employee information session on the employee tuition discount and other college-related subjects from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, in Rooms 129A, B and C in the HUB-Robeson Center on the University Park campus.
During this free session, University Park campus employees who are eligible for the University's tuition benefit, as well as their family members, are invited to stop by to talk with staff members from the sponsoring units about how they can use their education benefit. (more)
An annual career fair hosted by Penn State Career Services and Penn State Continuing Education connects employers with local candidates. (more)
Penn State World Campus, Continuing Education, Student Affairs and Undergraduate Admissions are hosting an employee enrollment information session from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, in Room 129 of the HUB-Robeson Center on the University Park campus. During this free event, Penn State employees who are eligible for University educational privileges are invited to stop by any time to talk with staff members from these offices about how to use their education benefit. (more)
June 30, 2011
Dear Colleagues:
I am writing to thank all of you for your support and patience these past few months as we have waited for a decision about our appropriation for the fiscal year that begins on Friday. Everything considered, I hope most of you will feel some degree of relief about where we ended up, though we still have challenges ahead.
Even in the midst of a cut in state support of this magnitude there must be some thanks offered. First, we are very pleased to have a state budget and Penn State appropriation completed on time. It has been almost a decade since that last occurred in Pennsylvania. I want to thank the many legislators who supported moderating the size of the cut originally proposed for Penn State. The original $182 million proposed cut would have had more serious impacts on our students and employees.
Most importantly, I want to thank the faculty, staff and all members of our Penn State community for supporting efforts to keep Penn State strong and moving forward. I have seen phenomenal cooperation from everyone at the University across the Commonwealth. Together we have worked through across-the-board and targeted cuts, and have worked jointly to implement the initiatives to emerge from the Core Council process this past year.
Let me summarize where we stand. The House and Senate have enacted a new budget for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Gov. Corbett is expected to approve it.
In this new budget is a reduction of $68 million for Penn State, an overall decrease of 19.6 percent. This cut is based on a 19 percent reduction in our instructional, agricultural research and Cooperative Extension appropriations; a 5 percent reduction for Penn College; and a 50 percent reduction in support provided to the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. This is the largest cut in state support for the University in our history and takes us back to what our appropriation was in 1995, when our enrollment numbered 19,000 fewer students than it does today. Adjusted for inflation, of course, the purchasing power of our appropriation is only about half of what it was 16 years ago.
One of the promises we made immediately after the governor's original 52.4 percent appropriation cut was proposed was that Penn State would not put the loss of state support principally on the backs of our students and their families. We intend to keep that promise. The Board of Trustees will meet on July 15, and we will ask for their approval of a balanced budget for the new fiscal year that includes modest tuition increases.
Over the past three months we have identified internal savings of nearly $30 million across the University. Other savings are being generated by the implementation of our new health care benefits program. We have implemented significant energy cost savings, cut funding for our capital improvement program, identified savings for our property and liability insurance, and cut back on funds for new programs. The elimination of our normal salary increase this summer also generates significant savings.
I intend to look for ways to recognize employees during the year ahead for your hard work and for your sacrifices. Additionally, our financial and human resources staffs are working to re-structure employee contributions to health care benefits so that many employees might see no increase or even a decrease in their monthly premium contributions.
Despite our sacrifices and the environment of financial uncertainty, it continues to be a very good time to be part of the Penn State family. Applications to Penn State are higher than for any school in the nation. We will have more than 120,000 applications this year. With almost $800 million in research funding Penn State remains one of the nation's key centers for innovation. The rapid expansion in cutting edge health care and research taking place at our Hershey Medical Center is saving lives. We educate more returning adult students than any other institution in the state, many of whom have jobs, spouses and families.
Our story of achievement is profound, and our stewardship of taxpayer and tuition resources is commendable.
Penn State will continue to have a positive impact on the state and nation. Thousands of employees like you are making life better for everyone. I feel honored to work with so many talented, dedicated people. Please accept my thanks for all that you do on behalf of this great University.
(more)
In a March 31 note to employees, Penn State President Graham Spanier responded to some of the most frequently asked questions related to state funding for the University and addressed some common misconceptions about spending. (more)
Penn State College of Medicine employees can attend the flu vaccine clinic from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 5 and 6, rooms 302A and B, at the University Conference Center on the campus of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The following guidelines apply: (more)
Through a letter to all employees, Penn State President Graham Spanier updates the University community on Penn State's financial outlook and how the institution is facing these challenging economic times. He also touches on steps that have been taken to keep Penn State fiscally sound, including the sacrifices being made by employees. (more)
Penn State Continuing and Distance Education, Student Affairs, and Undergraduate Admissions are hosting an information session for Penn State employees at the University Park campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, in the HUB-Robeson Center Auditorium to provide information about using their Employee Tuition Reduction benefit to take Penn State courses. This benefit provides eligible faculty, staff and retirees with opportunities to take courses at reduced fees. Employees may bring their lunches to the event. (more)
This fall Penn State Beaver welcomed two new faculty members and a new staff member. Clare Conry-Murray is assistant professor of psychology, Abhijit Dutt is instructor in information sciences and technology and Mona DeLisio is staff assistant in the Office of Student Affairs. (more)
