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's Board of Trustees approved a composite tuition increase of 3.8 percent for undergraduate students for the 2011-12 academic year at their meeting today (July 15) at Penn State Lehigh Valley. "Two-thirds of our undergraduate students will see increases of between 2.9 percent and 3.5 percent," said Penn State President Graham B. Spanier. "As we said from the beginning, we are determined that our students and their families will not bear the full burden of the appropriation cuts." (more)
Penn State's Board of Trustees today (July 15) approved a $4.1 billion University operating budget for 2011-12. The budget is supported in part by a $279 million in appropriations from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a decrease of $68 million, or 19.6 percent, from last year. "To say that it has been a tumultuous and unsettled few months leading up to this point would be an incredible understatement," said Penn State President Graham Spanier, who thanked state legislators for moderating the cut in the University's appropriation from initial proposed cuts of 52 percent. "Through the hard work of those involved in assembling this plan and the contributions and support of everyone in the Penn State community I'm able to present a balanced budget, despite the largest decreases to our state appropriation in our history. This budget assumes a tuition increase that would generally be reflective of a normal year." (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)
Legislation providing about $279 million in appropriation funds to Penn State for the 2011-12 budget year today (June 30) made its way through the Legislature and now awaits the signature of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett. The funding represents a reduction of $68 million compared to the previous year. (more)
Penn State officials hope to keep tuition increases for 2011-12 very moderate, despite a potentially significant cut to the University's appropriation from the Commonwealth, President Graham Spanier said Thursday (April 28) speaking to the University Faculty Senate. "We are determined that this tuition increase will not be unusual, despite the unusual challenge with which we are faced," Spanier said. "If we can, we want to make it the typical increase students expect in a normal year." (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)
On Tuesday, April 5, Penn State York students and alumni will join other Penn Staters from across the Commonwealth for Penn State Capital Day in Harrisburg. The Penn State Grassroots Network has joined forces this year with three student government groups to organize Penn State Capital Day in Harrisburg -- the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG), the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), and the Graduate Student Association (GSA). (more)
University Park, Pa. -- Following yesterday's (March 8) budget announcement by Gov. Tom Corbett, which proposed the most severe funding cut in Penn State's 157-year history -- a devastating reduction of $182 million -- Penn State President Graham Spanier will hold a press briefing at 10:30 a.m. today (March 9), to address the issue. Anyone interested in listening to President Spanier's response to the proposed cuts can view a live video stream of the event online at http://www.wpsu.org/live beginning at 10:30 a.m. (more)
Penn State's Board of Trustees Friday (July 9) approved the University's operating budget for 2010-11. Penn State's $4 billion budget is based on appropriations and federal stimulus money totaling $333.9 million from the Pennsylvania budget. "Given the state's financial challenges and the many competing priorities for funding, we are appreciative of the efforts to support higher education and Penn State," said President Graham Spanier in presenting the budget proposal to the board. (more)
Penn State's Board of Trustees on July 9 approved tuition and fees for the 2010-11 academic year. Tuition for Commonwealth Campus students will increase 3.9 percent. Tuition for lower division non-resident students at University Park will increase by 4.5 percent, and resident students at University Park will see an increase of 5.9 percent. (more)
