February 23, 2017
Chancellor Brogan, other System leaders seek increased investment in state universities
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg 鈥� Pennsylvania鈥檚 State System of Higher Education Chancellor Frank T. Brogan and
other System leaders today urged members of both the House and Senate appropriations
committees to support increased investment in the state-owned universities as they
consider the proposed 2017-18 Commonwealth budget.
The State System鈥檚 Board of Governors has requested a 2017-18 state appropriation of $505.2 million to help support the operations of the 14 universities. That total would represent an increase of $61 million from the amount the System is receiving this year, and would partially offset nearly $80 million in increased costs projected for next year.
鈥淎ll of our universities continue to face enormous cost pressures,鈥� Mr. Brogan told members of both committees. 鈥淭hey continue to be innovative and are much more efficient with the resources they have available. But increased investment by the Commonwealth is essential as they strive to provide the high-quality, high-value educational opportunities our students, their families鈥攁nd you鈥攈ave come to expect.
The State System鈥檚 Board of Governors has requested a 2017-18 state appropriation of $505.2 million to help support the operations of the 14 universities. That total would represent an increase of $61 million from the amount the System is receiving this year, and would partially offset nearly $80 million in increased costs projected for next year.
鈥淎ll of our universities continue to face enormous cost pressures,鈥� Mr. Brogan told members of both committees. 鈥淭hey continue to be innovative and are much more efficient with the resources they have available. But increased investment by the Commonwealth is essential as they strive to provide the high-quality, high-value educational opportunities our students, their families鈥攁nd you鈥攈ave come to expect.
鈥淭hose opportunities not only are essential to the students who attend the universities,
but also to every one of us living here in Pennsylvania. We鈥檙e really talking about
an investment if the Commonwealth鈥檚 future.鈥�
The State System has received increased support from the state in each of the last
two years, but the funding total remains about $60 million less than the amount the
universities received a decade ago, just prior to the beginning of the recession.
Since then, the universities have eliminated an estimated $325 million from their
base budgets and have trimmed their workforce significantly. There are about 1,000
fewer full-time employees on the campuses today than there were just seven years ago.
The impact of those reductions has been felt across all of the universities, affecting
virtually every area of campus operations.
The chancellor appeared today before both of the appropriations committees along with Dr. David L. Soltz, president of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania; Logan L. Steigerwalt, president of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania鈥檚 Student Government Association; and Lois Johnson, State System associate vice chancellor for administration and finance.
The chancellor appeared today before both of the appropriations committees along with Dr. David L. Soltz, president of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania; Logan L. Steigerwalt, president of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania鈥檚 Student Government Association; and Lois Johnson, State System associate vice chancellor for administration and finance.
Board of Governors Chairwoman Cynthia D. Shapira also attended the budget hearings
to express the Board鈥檚 appreciation for the past support the State System has received
from both the General Assembly and the governor, and to encourage even greater investment
in the System and its students.
鈥淥ur students obviously are our top priority, but everyone truly does benefit from
the state鈥檚 investment in its public universities,鈥� Ms. Shapira said.
The State System will continue to seek support for its appropriations request in the
coming weeks and months as the 2017-18 state budget discussions move forward.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 hearings were important, but are just part of the process,鈥� Mr. Brogan said.
鈥淲e will continue to advocate on behalf of our students and our outstanding faculty
and staff for the investment necessary to support our universities and the outstanding
educational opportunities they provide.鈥�
Pennsylvania鈥檚 State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher
education in the Commonwealth, enrolling more than 100,000 degree-seeking students
and thousands more in certificate and other career-development programs. Collectively,
the 14 universities that comprise the State System offer more than 2,300 degree and
certificate programs in more than 530 academic areas. Nearly 520,000 State System
university alumni live in Pennsylvania.
The State System 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 universities also operate
branch campuses in Oil City (Clarion), Freeport and Punxsutawney (IUP), and Clearfield
(Lock Haven), and offer classes and programs at several regional centers, including
the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and in Center City in Philadelphia.