Seven months into the fiscal year, the State System of Higher Education finally approved a budget for 2015-16 for its 14 member universities that contains no dollar increase in state support, based on a still incomplete Commonwealth spending plan.
"We remain unsure as to what our final appropration will be," State System board chair Guido Pichini said as the panel met this morning in Harrisburg, his comment reflecting the extraordinary predicament it faces.
Officials said spending at the 14 state-owned schools will reflect the flat funding, even as officials hold out hope that a 5 percent increase earlier proposed can be restored in future negiations between Gov. Wolf and state legislators.
In another action, the board approved the latest proposal by a member school, this time Lock Haven, to buy back a privately constructed and financed residence hall.
Officials including State System Chancellor Frank Brogan and Kenneth Mash, head of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, said the state urgently needs to find a way to better funded its campuses and their 107,000 students. State funding of the schools is at mid 1990s levels.
"It's gotten to the point where it's almost laughable," Mr. Mash said.
The system "deserves a long-term solution that assures we not only survive, but flourish," Mr. Brogan said.
Bill Schackner: bschackner@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1977 and on Twitter: @BschacknerPG.
First Published: January 21, 2016, 5:35 p.m.
