Higher education proposal termed nation's most onerous
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Pennsylvania's public universities, hit by severe funding cuts this year, would collectively lose a quarter of their general appropriation next year under Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed 2012-13 state budget, which provides nearly flat funding for public school districts.
In what one national group called the most severe public university cuts proposed anywhere in the nation this year, the 14 state-owned universities belonging to the State System of Higher Education would see a 20 percent reduction, while three state-related schools -- the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State and Temple universities -- would absorb an even bigger cut of 30 percent.
Mr. Corbett told legislators Tuesday his proposed spending plan aims to give counties and school districts greater flexibility in deciding how to use limited resources. "We need to have a thorough, public and candid conversation about how best to deal with the spiraling costs" of college, he said, announcing a new panel to study ways to make college accessible and affordable.
But Daniel Hurley, an official with the Washington D.C.-based American Association of State Colleges and Universities, said the governor in fact will drive up those prices if his cuts are enacted. They come on top of last year's cuts of nearly 20 percent and are happening as other states work despite the bad economy to keep higher education funding flat or to low single-digit reductions, he said.
"It's astonishing to see the governor put forth a supposedly pro-economic development budget proposal which simultaneously seeks to suffocate the state's economic engines, which are the state's universities," said Mr. Hurley, director of state relations and policy analysis.
At Penn State, the $64 million loss would reduce general support from $227.5 million to $163.5 million. Last year, it lost $68 million.
"In the months ahead we'll have an opportunity to make the Legislature aware of the likely impacts of these cuts for Penn State programs and how they will affect students and their families," said Penn State President Rodney Erickson. "We fully appreciate the financial pressure on the Commonwealth in identifying resources, and trust the state understands the consequences of continuing cuts of this magnitude."
The 14 State System schools (including California, Clarion, Edinboro, Indiana and Slippery Rock universities in Western Pennsylvania) would see support drop to $330.2 million from $412.8 million, a nearly $83 million loss.
First Published February 8, 2012 12:00 am
