Pitt vital to region, steep cuts must end, panel told
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With his institution now absorbing a 19 percent cut in its general state appropriation, University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg urged reversal of that trend at a Senate hearing Monday, noting Pitt's importance to the region and state.
Mr. Nordenberg was among the speakers at the second of four public hearings the Senate Appropriations Committee is holding this month and next on the state-related campuses of Pitt, Penn State, Temple and Lincoln universities.
The sessions, called in light of sharp cuts to public higher education this year, are intended to allow schools to demonstrate the value they offer and to discuss what the state's level of support should be going forward, organizers said.
Speaker after speaker, including Mr. Nordenberg, cited Pitt's contribution to myriad aspects of the region's well-being, from community outreach and the education each year of more than 26,000 Pennsylvanians to the 29,000 jobs supported by more than $800 million in research attracted by Pitt faculty.
Mr. Nordenberg said the state budget cut, while less severe than Gov. Tom Corbett's original 50 percent proposed reduction, nevertheless has hurt in areas from higher tuitions and pay freezes to a slowing of capital projects and cuts to programs that benefit community health.
When a 50 percent cut in Pitt's medical-related appropriation is factored in, he said, the overall loss of support is 22 percent.
"I don't think we should accept this year as the new normal," Mr. Nordenberg said.
Pitt senior and student government leader Molly Stieber warned that if lost state aid makes it harder for Pitt to hold down in-state tuition, Pennsylvanians will leave for campuses in other states and probably won't come back.
First Published September 13, 2011 12:00 am
