Universities ask Pa. House to reject more state funding cuts

HARRISBURG, Pa. --

Representatives of Penn State, Pitt and Temple universities are asking the state House Appropriations Committee to reject Gov. Tom Corbett's proposal to cut state aid for the universities.

 
Corbett's hold-the-line budget plan of $27.1 billion would cut state funding by about 30 per cent, or almost $150 million, from the three schools. The proposal comes after the state cut about $140 million, or about 20 percent, from aid to the schools this year.


Throughout the morning, the universities' presidents pleaded their case.

In opening comments to the panel, Pitt's chancellor, Mark Nordenberg, called the funding cuts the dismantling of a long commitment by the state to public higher education.  


The universities' presidents told the committee that funding cuts would force tuition increases and about 75 percent of their students are from Pennsylvania, with many students who are low- or middle-class.


"Almost 40 percent are eligible for federal Pell grants.  62 percent of them work at least 22 hours a week. These are students we are going to lose as the costs increase as appropriations go down," Penn State President Rodney Erickson said.


Currently, in-state tuition at Penn State's main campus is just more than $15,000 per year.

6 News' Gary Sinderson is at the hearing in Harrisburg and will provide continuing coverage on WJACTV.com, 6 News and WJACTV.com Mobile.