Centre Co., PA (WJAC) — As the stalemate over the state budget continues, also still to be decided is the state funding for the upcoming school year for Penn State, Pitt, and two other universities.
Last week, Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Austin Davis, a Pitt graduate, spoke at Penn State.
Those two colleges, along with Temple and Lincoln, are known as state-related or non-preferred universities.
Their state allocation annually comes through separate legislation that requires two-thirds approval in both the House and Senate, but this year, a group of House Republicans have blocked the non-preferred spending bill.
Lawmakers say they want the four colleges to be subject to the state's open records laws and hold the line on tuition increases.
“Our non-preferred universities, three of them are ranked in the top ten most expensive in-state tuitions in the nation.”
Lt. Governor Davis says the stalemate is frustrating with implications for many.
“We need to be doing everything we can to make sure college is more affordable for young people here and right now, the House Republicans are doing the opposite. They are engaged in culture war tactics to stop funding. They need to move past that and fund the four state related schools.”
Later this week, Penn State's Board of Trustees will host their annual summer meeting to set the budget and tuition levels for the upcoming school year.
The state funding allocation directly impacts the tuition levels for in-state students.
“It’s not only the University Park campus, which is the largest in Penn State's system, but there's also 23 commonwealth campuses, as well as Pitt, Lincoln and Temple. There are tens of thousands of students right now who are deciding whether they can afford to start or continue their education.”
There's no word yet on when the House may schedule another vote on funding for the universities.
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