Grassroots Network activists are urging legislators and Governor Ed Rendell to support Penn State’s request for a 9.5 percent increase in appropriations from the Commonwealth, which will allow Penn State to freeze tuition for 38,000 students at 20 undergraduate campus locations.
According to a University news release, the 9.5 percent increase in the appropriation requested by Penn State would set Penn State’s 2006-07 appropriation at $354.4 million, nearly equaling the inflation-adjusted appropriation received by Penn State 11 years ago in 1995-96.
“Despite the University’s vast social and economic importance, state budget difficulties have led to a current-year appropriation that is less than what the University received in 2001,” said Penn State President Graham B. Spanier.
Since October, more than 880 Grassroots Network volunteers have sent more than 1,300 messages to support the University’s budget request and tuition freeze proposal.
House and Senate appropriations committees are expected to hold hearings on the budget in February with the Senate committee hearing testimony from Dr. Spanier during the last week of February. The hearings will be followed by extensive negotiations between the administration and the legislative leadership, ultimately resulting in a final budget by summer.
For more information on the Grassroots Network and its efforts or to become a member of the Grassroots Network, go to http://www.alumni.psu.edu/grassroots/. For more information on Penn State’s budget appropriation request and tuition freeze proposal, go to http://live.psu.edu/story/13392.
