e-Bulletin20120319
Fighting Back Against the De-Funding of
Four-Year Public Colleges & Universities In Pennsylvania
Art Hochner
Support for public higher education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ranks 44th in per capita aid among all states in the
nation. Though this is very low, such support relative to other states has even been lower; in the late 1990s, Pennsylvania
ranked 48th. Nonetheless, with the administration of our current governor, Republican Tom Corbett, the budget situation for
public higher education is deteriorating further. Funding cuts are squeezing us as we struggle to maintain affordability.
Meanwhile two other sectors of higher education may benefit from our troubles. These are the private non-profit colleges and
universities in PA, and, more insidiously, for-profit universities. Our public institutions provide high-quality, cost-effective
college educations for Pennsylvania residents. While opponents of the public sector and our competitors from the private
sector are challenging us, we need to defend vigorously the quality, efficiency and importance of public higher education. The
facts are with us.
Since Governor Tom Corbett came into office, the past two years have been dismal for public higher education. Last year, Gov.
Corbett proposed a 50% cut in basic funding for the 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
(PASSHE) and for the four state-related universities (Lincoln, Penn State, Pitt, and Temple). Eventually the General Assembly
mitigated the proposed cuts down to 18% for the PASSHE schools (Millersville, Cheney, West Chester, et al) and to 19% for the
state-related ones.
This year looks near as bad. First, in January, the Governor cut all the universities’ current year’s available funding by an
additional 5%, making the total cut for this year 24%. Then, in February, he proposed an additional cut of 20% for the 20122013 appropriations for PASSHE and 30% for Penn State, Pitt and Temple. Granted, almost all states have been cutting or
freezing appropriations to their public higher education institutions during the long recession the US has been suffering. But
an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called Gov. Corbett’s proposal “the nation’s most onerous.”
Slashing funding to our state’s public universities is an extreme move. It is part of a radical right-wing agenda –refusing to
increase taxes, especially on the wealthy and on the gas-extraction business; privatizing education through vouchers and
charter schools; privatizing state liquor stores, and throwing thousands of poor and needy families off public assistance and
Medicaid.
Resistance to this agenda has been growing across the state. A great deal of support for public higher education has come
forth. But the pushback against this scheme needs to be wider and more active.
How stingy has Pennsylvania been compared to other states? Very stingy. Here are the facts. [Read more]
-Art Hochner
[email protected]
-TAUP
Temple Association of University Professionals
1900 N 13th Street
Barton Hall Room A231
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6013
Phone: 215.763.2287 or 215.204.7641
Fax: 215.204.7645
email: [email protected]
web site: www.taup.org
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