State-related+universities+decry+proposed+state+subsidy+cuts

=By Laura Olson= =Published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette= =2/22/12=

=HARRISBURG -- Decrying the governor's proposed 30 percent cut to several of the state's largest universities as moving them toward becoming private colleges, administrators called on lawmakers this morning to again restore funding.= =Top officials from the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State, Temple and Lincoln universities appeared before the House Appropriations Committee to debate that reduction outlined by Republican Gov. Tom Corbett earlier this month.= =Most vocal was Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg in forecasting that a continued loss of state funding would dramatically reshape the appearance and offerings of those schools.= ="Basically we're being pushed in the direction of being private universities," Mr. Nordenberg said, adding that comparable private institutions cost two or three times as much to attend and offer fewer opportunities, like branch campuses, than their public counterparts.= =Mr. Nordenberg described this year's proposed cut of $144 million from those schools -- minus Lincoln, which would be flat-funded -- coming after last year's 19 percent reduction as tantamount to "dismantling of a long, long commitment of the commonwealth to public higher education."= =Some of the lawmakers lobbing questions at the university officials reiterated that background of the current budget, asking how a $230 million cut over the past two years has already changed those schools. "It was a significant cut to higher education, and it had consequences," said Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-Northampton County, noting the tuition increases that followed last summer's cuts.= =Mr. Corbett has been critical of those continuing tuition increases, calling in his budget address for a new panel to review how higher education is funded and the effectiveness of those institutions. He and others also have pointed to past increases as evidence that tuition hikes will continue with or without state funds.= =Mr. Nordenberg disagreed this morning, arguing that there has been "a very direct correlation" over the past 40 years between state support and smaller upticks in the tuition price tag.= ="You can't expect that there would be no increases as our cost base goes up," he said, pointing to tuition and the state subsidy as the two components that allow colleges to address larger expenses. "They're probably both going to go up some -- the question is how much. Increases in state support does have a moderating effect on tuition."= =The administrators also pushed back cautiously when questioned about recent proposals to require those schools to open more of their records to public inspection. Those calls have come after in light of the ties between Penn State University administrators and the charges against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky alleging that he sexually abused young boys.= =The schools emphasized that they do compile detailed reports relating to how they spend their state dollars, before arguing that opening more of their records would be expensive and would raise concerns about protecting certain sensitive fundraising and contract information.= = = =Read more: [|http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12053/1211857-100.stm#ixzz1nAOPRpVo] = = = = = = = = = = = = = =News= =home=