PSU REQUESTS $361 MILLION IN STATE APPROPRIATIONS
Penn State is seeking a 4.25 percent base state appropriation increase for the 2001-2002 academic year. In addition, Penn State is asking for a $16 million increase for special appropriations to support the College of Medicine, the School of Information Sciences and Technology, and environmental compliance. The Board of Trustees today (Sept. 8) approved the request for the $29.34 million increase over the 2000-2001 state appropriation. The increase will be used primarily to support basic operating costs. Items of special emphases are improving faculty and staff salaries, meeting escalating health care costs, and providing support for facilities improvements and deferred maintenance.
"We know that all the changes I have described today cannot be supported entirely by an increase in the state appropriation," Spanier said. "This means that we will also be asking for increases in the rate of tuition to support these much-needed improvements." The basic tuition increase for 2001-2002 is proposed to be 4.75 percent, with an addition of 1.0 percent to support the capital improvement program and a 1.0 percent increase to support the faculty salary initiative. For the full story, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/8sept00botappro.html
BOARD APPROVES CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST FOR 2001-2002
University Park, Pa. — Penn State’s Board of Trustees today (Sept. 8) authorized the University to request $100.06 million for capital budget projects from the state legislature for the fiscal year 2001-2002. This includes a total of $89.1 million for construction projects and $10.96 million for original equipment. This year’s request consists of five projects, four of which are requests for reauthorization of previously authorized projects that were not funded within the time allowed under the state’s sunset clause. The new project is actually a series of environment compliance projects, which are projected to cost $20 million. The four reauthorization projects are:
For the full story, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/8sept00botbudget.html
INVESTMENT COUNCIL CREATED
In response to an increasing asset base and the complexity of modern investment strategies, the Board of Trustees today (Sept. 8) approved a resolution creating a Penn State Investment Council to provide direct oversight of the University’s growing endowment and long-term investment program. The Council replaces both the existing investment committee and external advisory council. Consisting primarily of investment professionals who manage or oversee investment programs, the Council is charged with regularly reviewing asset allocation, new asset classes, investment strategies, and manager performance. It will provide semi-annual updates and reports regarding investment performance to the Board of Trustees. Chaired by Gary C. Schultz, senior vice president for finance and business at the University, the Council is comprised of nine members appointed by the Board of Trustees. For more on this story, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/8sept00botinvest.html
PLANS FOR CHEMISTRY, LIFE SCIENCES BUILDINGS APPROVED
Sketch/preliminary plans for a new chemistry building and a proposed life sciences building, both off Shortlidge Road were approved today (Sept. 8) by Penn State’s Board of Trustees. The design includes a physical link between the two structures, at upper-floor levels, to facilitate collaborative research activities in the two buildings. The chemistry building, primarily a research facility, will house laboratories, offices, classrooms and support facilities. It will be built at the former site of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, west of Shortlidge. The life sciences building, oriented substantially to teaching, will house classrooms and research and offices. It will be located off Shortlidge, between the Joab Thomas Building and Eisenhower Auditorium. The architect for both buildings is BLT/Payette Joint Venture Architects. To see preliminary drawings of the buildings, and to get high resolution copies for printing, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/archives/intercom_2000/Sept14/botpics.html
For the full story, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/8sept00botopp.html
SPANIER OUTLINES PROGRESS, CHALLENGES COMMUNITY
In his sixth State of the University address, Penn State President Graham Spanier today (Sept. 8) characterized 2000 as a year of record achievement and challenged the University community to work together to build on Penn State's many positives. Spanier made three major announcements during his address (see accompanying stories for more details). First, he reported that Penn State's research expenditures last year were $440 million, "a record high level for the University, and a dramatic increase of about $47 million over last year." Second, he talked about Penn State's endowment growth. And third, Spanier announced expanded ties between Penn State's University Park campus and the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center through the University's Life Sciences Consortium, as well as an expanded affiliation between the Hershey Medical Center and Centre Community Hospital in State College. For a complete copy of this and other State of the University Addresses, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/GSpanier/sou.html. or to http://www.psu.edu. For more on this story, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/statetheme00.html
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE TO EXTEND TO CENTRE COUNTY
Penn State University will extend its College of Medicine to Centre County, with a strong satellite presence for education and research programs on the University Park campus, as well as an academic and clinical presence at Centre Community Hospital, according to President Graham Spanier. The University's College of Medicine, which first opened its doors in Hershey in 1967, has always had research ties with faculty and students at the University Park campus, but the new initiative will significantly boost those collaborative opportunities, including opportunities for undergraduate medical education and additional joint M.D./Ph.D. programs. Research ties will be expanded through the Life Sciences Consortium, facilitated by newly deployed telecommunications technology, and initiatives in materials science, environmental studies, and children, youth and families. Also patients in Centre County will be able to participate in clinical research studies of new drugs. For more on this story, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/8sept00col_of_med.html
SPONSORED RESEARCH EXPENDITURES TO REACH NEW HIGH
President Graham B. Spanier revealed preliminary figures during his State of The University Address Sept. 8, indicating a projected 12 percent increase in fiscal year 2000 expenditures for research and creative activity funded by federal and Commonwealth agencies, private industry, foundations and other external and internal support. "Research expenditures last year were approximately $440 million, a record high level for the University, and a dramatic increase of about $47 million over the previous year -- one of the highest single year increases in the history of American higher education." Dr. Eva J. Pell, vice president for research and dean of the graduate school, says that "The most recent report from the National Science Foundation shows that since 1986, only seven institutions have ever exceeded a $47 million increase in a single year. Penn State thus will join an elite group including Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Michigan, Illinois, UCLA, UC-Berkeley, and Florida." Research expenditures are an important indicator of the volume of research and creative activity undertaken by Penn State faculty, staff and students. For more on this story, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/8sept00expend.html