SPANIER TAKES PSU BUDGET REQUEST TO SENATE HEARING

In a presentation to the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing in Harrisburg this afternoon, Feb. 14, President Graham Spanier stressed Penn State's continued service to Pennsylvania and the important role the University plays in advancing statewide initiatives in information sciences and technology, workforce development, and agricultural research and cooperative extension. He also said that the 2.5 percent increase in Penn State’s appropriation for 2000-2001 recommended by Gov. Tom Ridge last week "must only be considered a starting point for discussing the needs of the University and the Commonwealth." Penn State is asking for a total appropriation from the state of $343.5 million, an increase of $24.9 over the year before. Dr. Spanier will take the University’s case to the House Appropriation Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 29. For more information on Penn State’s budget go to a Feb. 10 story by Intercom Editor Lisa Rosellini on line at http://www.psu.edu/ur/INTERCOM/budget.html and go to the University’s new Budget home page at http://www.budget.psu.edu/