| September 12, 1996 | . | Vol. 26 No. 4 |
President Graham B. Spanier answers questions from local and
state media after delivering the State of the University
address at Eisenhower Auditorium on the University Park
Campus. The address was also broadcast live via satellite
to all Penn State locations.
Photo: Greg Grieco
 Highlights of the past year
|
| Budget priorities
|
| Initiatives |
Research expenditures totaled a record $344 million, up from $317 million in 1994.
University Scholars program: Incoming class is the strongest ever, with average SAT scores of 1430.
Increased state funding for agricultural research and cooperative extension.
Dedicated Penn State's Philadelphia Center.
More high school students, 53,238, sent their SAT scores to Penn State than any other university.
Minority baccalaureate applications for summer/fall 1996 were up 10.3 percent.
Received an all-time record $83.2 million from 158,000 gifts involving 107,000 donors.
Endowment, a key indicator of the University's economic health, has increased three-fold this past decade.
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Will continue to make the strongest case possible for increased state support and will ask the state for additional ongoing funding for 50 new faculty positions; launched a multi-year program of internal reallocation of institutional funds to support new faculty positions.
Will ask for a special allocation for the Libraries and for information technology initiatives.
Will seek a special allocation to cover deferred maintenance at all campuses.
Will request an increase in agricultural research and Cooperative Extension budgets.
Will make a special appeal for support for programs at The Hershey Medical Center.
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Will study tuition structure to assess whether a different approach can be instituted.
Recommend changes in admissions criteria: students should have modest level of proficiency in foreign language (three years recommended) and four years of high school math.
Will embark on new statewide tour with administrators in tow.
Revise the current system of handling the distribution of research funding returned to the University for indirect costs and institute a new incentive-based system. The new system will provide enhanced rewards to colleges that are successful in their funded research programs.
Will explore the possibilities of using technology to reach more students across Pennsylvania and the globe
Review Penn State's commitment to Intercollege Research Programs and invest more heavily where appropriate.
Break ground for the first of two new day care centers at University Park.
Look at a broad range of steps to curb excessive consumption of alcohol by students.
Will give continued attention to issues of employee morale.
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