Pa. House allocates $35.5 million in state funding to University

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives allocated $35.5 million in state funding to the University Tuesday night when it passed the proposed budget for the 1995-1996 fiscal year. But unless the Senate approves the budget, the University might not see the money until the fall. After speaking with several senators on Wednesday morning,Vice President for Government, Community and Pubic Affairs Carol Scheman said she is confident that the Senate will pass the budget by the July 1 deadline. She said the lack of senate action has nothing to do with the University. Instead, she attributes it to a battle between democratic leadership and Pennsylvania Republican Governor Tom Ridge. The $35.5 million appropriation is the same amount that was allocated last year, but is a substantially lower amount than President Judith Rodin's request for $49.8 million. But Scheman said she was not surprised with the decision, explaining that the $49.8 million figure was what the University "could use," but that she did not really think the state would allocate that much money. "It's what we expected," she said. Scheman added that the University's highest priorities in the budget were increasing the money for the Veterinary School and lowering in-state tuition. She stressed the importance of the Vet School as being the only one of its kind in the state and the cutting-edge bio-medical research that is taking place at the school. The Vet School was allocated $20.7 million, which was only slightly lower than the $23 million that Scheman had hoped for. And $9.5 million was appropriated for General Instruction, while $4.28 million was given to the Medical School. The Dental clinic received just under $1 million. The major change between this year's allocations and last year's funding is that $6 million was taken from General Instructions and put towards the Vet School. Money appropriated by the state is earmarked for the University's health profession programs, specifically the Vet School and for maintenance of a need blind admissions policy. One of the amendments that was passed along with the budget includes the creation of a special committee to investigate spending practices by universities receiving direct state assistance. Representative John Lawless, the main sponsor of the resolution, grilled Rodin and other University officials at a budget hearing in the spring about the number of hours professors spend teaching and the money spent on travel and sabbaticals. But Scheman said she did not think that Lawless' attack had no effect on the amount of money allocated for the University.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.