Yesterday, we commended the University for setting up an office - in Washington - to lobby the federal government for funds. However, we missed one additional part of the story:
Penn is also setting up an office in Harrisburg, the state capital, to lobby the commonwealth for funding and attention to higher-education issues.
It won't be a large office; according to Government Relations chief Vanda McMurtry, it will have a staff of one.
Yet, the move is still symbolic of an improved lobbying strategy. As McMurtry said, Penn is "trying to put [its] lobbying efforts in the trenches."
Like it or not, Penn depends on government money to flourish. These offices will help keep those dollars flowing.
