The State System of Higher Education had their budget hearing in front of the Senate Budget Committee.
PASSHE is seeking much more than what Governor Tom Wolf proposed for the 2018-19 budget. The governor is proposing a $15 million increase in spending for the agency that oversees IUP and the 13 other state-owned universities. Acting Chancellor Dr. Karen Whitney is calling for an additional $73 million. Whitney said the increase is being sought mostly for personnel costs at the schools, which would make up about $50 million of the $73 million requested.
Also speaking at the hearing was IUP Student Government President Brian Swatt. He said that while students are not normally concerned with the board of governors, he thinks that students are seeing the shift in culture from competition to collaboration, and students are starting to pay attention with the State System issues, especially when it comes to the culture shift and tuition costs.
The State System has been struggling with declining enrollment numbers and increasing operating and personnel costs.
