YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO KEEP PENN STATE A "PUBLIC UNIVERSITY" AND MAKE IT ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE FUNDS.

PLEASE READ THE MESSAGE BELOW AND CONTACT YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS. ASK THEM TO OPPOSE GOVERNOR RENDELL'S CALL TO STRIP PENN STATE OF ITS PUBLIC UNIVERSITY STATUS. http://capwiz.com/psu/issues/alert/?alertid=13650146&type=TA

On Friday, June 26, Penn State received some extremely distressing news from Harrisburg about a proposal from Gov. Rendell that could have devastating effects on Penn State and its students.
The immediate impact of the governor’s proposal would be a cut in the state’s 2009-10 budget appropriation for Penn State from $338 million to $278 million. That’s about what Penn State received from the state in 1996. The consequences of this cut of more than $60 million would either be huge changes in the character of Penn State and the way it operates or a massive tuition increase for its students.
Penn State is concerned about how this would impact its relationship with state government and the benefits the University brings to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Gov. Rendell proposes cutting $60 million from Penn State’s appropriation by (1) withdrawing an application for $20 million of federal stimulus package funds specifically intended to help stabilize public higher education and (2) cutting an additional $40 million on top of that.
In his earlier proposals to the federal government for these “stabilization funds,” Gov. Rendell had asked for $20 million for Penn State. But now he seems to be changing directions.
The law providing the stimulus funds, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, notes clearly that the intent of the stabilization funds is to shield students at colleges and universities supported by state tax dollars from unreasonable tuition hikes due to fiscal pressures the economy is placing on state budgets.
There is no question that the state is in difficult budget circumstances. But Gov. Rendell proposes withdrawing an application for federal stimulus funds for Penn State by saying that Penn State is not a public university. Gov. Rendell cannot withdraw the stabilization funds from Penn State without the support of the state legislature. But his claim that Penn State is not a public institution flies in the face of more than 150 years of history, legislative action, and court cases.
Penn State was founded in 1855 as a publicly supported agricultural college. It broadened its mission a few years later, after Congress passed the Morrill Land-Grant Act (1862), which encouraged colleges and universities across the country to add engineering, mining, agriculture, and other applied sciences to existing courses of studies. A year later, the Pennsylvania legislature designated Penn State the Commonwealth’s sole land-grant institution -- a distinction it still holds. In effect, this law defined Penn State’s three-part mission of teaching, research, and public service, and pledged the state’s support for carrying out the provisions of the Morrill act.
Because the proposal cannot take effect without the support of the state legislature, we are asking you to help Penn State now, when it really needs your help. Please contact your state legislators and urge them to oppose Gov. Rendell’s call to strip Penn State of its “public university” classification and its access to federal stimulus package funds.
We’ve prepared a sample letter http://capwiz.com/psu/issues/alert/?alertid=13650146&type=TA you can use to get in touch with your state legislators. It’s fine to send the letter just as it is, but it would be even better if you could personalize it by adding some information about yourself and your own stories about how Penn State has helped you, your family, or your friends.
Thanks very much.
For the future,
Alan Janesch
Director, Penn State Grassroots Network