Committee questions Spanier

HARRISBURG -- At University President Graham Spanier's house Saturday, the 1998 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon came up. One of the people working as a server mentioned that he had danced in the event in 1992.

Spanier asked the student when he had graduated. His reply was that he had not graduated yet because he had to work to afford his last 20 credits.

This story illustrates the financial problems University students face, Spanier said to the state Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday in Harrisburg.

"Affordability is a concern for us right now. . . . As an educator, I would like to keep the doors of opportunity open," he said. "I bump into these anecdotal cases all the time."

Tuition is one of the main funding sources for the University and accounts for about 60 percent of the University's general funds budget, according to the 1998-99 budget presentation. State appropriations makes up the next biggest piece of the pie with about 35 percent of the general funds budget, according to the presentation.

According to Gov. Tom Ridge's proposed budget, the University should receive a 3.25 percent increase in state funding this year.

An increase in state appropriations would allow the University to keep tuition increases modest, he said.

The committee questioned Spanier on all aspects of the University, including minority retention, enrollment numbers, agricultural programs, research progress, alcohol issues, building renovations and campus crime.

One topic addressed by several senators was the increasing realm of the University, especially concerning the recent affiliations with The Dickinson School of Law and the Geisinger Health System and the expansion of many other locations.

"Some of my constituents have raised the question of whether Penn State is getting too big at the expense of (other institutions)," said state Sen. Michael O'Pake, D-Berks.

However, Spanier repeatedly stressed the University was working with higher education institutions and health care organizations in the state to avoid taking over.

"We feel we're in a period of cooperation, not competition," he said.

Several senators complimented Spanier on his knowledge of different parts of the University and the detailed presentation.

"With what you have already done this year, it makes it very easy to fund your requests," said state Sen. Jim Gerlach, R-Chester. "You really are trying to stretch the dollars."