In an attempt to lower the budget, President Graham Spanier has decided to cancel his annual State of the University address that usually takes place in September.

The address, which costs about $20,000, was scheduled for Sept. 19.

The speech was inaugurated by Spanier in 1995 during his first year in office, said Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon.

It usually takes place in Eisenhower Auditorium and is attended by the Faculty Senate, Board of Trustees and students. The address is also usually broadcast by satellite to all Commonwealth Campuses. With the change, Spanier will now speak directly to the Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Chair-elect Kim Steiner was unsure of the longevity of the decision.

"I don't know what is going to happen, I think we all need to see whether it works or not," she said.

Steiner added the faculty views the cancellation of the address as a positive change for the university.

"The faculty is grateful for the decision and I don't think it will have a huge impact on the university," Steiner added.

President Spanier anticipates some significant change in higher education nationally and within Pennsylvania, he said in an e-mail. With that in mind, he is looking at some new ways to communicate more regularly with faculty, staff and students about the trends and challenges. The cancellation of his annual address is part of his new communication strategy.

Spanier said his goal is to have a series of more frequent, focused and topical messages in appropriate forums rather than one major message each year. He wishes to use the venue of the Faculty Senate meetings for such messages to the faculty, since most of the issues he tackles are strictly faculty relevant. Spanier vowed to continue to meet regularly with student groups and the student government on issues of particular interest to them.

With the canceling coming at such short notice, many students are unaware of Spanier's decision.

"I hadn't heard about the change at all," Andy Bardi (senior-English and media studies) said. Bardi added the cancellation will change how students perceive Spanier and his interest in listening to them. "From the perspective of university policy and accountability, I feel that this creates a scenario. There is more sort of an agreement of university policies and less public discussion of them," Bardi said.

Jason Koch (senior-political science) feels the cancellation will not make a huge impact on the students and the university. "It is not as if President Spanier doesn't talk to students at other times," Koch said.

Kerry Saulino (senior-psychology) has a mixed reaction to Spanier's decision regarding informing and involving freshmen as well as de-personalizing the university.

"I think canceling the address is good in some ways, but new freshman really won't be able to hear him speak to the university right away," Saulino said. "I think doing this takes away from the personal aspect even more, since Penn State is already such a large school."

In Spanier's 2002 State of the University Address, he focused on the "need for a more student-centered university," which also meant the need for a more employee-centered university and alumni-centered university, a donor-centered university and a parent-centered university.

Spanier also noted in last year's address that while most of the university's national reputation comes from faculty stature and research, the development and education of students is to be at the heart of everything.