HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate unanimously passed resolutions yesterday reaffirming Penn State's designation as the only land-grant university in the commonwealth.

The resolutions were passed in recognition of Penn State's ongoing contributions throughout the state in combination with the celebration of the university's upcoming sesquicentennial (150th) celebration, which will be officially kicked off July 1.

"This was a good opportunity to showcase the university and remind state leaders and their constituents about the centrality of Penn State in the commonwealth," Penn State President Graham Spanier said.

Spanier was at the Capitol Building for a press conference with members of the Legislature, including Rep. Lynn Herman, R-Centre, and Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre, who proposed the resolutions earlier this month.

The resolutions state, "The missions of instruction, research, outreach and extension continue to be the focus of the university and have grown to where the commonwealth's land-grant university is now one of the most highly regarded research universities in the nation."

Corman said Penn State is responsible for 14,000 jobs and $1.2 billion in wages and benefits for employees every year throughout the commonwealth.

In addition, he said one in eight college graduates in Pennsylvania are from Penn State.

"The message is clear," he said. "If you are from a rural or urban area, a part of agriculture or industry, Penn State University has a profound positive effect."

Sen. Michael O'Pake, D-Berks, said the resolutions are a celebration of the 150 years of success the university has had.

"As Penn State has come a long way from Farmer's High School, it has never lost sight of the mission of promoting education of agricultural research and science," he said.

The Morrill Act of 1862, which was signed by Abraham Lincoln, gave each state that had remained in the union a grant of 30,000 acres of public land for every congressional delegate the state had. The states sold the land and used the proceeds to establish colleges. As a result of this act, Penn State was established as the Farmer's High School in 1855.

Spanier said the "land grant" term may have been used over a century ago, but the founding principles of the university are still relevant today.

"The fundamental concept is to provide a diverse program of studies that is financially accessible to a broad segment of the population and to make new knowledge available for the public good," he said.

He said Penn State conducts more than $545 million in scientific research and uses outreach and extension programs to reach almost five million Pennsylvanian's every year.

Spanier said he had a positive visit to the state capital.

"We had a fantastic reception," he said. "Every senator and representative who was available has come out to greet us."

Spanier said he does not know how this celebration will affect appropriations for the upcoming year.