The Penn State Board of Trustees will discuss this year's state appropriation requests today at its first meeting of the 2004-05 academic year.

Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon said the meeting would mirror the traditional September meeting, where state and university appropriations and capital budgets are discussed.

Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said the board would deliberate the university's 2005-06 appropriation request to the state, but added he could not comment on the specific nature of the meeting or the request.

Kendig said Penn State requested $344.8 million from the state last year. The university received about $317 million.

Kendig said state appropriations -- the amount of money the university receives from the state -- helps determine tuition rates for the upcoming academic year.

Last summer, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to increase in-state student tuition by 6.6 percent for the 2004-05 academic year.

The board will also hear the 2004-05 capitol budget proposal, which outlines all future construction and renovations on campus during the upcoming year, Kendig said.

"The day is going to run on a very compact schedule," he said. "We have many important events going on."

These events include Penn State President Graham Spanier's State of the University address as well as the dedication of the new Shortlidge Mall, Chemistry Building and Life Sciences Building.

Kendig said the Board of Trustees would likely also have a discussion about the expansion of Innovation Park and the Dickinson School of Law.