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Temple University Public Policy Updates

As a public university, state-related institution and major employer, Temple University must monitor legislative activities in Harrisburg, Washington, DC and Philadelphia. This page is to let the Temple community know of public policy activities that have an impact on the university.

CONTACT: Office of Government, Community and Public Affairs 215-204-4455

Temple Funding Moves Forward in PA House

The bills passed by the House will now be sent to the State Senate. President Ann Weaver Hart earlier this month met with the Senate Appropriations Committee to discuss the importance of Temple’s funding, and the Office of Government, Community and Public Affairs will continue to work with legislative leaders to ensure the smooth passage of Temple’s appropriation in the Senate.

House Bill 2294, which if signed into law by Gov. Rendell would allocate more than $172 million to Temple, received near-unanimous support in the House and mirrors the governor’s funding plan outlined in February.

For up-to-the minute news regarding legislative matters impacting the Temple community follow us on Twitter at TUGovtAffairs.

Update on Temple’s 2010-2011 Funding from Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is currently in the process of setting Pennsylvania’s fiscal year 2010/2011 budget, which Temple relies on for more than 20% of our funding.  This process began when Governor Rendell called for Temple to receive $172.7 million in state funding in his recent budget address; of which $164.9 million will come from the Commonwealth’s Department of Education while the remaining $7.7 million would be provided through federal stimulus dollars. 

Governor Rendell’s proposed budget has been submitted to the General Assembly, which has already completed budget hearings, and is working to quickly pass a budget for 2010/2011.  The legislature is constitutionally required to have passed a budget by June 30th, but few have forgotten the months long delay in passing last year’s budget. 

In order to secure the support of the legislature, President Hart, as well as leaders from Penn State, Lincoln University, and the University of Pittsburgh, testified in front of both the State House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the committees which manage Pennsylvania’s spending.  During these hearings, the legislators were apologetic for the delay in last year’s funding, and recognized the important role the four state affiliated universities as economic drivers for the commonwealth.  

The State House Appropriations Committee has passed the budget, which will now be sent to the full House for consideration.  Temple’s funding received unanimous support in the House Appropriations vote.  House leaders plan to send the budget to the State Senate on March 22, 2010 for consideration.

Thursday December 17, 2009

Letter from Temple President Ann Weaver Hart regarding approval of Commonwealth Appropriation

Dear members of the Temple University community:

Thanks in large measure to grassroots advocacy efforts of students, parents, faculty, staff and alumni, the state House of Representatives Monday approved Temple’s $181.6 million Commonwealth appropriation for the current fiscal year. Governor Rendell signed the appropriations bill today. After an almost six-month delay, this is wonderful news. The funding represents more than 20 percent of Temple’s operating budget.

It is clear that those members of our community who took the time to become vocal supporters on Temple’s behalf over the last several months had a profound impact in bringing the appropriation to this decisive vote and to the Governor’s desk. Thousands called or wrote their legislators to let them know how important the state’s ongoing support is to Temple. More than 9,000 members of the extended Temple community also signed the online “Fight for the Cherry and White” petition. Taken together, these actions represent the greatest outpouring of public support that Temple has ever marshaled.

While the Commonwealth appropriation for the current fiscal year (ending on June 30, 2010) is now resolved, the process of working with the Governor and our elected officials on next year’s appropriation has already begun. We will continue to keep you informed and involved in the process through periodic reports. I hope you will also sign up to receive instant updates on the Commonwealth appropriation and other legislative issues affecting Temple University via the Office of Government, Community and Public Affairs’ Twitter account at TUGovtAffairs.

I want to thank you for your support, and I look forward to working with you in 2010 on behalf of Temple, one of this country’s great urban universities.

Sincerely,

Ann Weaver Hart

Monday, December 14, 2009

Late-breaking development: House approves funding for state-related universities

In a vote taken late Monday night, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved funding for the four state-related universities, including Temple University. Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

The following statement is in response to the action this week in the state General Assembly regarding the Commonwealth Appropriation for state-related schools:

"We are extremely concerned with the continued delay on a final vote for the appropriation for Temple University. The failure to act has continuing financial consequences for the University and creates an unacceptable level of uncertainty for our students, families and employees. We remain hopeful that the appropriation will pass next week but we are preparing to take action if it does not."

—Ray Betzner
Assistant Vice President for University Communications

Commonwealth appropriation for Temple still not approved

In an appeal to the governor and state elected leaders, the presidents of the four state-related institutions said approval of the appropriations is needed and soon.

The Oct. 21 letter is signed by Temple President Ann Weaver Hart, Lincoln University President Ivory Nelson, University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg and Penn State University Chancellor Graham Spanier.

“While the protracted budget delay has imposed difficulty and hardship on many throughout the state, extending that delay is perpetuating the financial consequences and uncertainty for the state-related universities, our students and their families,” wrote the four university leaders. “It is our understanding that there are sufficient funds in the enacted budget to pass the appropriation bills for the state-related universities.”

Noting that fall tuition rates were set with the good-faith belief that the Commonwealth appropriations would soon be sent to the state-related schools, the presidents wrote that the time was swiftly approaching when tuition rates for the spring semester would have to be set.

“In order to maintain the low tuition increases at our universities, there needs to be assurance that the funding levels in our pending appropriation bills will be enacted soon,” the presidents wrote.

Taken together, the four schools have more than 158,000 Pennsylvania students.

The letter comes as Temple is feeling the impact of the uncertainty that comes with inaction on the appropriation, said Senior Vice President Kenneth Lawrence Jr.

“The longer this process goes on, the greater the stress it places on Temple’s finances. It also creates uncertainty for our students and their families,” said Lawrence. “In a time of economic hardship, approving the appropriation means that tuition rates for the spring can be assured.”

That sentiment was echoed by the presidents in their letter: “We respectfully request that all reasonable and appropriate measures be taken to finalize the budget and the appropriations of Pennsylvania’s state-related universities in order to minimize the financial harm and uncertainty impacting our students and their families.”

The next opportunity for taking action would come when the state General Assembly meets Nov. 9. The Commonwealth appropriation could mean $180 million for Temple.

Last spring, Temple enacted a budget that kept tuition at 2.9 percent, the lowest increase in 13 years. The university’s trustee’s met again just before the beginning of the fall semester and said they would not raise tuition at the time, but might need to revisit the fall and spring tuition decision if the state appropriation was not approved. If the appropriation was not approved, there would need to be university-wide cuts, in addition to any tuition action.

Earlier this year, more than 9,000 students, employees, alumni and friends showed their support for Temple by signing the “Fight for the Cherry and White” petition. The petition remains a powerful means of letting elected leaders know that Temple needs its appropriation. To sign the petition, visit the link on this page.