Gov. Wolf to ‘soon’ disburse $30M to 4 universities — but no word yet on Penn State’s plan
Gov. Tom Wolf plans to “soon” pay out roughly $12 million to Penn State — and millions to the commonwealth’s three other state-related universities — as part of a one-time boost involving federal COVID-19 relief money, but Penn State has not yet announced specifics on how it intends to use the windfall.
Pitt announced Aug. 25 that it planned to distribute its allotted $7.5 million to more than 20,000 in-state students, amounting to individual grants of about $350 apiece. On Friday, a Penn State spokesperson declined to answer directly when asked whether the university had a timetable for publicly sharing its plan on the additional funds, which are fully under the control of Wolf.
It is unclear exactly when the federal stimulus funds, directed by the governor, will be disbursed. Wolf spokesperson Elizabeth Rementer told the CDT on Thursday she did not have a specific timeframe, adding only that she was told “soon.” She also confirmed the four universities would receive about $30 million in total.
Spotlight PA reported in late July that Wolf was quietly steering tens of millions toward Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln — a total that represented a 5% increase in the universities’ respective appropriations, which help off-set the cost of in-state tuition. After the state legislature declined to increase the state funding earlier in July, all four universities announced varying tuition hikes.
Shortly after the publication of Spotlight PA’s initial story in July, House Republicans called for the state-related universities to roll back their tuition increases by arguing Wolf’s one-time funds meant the hikes were no longer needed. All four universities declined.
Pennsylvania annually ranks among the worst states in the country for per-capita support of higher education.
“Once we understand when the funds will be received and any stipulations regarding how they must be used, we will absolutely put them toward supporting student success,” Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi wrote in response to the House Republican Leadership Team. “This infusion of one-time funds, though, will not eliminate the larger financial pressures the institution is facing.”
Penn State operated at nearly a $200 million deficit the last fiscal year and announced a “strategic hiring freeze” in early August.
It raised tuition on in-state undergraduates at University Park by 5% (to $19,286), though university officials said students whose families make less than $75,000 would not see the increase. Penn State was able to promise that by setting aside $14 million more in financial aid.
