Penn State trustees approve three building projects

Three building projects in eastern Pennsylvania will move forward, but Penn State trustees voted against another motion that would have put the brakes on additional nonacademic projects for three years.

In a special teleconference meeting Tuesday, the trustees voted 22 to 13 in favor of a $31.5 million residence hall and a $19.6 million dining hall and student union, both for Penn State Brandywine, and a $50.6 million student apartment building at Penn State Abington.

The total cost tops $101 million, an amount that caused Pennsylvania Secretary of Planning and Policy John Hanger, a non-voting delegate to the trustees for Gov. Tom Wolf, to balk in November when the measure was first on the table for final approval. He asked for a delay as the Wolf administration continued to haggle with the legislature over the still-dragging budget impasse. He got a month.

University officials insist that the facilities are all in demand, and that the two commuter campuses could see increased use with residential options.

Still a contingent of the trustees sided with the governor’s representative. One of the Wolf-appointed trustees Elliot Weinstein put forth an amendment to the motion that would approve the current projects, but then put in place a moratorium on increases to room and board costs at all campuses and demand that President Eric Barron’s staff explore public-private partnerships for new nonacademic projects.

The idea of public-private partnerships was well-received by most, but the moratorium was a sticking point for many as the majority of trustees balked at the idea of setting that restriction in stone for three years.

Barron defended his staff, saying that access and affordability would continue to be at the forefront of the university’s goals, with or without a moratorium. He backed that up by pointing at his record. In July, Barron unexpectedly presented trustees with a tuition freeze for in-state students. In November, he said he wants to do the same next year.

“I was the only president in the commonwealth to propose a zero tuition increase,” he said. “We will have the same attitude toward housing and food service.”

The moratorium was defeated 14 to 21.

Trustees will meet publicly again in February.

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 8:13 PM with the headline "Penn State trustees approve three building projects."