Pittsburgh business, community leaders publicly support Pitt funding
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Over 100 regional business and community leaders have thrown their weight behind the University of Pittsburgh as Republican support for the school’s state funding is in jeopardy.
Pitt shared 12 letters this week urging lawmakers to follow precedent and approve the university’s 2022-23 nonpreferred appropriation bill, which would give the school $159 million in general support funding. Pitt is one of four state-related universities that use this annual funding to provide tuition discounts for in-state students.
Some House Republicans have indicated they might not support Pitt’s funding because of the university’s fetal tissue research and what they call a lack of transparency in its use of state funding. Instead, these lawmakers aim to create a statewide college voucher program that would redirect over $580 million from Pitt, Penn State, Lincoln University and Temple University to in-state students at all universities, private colleges, community colleges and technical schools in Pennsylvania.
State Rep. Eric Nelson, R-Hempfield, who introduced the voucher program, believes he could have the votes to begin redirecting funds from Pitt to the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency as early as this year. He said PHEAA then would give the money to in-state Pitt students.
This week’s letters represent another pushback from Pitt as it attempts to keep its funding.
One letter from the Allegheny Conference on Community Development Board featured signatures from the leaders of regional organizations such as Giant Eagle, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Howard Hanna, Eat’n Park, Duolingo, PPG, UPMC and Highmark Health.
Leaders at Duquesne University, Carnegie Mellon University and the Community College of Allegheny County also signed the letter.
“We are writing now to urge you to support and approve Pitt’s annual appropriation bill,” the board’s letter reads. “Across our many organizations — and for many compelling reasons — we count the University of Pittsburgh as one of our region and commonwealth’s greatest assets and strongest economic engines.”
Another letter, from the Pittsburgh Regional Building & Construction Trades Council, says the university will create more than 4,500 building jobs in the next two years.
“Failing to pass Pitt’s appropriation would be a devastating blow to current and future students,” the council’s letter reads. “Equally important: Such a move would undermine Pitt’s vital role as an economic engine, job creator and key partner of the labor movement.”
Excela Health CEO John Sphon and dozens of Excela nurses signed another letter of support from the Westmoreland County medical organization.
The Pennsylvania Legislature must adopt a 2022-23 budget by June 30.
For nearly 60 years, state-related schools have received funding through Pennsylvania’s budget to offer savings to in-state students.
An in-state Pitt student saves $15,000 each year. Of that $15,000, state funding provides about $8,900, meaning Pitt gives an additional $6,100 per student.
Pitt has said if it loses its state funding, students will lose the entire $15,000 discount.
Under Nelson’s plans, the college voucher program would redirect money from Pitt, Penn State and Temple over several years and give it directly to all in-state students through PHEAA.
If the voucher program comes to fruition, students whose household income is under $100,000 would receive up to $8,000 each year, Nelson said. Students whose household income is between $100,000 and $250,000 would receive up to $4,000 every year.