More than 200 students from across the commonwealth held meetings on April 12 with members of the General Assembly during Penn State’s annual Capital Day to advocate for the university’s annual state appropriation.
“Increased investment from the state is needed for the university to continue to attract the state’s top students, offer innovative academic programs, and prepare the state’s future workforce,” said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi during a press conference. “That’s why we’re here. That’s why you’re here. To share your stories and advocate for the support that Penn State needs and deserves.”
Each year on Capital Day, Penn State students from across the commonwealth gather to advocate for vital state funding that benefits all Penn State students.
This year, students met with a record number of elected leaders and staff at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg to demonstrate Penn State’s impact on the commonwealth.
Organized by Penn State’s Office of Government and Community Relations, Advocate Penn State Capital Day, the surrounding digital advocacy campaign aims to show members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Gov. Josh Shapiro the impact of state dollars in communities across the state.
All members of the Penn State community — alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, friends, and supporters — can still join the advocacy campaign at advocate.psu.edu to show their support for Penn State and increased state funding.
Student leaders from across the commonwealth spent the last few months preparing to speak with legislators through training sessions, structured educational outreach, and peer interactions.
Throughout their meetings, students urged elected officials to support increased state funding for Penn State, which helps to keep tuition affordable for all Pennsylvania resident undergraduate students and supports Penn State’s mission to provide world-class accessible education, groundbreaking research, and service to the commonwealth.
“Despite Penn State’s size, reach and impact, it receives the lowest per-student funding of any state-related university,” said student Mike Fowler, president of the Penn State Lion Caucus. “This disparity affects tuition, student support services, research opportunities, and even the commonwealth’s future workforce.
“As someone who works alongside both in-state and out-of-state students, I’ve seen how cost is often the greatest barrier to opportunity,” Fowler added.
State appropriations allow Penn State to offer a significant tuition discount to more than 40,000 Pennsylvania resident students and their families each year. Currently, Penn State receives between $3,700 and $4,700 less per in-state student compared to Pennsylvania’s other public universities.
“Capital Day reminds students of the power their voices hold. This day of advocacy acts as a wonderful opportunity for students to show how Penn State has changed not only their lives, but the lives of those in every corner of the commonwealth,” said Cristina Mac Cormac, Lion Caucus treasurer. “By advocating for equitable funding, we’re advocating for our own educations, our peers’ educations, and the educations of every Penn Stater to come.”
Capital Day concluded with a press conference where several students had the opportunity to share their Penn State story, including Tyler Hoppe, president of the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments, and Zion Sykes, completing his tenure as president of the University Park Undergraduate Association.
On April 25, the Lion Caucus and Advocate Penn State will hold the annual Capital Day On Campus advocacy event in the HUB-Robeson Center to encourage the University Park community to advocate for funding by sending pre-written emails to their elected officials.
The event will feature giveaways throughout the day, appearances by various Penn State organizations and clubs, and end with speeches from Penn State students and University leaders.