University Times

Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education and Pittsburgh's mayor are automatically ex-officio members of the Pitt Board of Trustees by virtue of their offices.

Last week's board meeting may have been the first ever attended by both officials, according to Pitt's Office of the Secretary of the Board of Trustees.

Mayor Tom Murphy opened the meeting with a half-hour presentation on city projects to make Oakland safer and more attractive. (See story on page 11) Education secretary Eugene W. Hickok Jr. steered clear of specifics in his remarks, but said that he and Gov. Tom Ridge share the Pitt administration's concerns about funding for higher education. Under Ridge's proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, Pitt would receive virtually no increase in its current state appropriation of $147,265,000.

Prior to introducing Hickok, Interim Chancellor Mark Nordenberg noted that state funding accounted for 18.2 percent of total Pitt revenues last year, compared with 34.1 percent in fiscal year 1974-75.

Nordenberg also cited statistics on total educational and general (E&G) spending (excluding funded research) at Pitt and other state-supported schools that are members of the elite American Association of Universities. Among those universities, the median breakdown of E&G funding sources was: tuition (22 percent), state appropriations (36 percent) and other sources (42 percent). At Pitt, tuition accounted for 29 percent of E&G budgets, the state provided 17 percent, and the remaining 54 percent came from other sources, Nordenberg reported.

During FY 1994-95, Pennsylvania ranked 45th among the states in per capita funding for higher education, the interim chancellor added.

Hickok said, "I think I can speak for the governor in saying that we share some of the frustrations that these [higher education] institutions have experienced over the years with regard to state support. But we also confront real constraints with regard to the budget this year." The state's budget squeeze may offer one advantage, Hickok said: It will force university leaders and state lawmakers to work together in finding new ways to accomplish higher education goals. "If for no other reason, that's why I am here, to learn more about Pitt, the goals it has, the promise it holds.

"After listening to the mayor, after spending some time looking at your reports, and getting to know many of the members of your board, frankly, I can't imagine any institution better prepared to meet those challenges," Hickok continued. "Certainly, the men and women in this room and in this city have the talent and the energy. What we would like to do in Harrisburg is find ways to help you accomplish the greatness that we think Pitt continues to offer." — Bruce Steele