UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Lion Caucus and Advocate Penn State will host Capital Day On Campus at University Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 25, at the HUB-Robeson Center Aquarium and Monumental Staircase to encourage students and the campus community to share their stories of the many ways Penn State impacts them and the commonwealth.
All Penn Staters are encouraged to go to advocate.psu.edu to participate in the University’s annual advocacy campaign by sending emails to their legislators in support of fair funding for Penn State.
“Student voices are one of the most powerful tools we have,” said Mike Stefan, vice president for government and community relations. “When students take the lead in advocating for Penn State, they help lawmakers understand the real-world impact of their decisions. It’s not just about numbers on a page; it’s about the future of higher education and the opportunities it creates.”
Capital Day On Campus celebrates the day of advocacy with various giveaways throughout the event, including cookies, pizza, Berkery Creamery ice cream, Advocate Penn State swag, and additional items.
The event also includes a program at 3 p.m. with speakers from the Penn State community, including Lion Caucus Vice President Andrew Jackson, incoming UPUA President Rasha Elwakil, Penn State Alumni Association President Anand Ganjam, and Penn State Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Tracy Langkilde.
Capital Day in Harrisburg took place earlier this month with more than 200 students meeting with a record number of legislators and staff in the state Capitol to tell their Penn State stories and urge them to support critical funding for Penn State.
Advocates both in-person and virtually can demonstrate support by filling out a brief form that will automatically connect them with their legislators to send a pre-written email asking them to level up Penn State’s funding.
Currently, Penn State receives between $3,700 and $4,700 less per in-state student compared to Pennsylvania's other public universities. Public investment is the foundation for Penn State's in-state tuition rate, which benefits more than 40,000 Pennsylvania students and families annually. Additionally, it allows for the continued investment in the high-quality academic programs that recruit and retain the best talent from Pennsylvania and beyond.
Advocate Penn State’s advocacy campaign urges members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Gov. Josh Shapiro to support fair funding for Penn State. State funding matters to all Penn Staters, whether you’re a current student, faculty or staff member, alumni, family member, or a Penn State fan.
Learn more about Capital Day On Campus and advocating for Penn State by following Advocate Penn State on Instagram, LinkedIn, X and Facebook.