UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Advocate Penn State, Penn State’s Lion Caucus and students from across the commonwealth are putting their passion into action during Capital Day events over the next week.
Capital Day is the University’s single-largest advocacy campaign throughout the year, encouraging all Penn Staters to speak up and show their support for Penn State by contacting their elected officials.
The request for this year’s Capital Day campaign calls for the General Assembly to approve Penn State’s usual general support funding and $30 million in additional performance-based funding to be allocated between Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University.
An excerpt from the the email to legislators reads:
“Last year, Penn State was pleased that the General Assembly passed performance-based funding into law. Now it is time to fund this model that ties future funding increases to outcomes we have long prioritized and delivered on — strong student outcomes, expanded access, workforce preparation, and meaningful community impact.”
All Penn Staters are encouraged to advocate with our students by visiting advocate.psu.edu starting the morning of April 10 to speak up for crucial state funding.
Student and community engagements
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 10, Penn State’s Lion Caucus will host Capital Day on Campus at University Park in the HUB-Roberson Center to encourage students and the campus community to share the many ways Penn State impacts them and the commonwealth.
The event will celebrate the day of advocacy with various giveaways, including cookies, pizza, Advocate Penn State swag and more items. The event will culminate in a Berkey Creamery Ice Cream Social and Pep Rally at 3 p.m. featuring speeches from Katarina Hogan, incoming UPUA president; Eva Ingram, Lion Caucus secretary; Susan Robinson, Penn State Alumni Association president; and Fotis Sotiropoulos, Penn State executive vice president and provost.
Capital Day in Harrisburg will take place on April 14 with students from University Park, the Commonwealth Campuses and Penn State World Campus meeting with lawmakers to talk about their Penn State experience and advocate for increased University funding.
Each year, hundreds of students engage with legislators and thousands more throughout the Penn State community to make their voices heard in support of increased state funding.
More than 41,000 students receive an average tuition discount of $16,000 annually thanks to general support funding from the state. Penn State has not received an increase in its general support funding since 2019-20 and receives less in real dollars today than it did in the year 2000.
Supporters who wish to join the campaign can click here for easy-to-follow instructions on how to take action to support the University and its students. Follow the Capital Day action and updates from Advocate Penn State on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.