UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The staff in Penn State’s Office of Government and Community Relations helps to shape policies at all levels of government. At this time of year, they turn their focus to the Pennsylvania General Assembly and to advocating for state appropriations for Penn State.
Erin Wachter, Penn State's director of state relations, has been with the University through three budget cycles. Below, Wachter talks about the work the office does in Harrisburg, how this year’s budget differs from previous years, and what Penn Staters can do to help make the case for increased funding for Penn State and the students and communities it serves.
Penn Staters can join Advocate Penn State to stay up to date on the University’s advocacy efforts.
Q: What does the state budget process actually look like, and where does Penn State fit into it?
Wachter: Every year, the governor introduces a budget proposal, and the General Assembly works through the process of negotiating and approving it before the June 30 constitutional deadline. For Penn State, that conversation includes priorities like our General Support appropriation, which helps support our educational mission and students across the commonwealth.
What makes Penn State’s funding process unique is that, alongside Pitt, Temple and Lincoln University, our appropriation requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate rather than a simple majority. Because of that, our work really centers on building relationships and helping lawmakers understand the impact Penn State has in communities all across Pennsylvania.
Q: Why is state support for Penn State important — not just for the University, but for students, communities and Pennsylvania’s workforce?
Wachter: State support touches nearly every part of Penn State’s mission. The largest piece is our General Support appropriation, currently $242.1 million, which helps us keep a Penn State education accessible by providing an average in-state tuition discount of about $16,000 each year to more than 40,000 Pennsylvania students.
But the impact goes well beyond tuition. State investment also supports critical programs and services across the University, from agricultural research and extension through the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, to Penn State Health, Pennsylvania College of Technology, and Invent Penn State, all of which help serve communities and strengthen Pennsylvania’s economy.
Q: This year, there has been a lot of discussion around performance-based funding. What is it, and why is it significant for higher education in Pennsylvania?
Wachter: Simply put, performance-based funding provides a framework to link student outcomes with stable, long-term state investment for Penn State, Pitt and Temple. We worked with the governor and the General Assembly for the last two years to establish the model as law. This year, we are encouraging the General Assembly to fund the program at the governor’s proposed $30 million.
Any increase in funding would help Penn State manage rising operating costs while also supporting broader investments that drive innovation, strengthen Pennsylvania’s economy, and expand opportunities for students across the commonwealth.
Q: What role does the Government Relations team play during budget season, and what does your day-to-day work look like during this process?
Wachter: While people often think of ‘budget season’ as May and June, the reality is that this work happens year-round. The process begins in September when Penn State submits its annual funding request to the state, and it ramps up in the spring with the governor’s budget proposal, President Neeli Bendapudi’s budget hearing, and Capital Day in Harrisburg.
From there, our team spends a great deal of time meeting with lawmakers, administration officials, and other state leaders to advocate for Penn State’s priorities and the impact the University has across Pennsylvania. By the time June arrives, you can usually find us in the Capitol almost every day working to secure critical funding for our students and the University.
Q: How does Penn State work with lawmakers and state leaders to help them understand the University’s impact across Pennsylvania?
Wachter: Our office works year-round with members of the General Assembly and the governor’s administration to highlight Penn State’s impact across Pennsylvania.
Events like Capital Day, our largest advocacy event each year, help connect lawmakers directly with Penn State students, faculty, researchers, alumni and communities who benefit from state investment. We also regularly connect legislators with the larger Penn State community through campus visits, research showcases, and events like Ag Progress Days that demonstrate the University’s land-grant mission at work.
Q: For someone who has never followed the state budget before, why should they care about these conversations and decisions happening in Harrisburg?
Wachter: When we talk with many people, from students to alumni, parents to lawmakers, many do not realize how much the state’s investment has lapsed over the past several decades. Right now, Penn State receives less than we did in the year 2000 in terms of real dollars, and we have not received an increase in our general support since 2019-20. Digging in further, Penn State's funding ranks last in the state on a per-Pennsylvania-student basis, when compared to our peers, receiving between $3,500 and $5,000 less per student. We educate more Pennsylvania resident students than any singular university, and each one benefits directly from the state’s investment in Penn State.
Q: How would someone be able to get involved in advocacy to help your office speak up for Penn State in Harrisburg?
Wachter: The first step is joining Advocate Penn State, our grassroots advocacy network of more than 35,000 Penn Staters, to stay informed and speak up when important issues arise in Harrisburg.
I also would encourage people to share their Penn State story with local lawmakers and talk about the impact the University has had on them, their family, or their community. And for students, getting involved with Lion Caucus is a great way to stay engaged year-round.