Dear valued colleagues:

Thank you for all you do for our university. I know from my many years at Temple just how valuable you are to our students and faculty, and how important your contributions are to the pursuit of our mission.

I need to inform you of an important matter and ask for your assistance.

As you likely know, Temple University receives an annual appropriation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In the fiscal year that ended in June 2017, this amount was approximately $150 million.

In recent years, the completion of the state budget has been delayed several times, raising the question of whether Temple would receive the entire $150 million appropriation, a portion of that amount or none at all. During these delays, Temple faces many budget decisions, not the least of which are salary adjustments and bonuses for non-bargaining-unit employees.

This year, the compensation process was delayed because of the ongoing state budget impasse. As recently as two weeks ago, the news out of Harrisburg seemed favorable enough to initiate the process as passage of a budget and approval of the appropriation seemed imminent. Unfortunately, the budget process in Harrisburg appears to have slowed or stalled, and the university must make the difficult decision to continue to delay the implementation of compensation adjustments at this time.

I want to assure you that Temple leaders are working every day in Harrisburg to bring about a vote authorizing the university's appropriation. We hope for a swift resolution with little or no impact to Temple. However, prudence dictates that we also prepare for the possibility of receiving little or no support from the state. Should this happen, difficult budgetary decisions that will affect faculty, staff and students will have to be made. I sincerely hope that things will not come to this, and I remain cautiously optimistic.

You have a vital role in helping the university. Please contact your Pennsylvania state legislators and urge them to approve the Commonwealth appropriations bills for Temple, Lincoln, Pitt and Penn State, so that we can continue our crucial and irreplaceable educational, research and service missions. You can express your support for Temple through our Temple Advocates Legislative Outreach Network (TALON).

This is a difficult situation, and I appreciate your understanding and patience as we urge our legislators to finalize the Commonwealth’s budget. Once again, thank you for all you do.

Sincerely,
Richard M. Englert
President