Dear Temple community: I want to take a few moments to be sure you are aware of a very unusual and unfortunate situation involving the commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s support for Temple University, how we are responding to it, and what the implications could be if the impasse continues.
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Message from the President
Dear Temple community:

I want to take a few moments to be sure you are aware of a very unusual and unfortunate situation involving the commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s support for Temple University, how we are responding to it, and what the implications could be if the impasse continues.

Due to a lack of action by the state’s elected officials, Temple University is facing a $175 million budget deficit—nearly $150 million for its educational programs and another $26 million for Temple University Hospital. This has come about because of an eight-month delay in approving a commonwealth appropriation for Temple, Lincoln, Penn State and Pitt.

For the past two days, I have been in Harrisburg making the case for Temple’s funding in individual meetings with commonwealth leaders and in testimony before the Pennsylvania State Senate Appropriations Committee and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Appropriations Committee. Temple benefits immensely from the outstanding leadership and intelligence of Committee Chairs Pat Browne and Bill Adolph and Minority Chairs Vince Hughes and Joe Markosek.

In my private meetings and in both appropriations committee settings, I explained how we have opened doors to the American dream for a more diverse class of students through the Temple Option; how Fly in 4 has helped more students graduate on time and with less debt. I described Temple University Hospital as “the indispensable provider of healthcare in Philadelphia” through its treatment of almost 150,000 patients without private insurance—and many with life-threatening injuries—in our emergency room last year.

I emphasized the undeniable fact that Temple University has held up its side of the partnership with the commonwealth, and we now expect the state’s elected officials to do their part. I am encouraged that we received strong bipartisan support for the critical role that Temple plays in educating and caring for our state’s citizens. Our legislators clearly understand that commonwealth funding for Temple is not a state expense. Instead, it is an investment in our graduates and our researchers, who will allow Pennsylvania to thrive in this knowledge-based economy. But we need to continue to fight tirelessly to obtain the commonwealth funding Temple has earned.

I remain hopeful that the budget impasse in Harrisburg will break, and Temple will receive its appropriation. Though we will work with Lincoln, Penn State and Pitt to forcefully advocate for support, the reality is that without state action, we will be looking at a massive budget deficit.

Chief Financial Officer Ken Kaiser is examining all options that would be available to us if the budget impasse continues. Unfortunately, among the options we will have to consider are layoffs, tuition increases and changes in the type of free services we can provide at Temple University Hospital. I commit to you that we will not act precipitously and will discuss options with all parties in the campus community so any decisions will be made transparently.

Temple has carefully stewarded its resources and has made difficult spending cuts in the past few years—including, as I am sure many of you will remember, eliminating five varsity sports. We downsized our administrative staff and have kept the growth in the cost of operating the university below the inflation rate.

In the coming days and weeks, we will continue our advocacy campaign. I laud Temple Student Government’s leadership for its activism and for playing a key role in making our case to Harrisburg. I particularly want to thank TSG Vice President Binh Nguyen, TSG Auditor General Alex Woodson, TSG Director of Local and Community Affairs Melonie Collado and TSG Director of Campus Safety Brett Ennis for joining me in Harrisburg yesterday to speak with elected officials and humanize the implications of this political impasse.

As members of the Temple University community, you also have a vital role to play. If you have not already done so, I urge you to sign up for TALON (Temple Advocates Legislative Outreach Network) by emailing Temple Government Affairs at tugovaff@temple.edu. Your voice can become an essential part of our awareness campaign.

In addition to receiving our commonwealth appropriation for the 2015–16 and 2016–17 academic years, our goal is to strengthen Temple’s partnership with the state, so we can continue to provide talented and motivated students of all backgrounds with access to a high-quality college experience, meet the healthcare needs of Philadelphia and conduct pioneering research.

Temple is an extraordinary university and a tremendous asset to Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, these contributions are being put at risk. I will keep you apprised of our progress in the days and weeks to come.
Sincerely,

President Neil D. Theobald's signature

Neil D. Theobald
President
 
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