Penn State grapples with new era of funding cuts - Jeff Gammage, Philadelphia Inquirer

Gov. Corbett wants to cut state appropriations to higher education in half, the biggest one-time reduction in U.S. history, to help close a chasmal $4 billion budget deficit. And he wants to do it fast - with the budget that starts July 1. Penn State estimates it will lose $182 million - an amount some political leaders say the school can absorb. University officials insist the loss would be disastrous, warning that layoffs, tuition increases, program cuts, and even the closing of some branch campuses could follow, fundamentally altering an institution known for top-quality education. Penn State isn't alone in its misery. A 50 percent cut looms for the three other state-related institutions, Temple University, Lincoln University, and the University of Pittsburgh, and the 14 state-owned schools, which include West Chester University.