Regional Pitt Campuses Now
Qualify for Rural Research Grants
HARRISBURG – Regional campuses of the University of Pittsburgh will soon qualify for funding to study issues facing rural Pennsylvania, Sen. John N. Wozniak announced today.
Earlier this year, Wozniak introduced legislation to allow researchers at the regional campuses to receive the funding and to increase the maximum grant amount. Senate Bill 607 was signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell last week.
“It makes sense that more bright people working on these special challenges will mean more ideas and better results,” Wozniak said. “Rural Pennsylvania is facing problems that have been forming for decades and new ones emerge every year.”
Senate Bill 607 – now Act 52 – will amend the regulations for the “Center for Rural Pennsylvania,” an agency of the General Assembly governed by an 11-member board. The board oversees distribution of grants to faculty members at colleges and universities to fund study of the issues facing rural communities, including economic development, educational outreach and government finance.
Under current law, only universities in the State System of Higher Education and Penn State are eligible to participate. Wozniak’s bill will add the regional campuses of the University of Pittsburgh, while increasing the maximum grant to $60,000. The bill also adds agriculture along with health and welfare concerns to the list of subject areas eligible for grants.
Similar bills had failed to win approval for three consecutive two-year sessions. Senate Bill 607 passed both the House and Senate unanimously. It takes effect in 60 days.
“The University of Pittsburgh has facilities and faculty that are well positioned to examine the communities of Western Pennsylvania and develop ideas suited to their needs,” Wozniak said. “Their inclusion will improve the quality of research and the development of solutions.”
from Senator Wozniak's Web site, via e-mail from Senate Democratic Broadcast Services
Earlier this year, Wozniak introduced legislation to allow researchers at the regional campuses to receive the funding and to increase the maximum grant amount. Senate Bill 607 was signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell last week.
“It makes sense that more bright people working on these special challenges will mean more ideas and better results,” Wozniak said. “Rural Pennsylvania is facing problems that have been forming for decades and new ones emerge every year.”
Senate Bill 607 – now Act 52 – will amend the regulations for the “Center for Rural Pennsylvania,” an agency of the General Assembly governed by an 11-member board. The board oversees distribution of grants to faculty members at colleges and universities to fund study of the issues facing rural communities, including economic development, educational outreach and government finance.
Under current law, only universities in the State System of Higher Education and Penn State are eligible to participate. Wozniak’s bill will add the regional campuses of the University of Pittsburgh, while increasing the maximum grant to $60,000. The bill also adds agriculture along with health and welfare concerns to the list of subject areas eligible for grants.
Similar bills had failed to win approval for three consecutive two-year sessions. Senate Bill 607 passed both the House and Senate unanimously. It takes effect in 60 days.
“The University of Pittsburgh has facilities and faculty that are well positioned to examine the communities of Western Pennsylvania and develop ideas suited to their needs,” Wozniak said. “Their inclusion will improve the quality of research and the development of solutions.”
from Senator Wozniak's Web site, via e-mail from Senate Democratic Broadcast Services
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