UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Advocate Penn State Capital Day will return on March 30 for a hybrid event that will include a limited in-person portion at the state Capitol in Harrisburg and a virtual advocacy component that is open to the entire Penn State community. All Penn Staters from across the University are encouraged to contact their elected officials on March 30 to share their stories of the many ways Penn State benefits the commonwealth and its residents as a 21st century land-grant institution.

Sponsored by Advocate Penn State and Penn State’s Office of Government and Community Relations, the event serves as the University’s largest single-day advocacy event. Advocate Penn State Capital Day offers an opportunity to demonstrate the impact of Penn State on the commonwealth while advocating for an accessible and affordable world-class education.

All Penn State students, alumni, employees and supporters are encouraged to participate by emailing their state legislators about the importance of Penn State. An email campaign will go live at the Advocate Penn State Capital Day website on the morning of March 30; anyone with a Pennsylvania address is eligible to engage as a constituent of the officials in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Past iterations of Advocate Penn State Capital Day have been beneficial in securing the University’s annual state appropriation, which supports a tuition break for Pennsylvania resident students and several Penn State programs that have an important impact across the commonwealth. Advocates are hoping to obtain an increase in state support for 2022-23, as Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed a 5% increase to Penn State’s funding. Now is the time when legislators need to hear from those who benefit from that funding.

“Students, parents, faculty, staff and alumni are our best advocates,” said Zack Moore, Penn State’s vice president for government and community relations. “When the entire Penn State community speaks with one voice, legislators stop and listen. It is more important than ever for Penn Staters to share their stories of how affordable access to a Penn State education has impacted their lives, and how the University’s state funding positively benefits all Pennsylvanians.”

Supporters should visit advocate.psu.edu on the morning of March 30 to participate in the event by sending an email to their state representative and senator. Participants are encouraged to share their activity and their stories of Penn State’s impact on social media using the hashtags #PSUCapitalDay and #PennStateStory.

Stay up to date on Capital Day and Advocate Penn State on social media at @AdvocatePennState on Facebook, @Advocate_PennState on Instagram, and @AdvocateState on Twitter.