Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include actions taken by the board on Sept. 6. 

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Proposals for the 2025-26 appropriations for operations and an update to Penn State’s five-year capital plan were among the items approved by University Board of Trustees today (Sept. 6) at the University Park campus.  

The board voted to approve a number of items: 

• Capital plan update: The board approved an update to the University’s five-year capital plan, which is designed to address Penn State’s aging campus facilities, infrastructure and building systems across all of its locations. 

• Fiscal year 2025-26 appropriations for operations: Penn State will request $391.5 million for support operations for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Each year, the University submits a request for funding support as part of the commonwealth’s annual budget process. The state appropriation is used to cover core teaching costs in Penn State’s education budget, allowing the University to offer an in-state tuition rate that directly impacts thousands of Pennsylvania students and their families. The state also provides funding to support agricultural research and extension programs; the Pennsylvania College of Technology, which is a special-mission Penn State affiliate; Penn State Health and the College of Medicine; and other major initiatives. 

• Hamilton Hall update: The University will update bathrooms in Hamilton Hall at the University Park campus, as well renovate space to add additional residence hall capacity for students. Hamilton Hall was completed in 1950 and most of its 74-year-old communal bathrooms are original to the residence hall. 

• START Lab: Penn State will finish an addition and minor renovation at the lab’s home in the Lidia Manson Building at CATO Park in State College. The Steady Thermal Aero Research Turbine, or START, Lab focuses on turbine technology for sustainable propulsion and power generation, and has received support from a number of government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Aviation Administration and NASA. 

• Approved a number of appointments/reappointments and elections: The groups include the Corporation for Penn State, Penn State Investment Council, the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center board of directors and the trustees’ Executive Committee, as well as other board actions.  

The board also heard an update from Paul Clifford, CEO of the Penn State Alumni Association.

The September meeting marked the first gathering of the board’s newly reorganized committees: Audit and Risk; Equity and Human Resources; Finance and Investment; Governance; Research and Technology; and Student Success.  

The board updated its bylaws and revised its committee structure during its previous meeting in July. The new committees kicked off their work, including: 

• Hearing a presentation from Senior Vice President for Research Andrew Read: Senior Vice President for Research Andrew Read discussed the University’s $1.239 billion research enterprise and the efforts of the Penn State Research Foundation to commercialize University research for the benefit of society during the inaugural meeting of the Research and Technology committee. 

• Introducing new personnel: Jared Wise was introduced to the Audit and Risk committee as Penn State’s new risk officer, overseeing the institution’s insurance and claims management programs, risk financing and Enterprise Risk Management Program. Also formally introduced was David Horton, vice president for Information Technology and chief information officer, who was appointed in March.