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LINCOLN UNIVERSITY
2010-2011
Operational Budget Request
to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
On April 29, 2004, Lincoln University, the oldest chartered historically
black college in the nation celebrated its 150th anniversary. On November
21, 2009, the Board of Trustees of the University reaffirmed the vision of
the University as a “premier Historically Black University that combines the
best elements of a liberal arts and sciences-based undergraduate core curriculum
and selected graduate programs to meet the needs of those living in a highly
technological and global society.”
The Board also reaffirmed the historic mission of Lincoln University to
unequivocally state that the present day mission is as important today as
it was in 1854. Our young people are still looking for universities
that allow matriculation without regard to class, race or socio-economic
background. Lincoln University remains committed to its historical
purpose and to preserving its distinction as an intellectual and cultural
resource for this region. Thus, the partnership between the Commonwealth
and Lincoln University is crucial to the accomplishment of the University’s
instructional, academic support, retention and technology efforts to provide
an education that will continue to make our students competitive in the global
marketplace.
The worldwide financial and credit crisis continues to grip this state and
the country. None of us could have predicted the overwhelming effect
the downturn would have on higher education. No institution—public or
private, large or small, wealthy or not—has not suffered from the international
credit crunch, reduced investment earnings, or rescinded appropriations.
The impact on our students and their families trying to cope in this financial
climate compels us to be more thoughtful and creative in our responses.
Addressing our financial needs by simply raising tuition is not an option.
The University implemented several cost cutting measures - adjusted our operating
budgets, eliminated or delayed commitments on new projects, adjusted payout
rates from endowments, and withheld pay raises or cost of living adjustments
for selected employee constituent groups. Yet, while we aggressively
tighten our belts, Lincoln University must be careful to not permanently cripple
the University that is a vital part of the Chester County economy and which
ultimately will be looked upon to help mitigate this recession.
I have confidence that Lincoln University has taken appropriate and bold
steps that will help us to weather this storm and that higher education, as
an industry, will respond to these challenges in ways that contribute to
the restoration of the economic wellbeing of all Pennsylvanians. It
is important, however, that we maintain a commitment to invest in higher education
to help lead and sustain an economic recovery.
With 93% of Lincoln University students receiving some form of financial
aid, Lincoln University is considered a “best buy” for students and the University
is a “best buy” for providing high quality higher education to residents of
the Commonwealth. Fifty-four percent (54%) of the University’s graduates remain
in the Commonwealth. The University has a proven track record year
after year of exceeding many other larger universities graduating Black Americans
in the fields of science and technology who go on to become leaders in the
Commonwealth, the nation and the world. Lincoln's alumni continue to
achieve in all areas and contribute to the economic development of Pennsylvania.
Educational and General―$18,500,000. Lincoln’s mission remains unchanged—to
offer opportunities in education and leadership development to the descendents
of those historically denied the liberation of learning. The University
will continue to nurture underserved students, teaching the same curriculum
as that offered by mainstream institutions, but applying its historical values
and time-intensive mentoring tradition. The success of this approach
is more than amply demonstrated by the quality of Lincoln’s alumni. Lincoln
is committed to access, affordability and academic excellence for its students.
The continuance of Lincoln’s commitment to access and affordability requires
a commitment from the Commonwealth to support the University’s Operating Budget.
The Educational and General appropriation helps the University keep its tuition
and fees competitive, thereby reducing one barrier to access and opportunity.
Technology―$3,250,000. Lincoln’s mission statement stresses
“…a commitment to promoting technological sophistication for its students
in all academic programs…” Additionally, one of the University’s major goals
is “The University will upgrade and maintain its faculty/staff/student use
and access to technology." Implementing these commitments has improved
significantly over the past two years with special funding from the Commonwealth.
However, the University has not realized its full potential as we have not
reached the level of technological sophistication necessary to prepare our
students for the 21st century.
Centers of Excellence―$4,250,000/year. In Lincoln University’s Strategic
Plan (2008-2012) the University has identified five areas of Programmatic
Excellence. Each of the areas is an area where minority students are underrepresented
as graduates. Thus, the University has developed a five-year plan to
address this under-representation of citizens and seeks Commonwealth funding
to specifically target the areas and produce graduates in the following underrepresented
areas: GREAT Center of Excellence for Minority Health―$1,000,000/year. The
vision of the Center for Minority Health is to offer challenging and exciting
opportunities for our students in the field of biomedical sciences, public
health, nursing, chemistry, biology and computer science that will adequately
prepare our students for graduate and professional training in minority health.
This will enable students graduating from Lincoln to proudly and rightfully
join their counterparts all over the world in this new science frontier. Teacher
Education and Urban Pedagogy―$700,000/year. Lincoln University has identified
the preparation of qualified minority teachers in the Commonwealth as a strategic
focus. During the past four years, the University has had 100% passage of
the PRAXIS I and II Examinations for completers of its Education Program.
We are seeking Commonwealth funding to target twenty students each year and
make it attractive for each student to enter education as a profession. Mass
Communications―$800,000/year. Lincoln University, during the past three years,
has identified communications as a strategic focus. During this period,
the University has upgraded its television laboratory, its radio station
and its curriculum to begin to address this minority shortage. We are
seeking Commonwealth funding to target twenty students and at the end of
five years to produce a minimum of twenty graduates per year who will have
the requirements to seek a position as a writer, producer or director in
the communications arena. Business and Information Technology―$750,000/year.
The number of minority students choosing accounting and finance as careers
and who are able to compete effectively in the private, public and international
sectors is very low. We are seeking Commonwealth funding to target twenty
(20) students yearly and at the end of five years, to graduate twenty students
per year in accounting and finance to address the shortage. The Joint Lincoln
University-Barnes Foundation Visual Arts Major―$750,000/year embraces the
idea of the Barnes Gallery as the experiential and laboratory component of
a completely new undergraduate Art major which fully embraces the ideas of
Albert C. Barnes. The program has concentrations in Museum Studies (B.A.)
and Studio Art (B.S.). We are seeking Commonwealth funding to target
twenty students yearly at the end of five years to graduate twenty students
per year in the Art Program.
Total Request: $26,000,000
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