“Penn State president pledges accountability, urges lawmakers to approve 2023-24 funding | Opinion” (Neeli opinion piece)

[BobPSU92]

See the link below. From the article:

”I believe strongly that Penn State and all public universities must continue to be accountable for how taxpayer dollars are spent and for showing a return on investment for our citizens. That is why I am calling on the General Assembly and the governor to work together with Penn State and all of Pennsylvania’s public universities to design a performance-based funding model for higher education.”

And,

”I believe implementing performance-based funding will go a long way toward addressing concerns about accountability and transparency. However, while we await legislative action, I want to address this matter now. I have made the decision to proactively release an annual accountability report that will be publicly available by the end of October at a new webpage we have created: psu.edu/accountability.”

Penn State president pledges accountability, urges lawmakers to approve 2023-24 funding | Opinion

Penn State remains eager to partner with the state to meet the challenges of today, and remains committed to accountability, and to demonstrating outcomes.

www.pennlive.com

 

[StamfordBridgeVikingatLeftOffensiveTackle]

"Performance-based?" "Accountability and transparency?" No more empty phrases and catchwords. Laying down the gauntlet with our vaunted legislature. It is vaunted. Right?

 

[Midnighter]

See the link below. From the article:

”I believe strongly that Penn State and all public universities must continue to be accountable for how taxpayer dollars are spent and for showing a return on investment for our citizens. That is why I am calling on the General Assembly and the governor to work together with Penn State and all of Pennsylvania’s public universities to design a performance-based funding model for higher education.”

And,

”I believe implementing performance-based funding will go a long way toward addressing concerns about accountability and transparency. However, while we await legislative action, I want to address this matter now. I have made the decision to proactively release an annual accountability report that will be publicly available by the end of October at a new webpage we have created: psu.edu/accountability.”

Penn State president pledges accountability, urges lawmakers to approve 2023-24 funding | Opinion

Penn State remains eager to partner with the state to meet the challenges of today, and remains committed to accountability, and to demonstrating outcomes.

www.pennlive.com

See the link below. From the article:

”I believe strongly that Penn State and all public universities must continue to be accountable for how taxpayer dollars are spent and for showing a return on investment for our citizens. That is why I am calling on the General Assembly and the governor to work together with Penn State and all of Pennsylvania’s public universities to design a performance-based funding model for higher education.”

And,

”I believe implementing performance-based funding will go a long way toward addressing concerns about accountability and transparency. However, while we await legislative action, I want to address this matter now. I have made the decision to proactively release an annual accountability report that will be publicly available by the end of October at a new webpage we have created: psu.edu/accountability.”

Penn State president pledges accountability, urges lawmakers to approve 2023-24 funding | Opinion

Penn State remains eager to partner with the state to meet the challenges of today, and remains committed to accountability, and to demonstrating outcomes.

www.pennlive.com

Neeli: Performance based funding!

BOT:

 

[BobPSU92]

Neeli: Performance based funding!

BOT:

The bot is going to bring back barren.

 

[BobPSU92]

Laying down the gauntlet with our vaunted legislature. It is vaunted. Right?

This is what we’re up against.

 

[GrimReaper]

This ought to be interesting. Any bets the legislature will want to see salary data of all PSU employees?

 

[Nitt1300]

This ought to be interesting. Any bets the legislature will want to see salary data of all PSU employees?

with what they overpay themselves?

 

[GrimReaper]

with what they overpay themselves?

Certainly overpaid, but the information is public.

 

[BobPSU92]

This ought to be interesting. Any bets the legislature will want to see salary data of all PSU employees?

Neeli: “Sorry, legislature. The salaries of our employees are not performance-based.”

 

[Midnighter]

Neeli: “Sorry, legislature. The salaries of our employees are not performance-based.”

 

[StamfordBridgeVikingatLeftOffensiveTackle]

The bot is going to bring back barren.

Was the $900k + they paid him as a consultant performance-based?

 

[SleepyLion]

Neeli: “Sorry, legislature. The salaries of our employees are not performance-based.”

Legislations to constituents: "Sorry, taxpayers. The salaries of government employees are not performance-based."

 

[Nitwit]

Generally speaking, many government employees are underpaid relative to the private sector, however the benefits are better. It’s difficult to get rid of poor performers and hard to retain strong people. Those who complain about government employees’ compensation should look at CEO’s compensation packages or Board members’ compensation if they really want to be outraged.

 

[Nittany1865Farmer]

An excerpt from the musical Le Miz describes the bureaucracy of PSU..."

Turning, turning, turning through the years
(Turning, turning)
Minutes into hours, and the hours into years
(Minutes into hours)
Nothing changes, nothing ever can
(Nothing changes, nothing ever can)
Round about the roundabout
(Round about the roundabout)
Round and round and back where you began!

As long as people are raised, educated and "consulted" in this business, nothing can ever be changed and we can't change it either because no matter who gets voted in, the BOT hires their own off-spring of bureaucracy to keep it growing and alive.

 

[Hugh Laurie]

If she's serious, the university should honor every open records requests it receives unlike the current practice. It's that simple. That would preclude the need for an annual sanitized accountability report.

 

[Keyser Soze 16802]

"annual accountability report" -- any bets on whether this report will be mostly smoke, mirrors, and spin?

 

[PSUFTG2]

If she's serious, the university should honor every open records requests it receives unlike the current practice. It's that simple. That would preclude the need for an annual sanitized accountability report.

Good points. I don't know why you couldn't have BOTH (significantly more transparency - AND liberal responses to FOIA requests), but that would be a positive step.

 

[Midnighter]

Generally speaking, many government employees are underpaid relative to the private sector, however the benefits are better. It’s difficult to get rid of poor performers and hard to retain strong people. Those who complain about government employees’ compensation should look at CEO’s compensation packages or Board members’ compensation if they really want to be outraged.

Or join the military and see the massive fraud, waste, and abuse that occurs on a daily basis. Not to mention all the ROADs and non-deployable personnel who do nothing and collect benefits and paychecks waiting for an absurd retirement package. No one complains about the military though because people like them. But, if you work at the IRS, HHS, SSA, EPA, or some other administration with policies you don’t like, their employees are lazy and overpaid….

 

[GrimReaper]

Good points. I don't know why you couldn't have BOTH (significantly more transparency - AND liberal responses to FOIA requests), but that would be a positive step.

I'll give President Bendapudi the benefit of the doubt for trying. Think it's too little, too late if the objective is to wheedle more money out of Harrisburg. Too many decades of telling the legislature to fu@k off and a general trend of states cutting funding to higher ed.

 

[GrimReaper]

"annual accountability report" -- any bets on whether this report will be mostly smoke, mirrors, and spin?

 

[PSUFTG2]

I'll give President Bendapudi the benefit of the doubt for trying. Think it's too little, too late if the objective is to wheedle more money out of Harrisburg. Too many decades of telling the legislature to fu@k off and a general trend of states cutting funding to higher ed.

True, on all counts.

That said, Words : Actions

 

[GrimReaper]

Generally speaking, many government employees are underpaid relative to the private sector, however the benefits are better. It’s difficult to get rid of poor performers and hard to retain strong people. Those who complain about government employees’ compensation should look at CEO’s compensation packages or Board members’ compensation if they really want to be outraged.

Board members? Outside, non-executive directors of large corporations might get too much money for services rendered, but in absolute dollar terms the amounts they garner isn't all that much, particularly compared to the CEO.

 

[GrimReaper]

True, on all counts.

That said, Words : Actions

Scratching my head on this one. You'd think this can't be that complicated, so why the preview of coming attraction. Just announce the end-product. I'll withhold what the skeptic in me thinks.

 

[ApexLion]

See the link below. From the article:

”I believe strongly that Penn State and all public universities must continue to be accountable for how taxpayer dollars are spent and for showing a return on investment for our citizens. That is why I am calling on the General Assembly and the governor to work together with Penn State and all of Pennsylvania’s public universities to design a performance-based funding model for higher education.”

And,

”I believe implementing performance-based funding will go a long way toward addressing concerns about accountability and transparency. However, while we await legislative action, I want to address this matter now. I have made the decision to proactively release an annual accountability report that will be publicly available by the end of October at a new webpage we have created: psu.edu/accountability.”

Penn State president pledges accountability, urges lawmakers to approve 2023-24 funding | Opinion

Penn State remains eager to partner with the state to meet the challenges of today, and remains committed to accountability, and to demonstrating outcomes.

www.pennlive.com

I see a performance-based committee on the horizon!

 

[TheBigUglies]

Rut roh, we know we happened last time the PSU President went after legislators for more money. I am scared. Another scandal coming to burn PSU to the ground....

 

[Keyser Soze 16802]

I'm still waiting for Karen Peetz' listening tour

 

[Nitwit]

Neeli has been “advocating for Penn State” ever since her arrival. She’s been very active meeting with legislators, both in Harrisburg and in Washington, getting the word out about the economic impact of Penn State, promoting Penn State’s research successes and accomplishments, and pointing out the discrepancy of per student funding compared to other State Universities. This message is part of her overall plan to address the funding problem and garner additional support from her constituents. So those who offer trite comments on this board have no idea what it takes to manage a politically complex funding issue but she is going about this in ways that Barron had no clue about. And for that matter, most of the posters don’t either as evidenced by their naivety as demonstrated above. That’s why she is the President and you’re not. Go back to football - at least you can pretend to know something about that.

 

[GrimReaper]

Neeli has been “advocating for Penn State” ever since her arrival. She’s been very active meeting with legislators, both in Harrisburg and in Washington, getting the word out about the economic impact of Penn State, promoting Penn State’s research successes and accomplishments, and pointing out the discrepancy of per student funding compared to other State Universities. This message is part of her overall plan to address the funding problem and garner additional support from her constituents. So those who offer trite comments on this board have no idea what it takes to manage a politically complex funding issue but she is going about this in ways that Barron had no clue about. And for that matter, most of the posters don’t either as evidenced by their naivety as demonstrated above. That’s why she is the President and you’re not. Go back to football - at least you can pretend to know something about that.

Okay, Mr. Big Stuff, how much of an increase in state funding is Neels getting this year and is the appropriation coming before Thanksgiving? Also, could you provide an update on the number of signatures Advocate Penn State got on the petition to increase state funding? Last I heard, it was 5,000, but that was quite a while ago.

 

[PSU Mike]

Here’s the $64 gazillion question. Wouldn’t performance against state goals mean we’d need a higher percentage of valuable graduates (preferably in-state?) to remain in the state after graduation, at least as the first-order effect? What power does the University hold in effecting that, vis a vis the rest of the state? Say Dear Old State raised the ranking of the undergrad programs by 20 notches. What return accrues to the state in that scenario? How does the answer vary if the same number stay in state after graduation, compared to if 5-10% fewer stay because the elevated status affords them more opportunities elsewhere? So in short, what performance matters? Until I see all the pieces laid out rationally this is just like watching old Miss America contests where every contestant wants to work for world peace, a cure for cancer, and every puppy born to have a lush acre to play on in the suburbs.

 

[LBUfanatic]

I'll give President Bendapudi the benefit of the doubt for trying. Think it's too little, too late if the objective is to wheedle more money out of Harrisburg. Too many decades of telling the legislature to fu@k off and a general trend of states cutting funding to higher ed.

Here’s the $64 gazillion question. Wouldn’t performance against state goals mean we’d need a higher percentage of valuable graduates (preferably in-state?) to remain in the state after graduation, at least as the first-order effect? What power does the University hold in effecting that, vis a vis the rest of the state? Say Dear Old State raised the ranking of the undergrad programs by 20 notches. What return accrues to the state in that scenario? How does the answer vary if the same number stay in state after graduation, compared to if 5-10% fewer stay because the elevated status affords them more opportunities elsewhere? So in short, what performance matters? Until I see all the pieces laid out rationally this is just like watching old Miss America contests where every contestant wants to work for world peace, a cure for cancer, and every puppy born to have a lush acre to play on in the suburbs.

The first and most important goal that the Commonwealth has for PSU and the other state-related institutions is tuition accountability. This has been the primary reason for the General Assembly’s delay in approving the no -preferred appropriations bills for PSU, PItt, Temple and Cheney. Conservative Republicans want a tuition freeze for a modest 7%increase in state funding. Other goals would include matching majors to PA-specific job needs (which presumably would help keep some grads in-state), and controls on overall spending (administrative and operational).

 

[BobPSU92]

Neeli has been “advocating for Penn State” ever since her arrival. She’s been very active meeting with legislators, both in Harrisburg and in Washington, getting the word out about the economic impact of Penn State, promoting Penn State’s research successes and accomplishments, and pointing out the discrepancy of per student funding compared to other State Universities. This message is part of her overall plan to address the funding problem and garner additional support from her constituents. So those who offer trite comments on this board have no idea what it takes to manage a politically complex funding issue but she is going about this in ways that Barron had no clue about. And for that matter, most of the posters don’t either as evidenced by their naivety as demonstrated above. That’s why she is the President and you’re not. Go back to football - at least you can pretend to know something about that.

I know next to nothing about nearly everything*, but that will not stop me from being critical. Otherwise, why am I online?

* There are a number of topics for which I know absolutely nothing. I’m critical on those topics too.

 

[razpsu]

So our bloated fiscally irresponsible government is going to have oversight over our bloated irresponsible university and hold them accountable.
We are going to cut costs and people but we need people and money to do that.

 

[GrimReaper]

The first and most important goal that the Commonwealth has for PSU and the other state-related institutions is tuition accountability. This has been the primary reason for the General Assembly’s delay in approving the no -preferred appropriations bills for PSU, PItt, Temple and Cheney. Conservative Republicans want a tuition freeze for a modest 7%increase in state funding. Other goals would include matching majors to PA-specific job needs (which presumably would help keep some grads in-state), and controls on overall spending (administrative and operational).

Thanks for the insight. Objectives 1 and 3 are measurable and within control of PSU. The second, matching majors, is problematic. PSU could offer what the legislature wants, and I imagine that it already does in a lot of cases. Getting students to enroll in them is another matter and beyond the control of the school.

Honestly, if this is an indication of what PSU has come to, Neels is in deep kimchi.

 

[GrimReaper]

So our bloated fiscally irresponsible government is going to have oversight over our bloated irresponsible university and hold them accountable.
We are going to cut costs and people but we need people and money to do that.

 

[Nitwit]

I know next to nothing about nearly everything*, but that will not stop me from being critical. Otherwise, why am I online?

* There are a number of topics for which I know absolutely nothing. I’m critical on those topics too.

At least you know what you don’t know. That’s way ahead of most of the others who profess (no pun intended) to be experts , although always critical and usually stupid. If these problems were so simple they would have fixed them instead of spending their time complaining on a football message board. And BTW, don’t sell yourself short. You’re actually one of the few who get it. And you’re entertaining as well! Keep up the good work. Let’s have coffee sometime.

 

[GrimReaper]

At least you know what you don’t know. That’s way ahead of most of the others who profess (no pun intended) to be experts , although always critical and usually stupid. If these problems were so simple they would have fixed them instead of spending their time complaining on a football message board. And BTW, don’t sell yourself short. You’re actually one of the few who get it. And you’re entertaining as well! Keep up the good work. Let’s have coffee sometime.

Will all of those PSU administrators who've been spending time on this board and been derelict in their duties to address the school's problems please raise their hands.

 

[BobPSU92]

At least you know what you don’t know. That’s way ahead of most of the others who profess (no pun intended) to be experts , although always critical and usually stupid. If these problems were so simple they would have fixed them instead of spending their time complaining on a football message board. And BTW, don’t sell yourself short. You’re actually one of the few who get it. And you’re entertaining as well! Keep up the good work. Let’s have coffee sometime.

I’m regularly told that I’m an idiot. 50,000,000 Bob haters can’t be wrong.

 

[GrimReaper]

I’m regularly told that I’m an idiot. 50,000,000 Bob haters can’t be wrong.

If you have 50mm people who hate you, you're doing something right.

 

[Nitwit]

Delete

 

[Nitwit]