Panel recommends cash for performance targets at PA colleges

(Harrisburg) -- A panel including top Pennsylvania college officials recommends setting up performance targets higher education institutions would need to meet in order to obtain additional state funding.

The recommendation in the final report from the Governor's Advisory Commission on Postsecondary Education has the support of university presidents at Penn State, Temple, the University of Pennsylvania and the chancellor of Pennsylvania's 14 state-run universities.

The commission recommends maintaining $1.67 billion in base funding and creating a performance fund of $256 million for schools that meet goals including controlling tuition costs and tailoring programs to the needs of the workforce.

An education department spokesman says Governor Corbett will review the recommendations.