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Government
Affairs Update
Federal
Relations
With
both the end of this fiscal year and the elections looming in the
near future, much important business remains unfinished in Washington.
The House and the Senate have each passed several of their spending
bills, but no measures have been agreed upon by both bodies and
sent on to President Bush. Because the new fiscal year technically
begins on Tuesday, October 1, Congress will have to pass continuing
resolutions (CRs). These continuing resolutions will maintain funding
levels at this year's levels, to keep the government running.
Two
other important pieces of legislation are on the Congressional calendar--the
bill to authorize the Department of Defense, and the measure to
create the Department of Homeland Security. The timeline for these
items remain up-in-the-air, as legislators prepare to adjourn on
October 11 for three weeks of campaigning.
We
are monitoring the situation in Washington, and will keep the Penn
community updated as things develop further.
National
Strategy to Secure Cyberspace
The
Bush Administration recently released the National Strategy to
Secure Cyberspace, a report aimed at squelching internet terrorist
attacks. A draft version was released for a 60 day public comment
period on September 18th at Stanford University, and was followed
by the first Town Hall Meeting to discuss the report.
Penn
will host a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, October 3, which will
be open to the Penn and area business community. A full copy of the report can be found at www.securecyberspace.gov
and comments can be submitted to feedback@cybersecurity.gov
by November 18, 2002. A summary of the report and sections specifically
aimed at higher education institutions follows.
The
report states that the security of cyberspace depends vitally on
all owners of the nation's cyber infrastructure. The Strategy is
designed to empower each person and each organization to do its
part through six major tools:
- Awareness
and Information, providing information to increase awareness
about the vulnerability of America's cyber infrastructure and
information to help individuals and organizations make cyberspace
more secure.
- Technology
and Tools, identifying the need for increased cybersecurity-related
research, including a program of federally funded research including
near-term, mid-term, and long-term information technology (IT)
security research.
-
Training and Education, addressing the gap between the
need for qualified IT professionals and America's ability to train
and develop these workers. This includes expanding the Federal
Cyber Corps scholarship-for-service programs at state universities
to private institutions.
-
Roles and Partnerships, recognizing that all Americans
have a role to play in cybersecurity and identifying market mechanisms
for stimulating sustained actions to secure cyberspace. This includes
encouraging colleges and universities to establish collaborative
information sharing and analysis centers to deal with cyber attacks
and vulnerabilities, model guidelines for Chief Information Officers,
best practices for IT security, and model user awareness programs
and materials.
-
Federal Leadership, making federal cyberspace security
a model for the nation.
-
Coordination and Crisis Management, identifying a need
for a comprehensive national analysis and warning capability.
The
report contains a section specifically geared toward institutions
of higher education, which was prepared by several higher education
associations that deal specifically with IT issues.
The
report states that higher education institutions--including universities,
four-year colleges, and community colleges--have set goals to protect
sensitive information, and to prevent systems from being used for
attacks. To achieve these goals, higher education institutions will
make IT security a priority, revise existing institutional policies
and improve existing security tools, and improve security for future
research and education networks. Colleges and universities will
work to improve collaboration among institutions, and with government
and industry, and to integrate campus efforts with national efforts
to strengthen critical infrastructure.
According
to the report, recent experience has shown that many campus networks
are vulnerable to hackers, because higher education institutions
possess vast amounts of computing power and because they allow relatively
open access to resources. Colleges and universities also hold much
information about students and staff that is either private or confidential,
and sensitive information such as medical or student records.
Because
of this risk, and due to the risk of attacks on third parties through
university IT systems, higher education institutions must consider
the broad implications of cybersecurity. This requires striking
a balance between maintaining privacy and preventing attacks while
also providing an environment where students can learn and research
can be conducted.
Through
IT-related higher education associations, some institutions have
adopted a 5-point Framework for Action that commits to giving cybersecurity
a high priority and adopting policies and measures that will increase
system security.
The report makes the following recommendations:
Each
college and university should consider establishing a point-of-contact,
reachable at all times, to Internet service providers and law enforcement
officials in the event that the school's IT systems are discovered
to be launching cyber attacks.
Colleges
and universities should consider establishing together: (a) one
or more information sharing and analysis centers (ISACs) to deal
with cyber attacks and vulnerabilities; (b) model guidelines empowering
Chief Information Officers (CIOs) to address cybersecurity; (c)
one or more set of best practices for IT security; and, (d) model
user awareness programs and materials.
Information
Systems and Computing staff and the Office of Government, Community
and Public Affairs are working to analyze the impact this report
will have on Penn.
Commonwealth
Relations
FY
03 Commonwealth Appropriation
On
June 28, the Pennsylvania House and Senate gave final approval to
House Bill 2495, Penn's FY 2002-03 Commonwealth appropriation. The
bill was subsequently signed into law by the Governor as Act 37A
of 2002. HB 2495 provides a total of $45,206,000 in funding to the
University, an increase of $1,728,000, or 4.0%, over the amount
authorized in the prior fiscal year. The $45.2 million appropriation
represents a $4.9 million increase over the funding level recommended
by Governor Schweiker in his proposed budget. Penn was the only
major higher education institution to receive an increase in this
budget--Penn State, University of Pittsburgh, and Temple all were
reduced by 3.7 percent. In light of the very difficult fiscal situation
in the Commonwealth ($1.2 billion budget deficit), this was a very
positive result for the University.
HB
2495 provides $38,445,000 in funding for the Veterinary School,
an increase of 5.0 percent. Other appropriations include $4,034,000
for the Medical School (level funding); $1,600,000 for Cardiovascular
Studies (2.0% decrease); $891,000 for the Dental Clinics (5.0% decrease);
and $236,000 for the University Museum (4.8% decrease) (see
chart below).
The
General Assembly also approved a General Appropriation bill (SB
5) which includes several significant University appropriations.
SB 5 restored $17 million in funding for the Community Access Fund
under the Department of Public Welfare. This program had been proposed
to be eliminated under Governor Schweiker's budget. The Fund was
developed several years ago following the approval of welfare reform
legislation to help compensate hospitals for charitable care being
provided. With the federal match, Penn's three urban hospitals (HUP,
Presbyterian and Pennsylvania) are expected to receive approximately
$5 million through this program.
Finally,
SB 5 restored funding for the Regional Cancer Institutes, which
the Governor had proposed to cut by 22.5%. Of the total funding
of $2,000,000, Penn's Cancer Center will receive $600,000.
University
of Pennsylvania--Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
History
of Non-Preferred Appropriation
(in
thousands of dollars)
*
|
FY
1999
|
FY
2000
|
FY
2001
|
FY
2002
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
Instruction
|
$
0
|
$
0
|
$
--
|
$
--
|
Medical
Instruction
|
4,034
|
4,034
|
4,034
|
4,034
|
Dental
Clinics
|
938
|
938
|
938
|
938
|
Cardiovascular
Studies
|
1322
|
1,632
|
882
|
1,632
|
Veterinary
Activities
|
31,489
|
32,276
|
34,783
|
36,626
|
University
Museum
|
1992
|
2192
|
2413
|
2483
|
Total
University
|
$36,762
|
$38,099
|
$40,878
|
$43,4784
|
*
|
FY 2003
|
FY 2003
|
FY 2003
|
FY 2003
|
*
|
Gov.
Rec.
|
Gov.
Rec.
|
Final
|
%
Inc.
|
* |
* |
%
Inc. |
HB
2495 |
* |
Instruction
|
$
-- |
-- |
$
-- |
-- |
Medical
Instruction
|
$3,832 |
-5.0 |
4,034 |
0.0 |
Dental
Clinics
|
891 |
-5.0 |
891 |
-5.0 |
Cardiovascular
Studies
|
600 |
-63.2 |
1,600 |
-2.0 |
Veterinary
Activities
|
34,795 |
-5.0 |
38,445 |
5.0 |
University
Museum
|
2363 |
-4.8 |
2363 |
-4.8 |
Total
University
|
$40,354 |
-7.2 |
$45,206 |
4.0 |
1
Includes
$132,000 appropriated through separate non-preferred appropriation.
2 Appropriated through separate non-preferred appropriation.
3 Appropriated through PA Historic and Museum Commission
(not part of submission to PDE).
4 Note: Amount authorized by HB 1201. Does not reflect
3% freeze announced 1/18/02.
(as
of 7/1/02)
City
and Community Relations
Philadelphia
College Festival
Penn
was a sponsor of the Philadelphia College Festival Kick-off event.
The Festival was held during the week of September 21-28, 2002 and
included a variety of student-oriented events and promotions for
each day of the week. The purpose of the Philadelphia College Festival
is to bring Philadelphia's college and university students together
to experience what Philadelphia offers as a place to live and work
during school and after graduation. The Festival is a signature
event to welcome students to the City and region and to elevate
the image of Philadelphia in the eyes of students and young professionals.
Students are given, early in the fall, the tools to create a positive
bond with Philadelphia's social, professional and community fabric.
The
kickoff festival was held on the Parkway and featured a number of
area businesses, civic organizations, and universities and colleges.
Other colleges and universities supporting the event include: Temple,
Drexel, LaSalle, University of the Sciences, Bryn Mawr, St. Joe's,
Community College of Philadelphia, Peirce College, Villanova, Delaware
County Community College, and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
More than 20,000 college students attended the events throughout
the day. One of the Festival's events, the Young Involved Philadelphia
Philly 101: Introduction to Philadelphia's Civic and Political Life,
was held in Huntsman Hall on September 26.
Penn's
support of this event came from the Vice Provost for University
Life, Business Services, Executive Vice President's Office, and
the Office of Government, Community and Public Affairs. Penn has
been a longtime top sponsor of the annual City of Philadelphia College
Festival, which entered its 3rd year.
Campus Philly
Recognizing
that these efforts must continue year-round, the City of Philadelphia
Commerce Department, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Penn, Temple,
Philadelphia University, and St. Joes, undertook an effort in 2000
to design a medium to promote all of Philadelphia's numerous assets
to college students year-round and foster cross campus interaction.
It implemented Campus Philly an initiative linking college students
across the Philadelphia region. The organization includes representatives
working with student governments, and a team of writers, promoters
and leaders dedicated to blending campus life with local life. The
institutions supporting this initiative have since grown. Jon Herrmann,
a Penn alumni from the class of 2000 manages the project. The Office
of Government, Community and Public Affairs sits on the advisory
board along with members from Philadelphia University, Temple University,
and the City of Philadelphia. Campus Philly's initiatives include:
- Www.campusphilly.org,
a year-round web site and resource for students to learn about
the region's social, professional and community events. It includes
discounts targeted to students, article features, online discussion,
and group mailing lists. It is designed and written by and for
students.
- The
Campus Philly discount sticker is a collaborative initiative developing
with regional colleges and universities. The program will give
students regular access to discounts at cultural and retail outlets,
events at college campuses and in the region, or to other promotions
organized for the student community. The various discounts will
be offered exclusively through www.campusphilly.org.
- Campus
Philly Special Event Promotion to students across the region.
For example, Campus Philly coordinated a special event for college
students in conjunction with the NBA All-Star Game last February,
and also over the summer in conjunction with the X-Games. Other
opportunities will exist through its relationship with the City
of Philadelphia and the numerous public events held throughout
the year.
- The
Campus Philly leadership program engages students to take leadership
in working with area businesses, institutions and governments
to encourage student civic participation, as well as to develop
programs and policies that affect the quality of life for area
college students and graduates. Current efforts include: inter-campus
event planning, a research and proposal strategy to improve student
access to public transportation, and an initiative to encourage
student entrepreneurship.
--Carol
R. Scheman, Vice President for Government, Community and Public
Affairs
Almanac, Vol. 49, No. 6, October 1, 2002
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