The University Park Student Fee Board heard its second round of presentations Friday morning, which featured allocation requests from the Center for Performing Arts (CPA), the Bryce Jordan Center (BJC), and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

George Trudeau, the director of CPA, kicked off the board’s meeting with a presentation of his organization’s request.

CPA works not only to schedule artists for performances but also to meet and engage with Penn State students and community members. Thanks to its strong relationship with Student Affairs, CPA’s student engagement continues to set Penn State’s center apart from those around the nation.

Trudeau shared that for the 2021-22 cycle, CPA is requesting level funding of $175,000 for the student ticket subsidy and a slight increase in funding to $45,000 for the opportunity fund.

More than one-third of CPA’s audience members are Penn State students. With these funds, the student ticket subsidy will continue to provide a $15 ticket price for most performances on campus and the best price available for other shows and events.

The CPA opportunity fund works to make connections between artists and student groups and is responsible for organizing and hosting CPA’s Illumination event.

Philip Stout, the assistant general manager of the Bryce Jordan Center, later outlined the BJC’s request for level funding of $200,000 for the 2021-22 cycle.

If the Student Fee Board allows a full carry-forward of unused funds, however, the request would be $0.

Stout shared that these funds would go towards the ticket subsidy, which allows the BJC to continue bringing a diverse amount of quality live entertainment events to University Park students at an affordable price.

With more and more artists looking to book events in 2021, Stout explained that the BJC has many big-name events lined up, including the Olympic Wrestling Trials and Hot Wheels Monster Trucks.

Amid the pandemic, the BJC served as a location for socially distant classrooms, on-campus voting, and coronavirus departure testing during the fall semester.

The final presentation of the meeting was given by the senior director of CAPS, Ben Locke.

CAPS is the primary provider of mental health services and a range of wellbeing options for Penn State students, serving about 10% of the student body at University Park.

Locke explained that CAPS helps to make education more accessible by providing mental-health services, wellbeing services, and community education to students in need.

By providing support to those who have greater needs, these individuals are able to take advantage of an equal opportunity that is theoretically available to an entire community.

CAPS is requesting an allocation of $872,008 for the 2021-22 cycle, which will be used to maintain all funded positions within CAPS, as well as fund pilot efforts focused on tele-coaching and counseling.

The Student Fee Board will continue hearing allocation request presentations from the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, Gender Equity Center, and PRCC at its next meeting on Friday, January 22.