What is the Performance-Based Funding Council
The Performance-based Funding Council was established by Act 90 of 2024. The Council is charged in the statute to develop a process to distribute funding to the State-related universities (i.e., Penn State, Pitt, and Temple). The process shall utilize performance-based metrics designed to increase degree attainment, encourage affordability in higher education, meet workforce needs and grow the economy. The Council is composed of five voting members including the Secretary of Education, four appointees, one each from each General Assembly caucus, and three non-members, one each from the State-related universities. The Council must provide recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly to implement the process to distribute funding based on performance-based funding by April 30, 2025.
Current Council Membership

Representative Jesse Topper
Chair

Senator Jay Costa

Senator Wayne Langerholc

Representative Peter Schweyer

Angela Fitterer
Interim Acting Secretary of Education
Non-Voting Members

Sara Thorndike
CPA, MBA, Ed. D, Penn State, Senior Vice President for Finance and Business, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer

Dr. Dwayne Pinkney
Pitt, Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance/Chief Financial Officer

Ken Kaiser
Temple, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Performance-Based Funding Council Meetings
Check back for upcoming meetings
Past Meetings
Thursday, January 30, 2025 | 10:00 AM
The Performance-based Funding Council will hold a public hearing on testimony related to Performance-based Funding formulas for state-related universities.
Agenda & Testimony
Panel 1:
- Ken Kaiser, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Temple University
Panel 2:
Panel 3:
- Patrick Clancy, President & CEO, Philadelphia Works, Inc.
- Chellie Cameron, President & CEO, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
Panel 4:
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 | 10:00 AM
The Performance-based Funding Council will hold a public hearing on testimony related to Performance-based Funding formulas for state-related universities.
Agenda & Testimony
Panel 1:
Panel 2:
- Dr. Steven Gentile, Executive Director, Tennessee Higher Education Commission
- Russell VanZomeren, Senior Director, Fiscal Policy at the Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Panel 3:
- Mike Fowler, Penn State Student and President, Lion Caucus
- Dr. Tracy Langkilde, Interim Executive Vice President and Provost, Penn State University
- Greg Scott, President and CEO, Centre County Chamber
Other Documents
Supporting Documents from Tennessee Higher Education Commission
- Tennessee Higher Education Commission Funding Formula Data Dictionary
- Outcomes Based Funding Overview
- 2020-2025 Outcomes-based Funding Formula Tabs Flow Chart
- Outcomes-Based Funding Formula
Supporting Documents from Penn State
Thursday, January 14, 2025
The Performance-based Funding Council held a public hearing on testimony related to Performance-based Funding formulas for state-related universities.
Agenda & Testimony
Panel 1:
- Dr. Andrew Armagost, Special Advisor to the Budget Secretary
- Nathan Hench, PHEAA, Senior Vice President for Public Affairs, Guaranty, & Strategy
Panel 2:
- Andrew Smalley, Senior Policy Specialist with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
- Dr. Justin Ortagus, Associate Professor of Higher Education Administration & Policy, and Director of the Institute of Higher Education, University of Florida
- Charles Ansell, Vice President for Research, Policy and Advocacy, Complete College America