HARRISBURG — SRU President William Behre offered words of caution at Wednesday's PASSHE Board of Governors meeting in the capitol.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors approved a freeze on tuition and fees for fiscal year 2019-20, despite a more than $60 million budget gap.

Behre said he understood the thought behind the decision, but it also appears to be repeating the system's past mistake in relying on state funding.

“We depended on growth to balance the budget. Growth is imperpetual, and you can't do it perpetually,” Behre said. “As we go through redesign, we have to get away from perpetual growth.”

Then speaking to the lawmakers present at the meeting, Behre said that if the freeze helps sway government to invest further in the system, then the move would be successful.

“If not, it's a symbolic move that will hurt the universities in a year,” Behre said.

The board also approved a 2 percent allocation to the universities.

Board member Cynthia Shapira thanked the state's representation for the 2 percent increase to the state's appropriation to the system.

“A lot of people worked hard on our behalf,” Shapira said. “People understand what we're trying to do, and they understand the mission.”

In an ensuing report and discussion from the Student Success Committee, PASSHE Chancellor Daniel Greenstein formally recommended the tuition freeze.

As he gave his presentation, he offered examples of 0, 1, 2 and 3 percent increases. He said each percent raised equals about $10 million additional revenue.

“To close the gap would be a 6½ percent increase,” Greenstein said. “None of the realistic increase options solve this problem.”

Greenstein said finding the right balance to correct the budget gap will take time, and the burden should not fall squarely on the students' shoulders. He said there could be other areas where cuts could be made.

This is the second time in the system's 36-year history that tuition has been frozen.

Basic tuition for in-state undergraduate students at the system's 14 universities will remain at $7,716 for the 2019-20 academic year.