Texas's 150th House of Representatives district

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Erin Calandra Penn State Outreach Reporter <<Many scholars believe it was one of the most important pieces of legislation in the history of our country. The Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862. Named for Vermont Congressman Justin Morrill, and signed by President Abraham Lincoln, the act gave federal lands to the states, which in turn sold that land to establish universities that shared knowledge with the public.. And without it.>> President Graham Spanier Penn State <<We wouldn’t have the dramatic advances that we’ve seen over the 150 years in areas like agriculture and engineering.>> Erin Calandra Reporter <<In 1863 Penn State became one of the nations’ first and Pennsylvania’s only land-grant institution. The Morrill Act gave Penn State a three-part mission, teaching, research and service. >> Craig Weidemann VP, Penn State Outreach <<It made higher education available for and relevant for the children of the working class in the Commonwealth and every state across the country. It made an opportunity for people to transition their lives through education and it also provided research to help improve the lives of people across the commonwealth and across the country.>> Roger Williams Affiliate Associate Professor, Penn State <<Land-grant universities have made a huge difference in the success of this country in the opportunity that it has provided to men and women>> Erin Calandra Reporter <<The historical significance of the Morrill Act is recognized nearly 150 years later, at a Penn State land-grant conference. President Graham Spanier Penn State <<Penn State is one of the great land-grant universities, it is in our blood here.>> Erin Calandra Reporter <<It’s here that scholars from across the country dissect the history of land-grants and look forward. >> Hiram Fitzgerald Michigan State University <<The future is incredibly exciting!>> Erin Calandra Reporter <<Today land-grant universities continue to share research and knowledge with the public which many say is especially important in tough economic times.>> Roger Williams Affiliate Associate Professor, Penn State <<Because of what is happening the role of land-grant universities such as Penn State is going to be more important, more essential, more critical to the way this country moves forward, than it has ever been.>> Craig Weidemann VP, Penn State Outreach <<If you look at the complex issues that this country is facing we need smart, researched solutions.>> Erin Calandra Reporter <<Although scholars believe that land-grant universities will be asked to do more in the future, they do worry about government support.>> President Graham Spanier Penn State <<So many of us believe in the land-grant mission and I would hope that we will be able to continue with that emphasis in perpetuity but the land-grant mission is being challenged now because there is very little support from the federal and state government that helps us specifically with that mission.>> Erin Calandra Reporter <<But they say that land-grant universities won’t lose sight of the real meaning>> Theodore Alter Professor, Penn State <<It’s not just about the science and technology, it’s about people, it’s about human development, its about community development, it’s about fostering democracy through our interaction with people.>> Erin Calandra Reporter <<For Penn State Outreach, I’m Erin Calandra.>>