We’re up bright and early this morning for the television event of the semester. At 9 a.m., the PCN cable network (Channel 20 or 63, depending) will broadcast the university’s annual appropriations hearing.

This is the higher-education equivalent of a kid asking for a raise in allowance — the kid being Ann Weaver Hart (crushing your head in this photo) and the parent being the State House Committe for Appropriations.

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, 2007-08’s allowance was $172,917,000, a $3.5 million increase over 06-07. Expect a similar bump this year.

If 9 a.m. is too early for the state’s equivalent of C-SPAN, you can catch it online at pcntv.com.