PASSHE Institutions Merging

[TheBigCat2192]

"At a Penn State Faculty Senate meeting last week, university officials — including President Neeli Bendapudi and Margo DelliCarpini, vice president for commonwealth campuses — did not directly answer employees’ questions about possible campus closures."

https://shensentinel.com/news/penn-s...raight-answer/

This guy emailed the PSU PR office at 7:30 on a Tuesday and said “plz respond by my deadline of 4PM tomorrow.” Classy move.

[Bart]

They can't really force Penn State's hand on that like they can with PASSHE. Plus most local governments treat the local outlet store campus like they host Dartmouth. They'd be signing their death wish next election. A "Penn State degree" isn't universal if it's not taught by the same people teaching in State College.

"At a Penn State Faculty Senate meeting last week, university officials — including President Neeli Bendapudi and Margo DelliCarpini, vice president for commonwealth campuses — did not directly answer employees’ questions about possible campus closures."

https://shensentinel.com/news/penn-s...raight-answer/

[Fightingscot82]

Yet, meanwhile, State Penn still keeps 20-30 branch campuses, even though most of those seem redundant (hello, Fayette, McKeesport, New Ken, Beaver) because ... They Are ... Penn State.

Seriously, you'd think someone in Harrisburg would read the room...

They can't really force Penn State's hand on that like they can with PASSHE. Plus most local governments treat the local outlet store campus like they host Dartmouth. They'd be signing their death wish next election. A "Penn State degree" isn't universal if it's not taught by the same people teaching in State College.

[ctrabs74]

I have thought that campus was superfluous for a long time. I think these branch campuses outlive their usefulness simply because they exist.

Yet, meanwhile, State Penn still keeps 20-30 branch campuses, even though most of those seem redundant (hello, Fayette, McKeesport, New Ken, Beaver) because ... They Are ... Penn State.

Seriously, you'd think someone in Harrisburg would read the room...

[ctrabs74]

CU closing a campus. https://www.sungazette.com/uncategor...field-closing/

When I saw "CU" I thought it was Clarion at first... Man, I'm getting old.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Well, I thank you guys for bringing this up. Frankly, I had no idea that campus existed.

That's part of the problem.

[Ship69]

I have thought that campus was superfluous for a long time. I think these branch campuses outlive their usefulness simply because they exist.

Well, I thank you guys for bringing this up. Frankly, I had no idea that campus existed.

[iupgroundhog]

Yeah. Similar thing happened with Clarion and their Venango campus, Edinboro and their Millcreek campus, Cal and their Southpointe center, etc. Impressed that IUP has been able to continue their Monroeville center.

Online classes really kills the "take X classes right here!" sales pitch.

.
All true. But there's another thing, specific to these campuses. There was one powerful and wealthy person behind the LHU-Clearfield campus, Guy Graham of Clearfield, PA. Graham was formerly chair of the LHU Board of Trustees.

That type of influence seems to happen in our system. It's the same for IUP's Punxsutawney campus. IUP Board member and former PA Speaker of the House Sam Smith has directed a lot of resources from the main campus to the Punxsy campus. In my opinion, way too much. He is the champion of Punxsutawney and, I believe, it's at Indiana's expense.

Ironically, Guy Graham, the driving force behind LHU's Clearfield campus, passed away 2 weeks ago on January 6, 2025.

[Fightingscot82]

I have thought that campus was superfluous for a long time. I think these branch campuses outlive their usefulness simply because they exist.

Yeah. Similar thing happened with Clarion and their Venango campus, Edinboro and their Millcreek campus, Cal and their Southpointe center, etc. Impressed that IUP has been able to continue their Monroeville center.

Online classes really kills the "take X classes right here!" sales pitch.

[iupgroundhog]

I guess it's just one big building. It will be interesting to see what becomes of that building.

[iupgroundhog]

From a higher ed article on this...



Not good.

I have thought that campus was superfluous for a long time. I think these branch campuses outlive their usefulness simply because they exist.

[Fightingscot82]

CU closing a campus. https://www.sungazette.com/uncategor...field-closing/

From a higher ed article on this...

Officials pointed to an average annual operating deficit of more than $1.6 million over the last five years with enrollment falling from 395 students in fiscal year 2019–20 to 177 in the fall semester.

Not good.

[Bart]

CU closing a campus. https://www.sungazette.com/uncategor...field-closing/

[Fightingscot82]

The average price of a new car in the U.S. now is about $47,000. I don't think $40,000 in college loans would be an impossible hardship on most graduates, especially those in jobs at the high end. For fields such as education, you might need to consider some incentives to make it more attractive. Teacher pay in the country ranges from pretty good to downright awful. Most of the Northeast is certainly not the worst. One of my granddaughters, a kindergarten teacher and Ship graduate, has a lot more in the bank than I did at her age, and some of her friends aren't doing badly, either. But even at that a big reason more people don't get into the field is the animosity directed toward public schools and higher education in general. There are certain professions in this country that we need to value more. Then again, you can be a pro basketball player who believes the Earth is flat and make millions of dollars, so maybe education isn't everything.

Average bachelor's degree loan debt is pretty close to the average cost of a wedding.

[Ship69]

Same reason people don't study education anymore. Multiple generations asking 17 year olds "What job are you going to get with that? Starbucks?" Everyone wants well paying jobs that are directly tied to what they study. No longer willing to take out $40k in loans for a choose your own adventure major and career path. Fulfilling but modest paying careers just aren't attractive, trendy or not. Only the rich can afford to study liberal arts anymore. We're going backwards in that respect.

The average price of a new car in the U.S. now is about $47,000. I don't think $40,000 in college loans would be an impossible hardship on most graduates, especially those in jobs at the high end. For fields such as education, you might need to consider some incentives to make it more attractive. Teacher pay in the country ranges from pretty good to downright awful. Most of the Northeast is certainly not the worst. One of my granddaughters, a kindergarten teacher and Ship graduate, has a lot more in the bank than I did at her age, and some of her friends aren't doing badly, either. But even at that a big reason more people don't get into the field is the animosity directed toward public schools and higher education in general. There are certain professions in this country that we need to value more. Then again, you can be a pro basketball player who believes the Earth is flat and make millions of dollars, so maybe education isn't everything.