PASSHE Institutions Merging

[TheBigCat2192]

I have to tend to agree. Having been part of a PASSHE presidential search, I really don't understand how that got through. The hired executive search firm told us EVERYTHING we didn't need to know about the semifinalists. Stuff that usually isn't public record like they got a divorce 20 years ago and married the university employee they were having an affair with kind of stuff.

I suggested this before but my guess is that he had a resume that made him look like an enrollment booster and PASSHE presumably thought that was enough to outweigh his past indiscretions given the enrollment decline. Others have pointed out that he had a friendly backer in the government although I can’t remember that guy’s name.

[Bart]

I have to tend to agree. Having been part of a PASSHE presidential search, I really don't understand how that got through. The hired executive search firm told us EVERYTHING we didn't need to know about the semifinalists. Stuff that usually isn't public record like they got a divorce 20 years ago and married the university employee they were having an affair with kind of stuff.

Sounds like the Council of Trustees isn't changing their decision to continue to back him.

[Fightingscot82]

So, Commonwealth University faculty and coaches held their vote on the university president Bashar Hanna and the results were 88.65% "no confidence." APSCUF is calling for him to resign or be fired by PASSHE. He never should have been hired in the first place.

I have to tend to agree. Having been part of a PASSHE presidential search, I really don't understand how that got through. The hired executive search firm told us EVERYTHING we didn't need to know about the semifinalists. Stuff that usually isn't public record like they got a divorce 20 years ago and married the university employee they were having an affair with kind of stuff.

[iupgroundhog]

So, Commonwealth University faculty and coaches held their vote on the university president Bashar Hanna and the results were 88.65% "no confidence." APSCUF is calling for him to resign or be fired by PASSHE. He never should have been hired in the first place.

[Ship69]

Some, yes. But nothing in this is guarunteed. These campus are NOT multifaceted but have a multifaceted role in their communities. They're community college, state university (like PASSHE plays elsewhere), and economic booster. None of them have nearly the impact that PASSHE schools have but their absences will be felt.

The closing of Mont Alto would probably send at least 25-30 Franklin County kids a year to Ship. There aren't a ton of other relatively low-cost options within easy drive. A lot of kids from my local high school go to Mont Alto because it is within easy driving distance and they can live at home. Ship is a little farther, but they could still commute going there.

[Fightingscot82]

I figure we'd pick up at least a few of the Mont Alto kids at Ship. York would probably split several ways.

Some, yes. But nothing in this is guarunteed. These campus are NOT multifaceted but have a multifaceted role in their communities. They're community college, state university (like PASSHE plays elsewhere), and economic booster. None of them have nearly the impact that PASSHE schools have but their absences will be felt.

[Ship69]

Oh they're losing money on everyone but University Park and Harrisburg. There's just been enough margin in University Park, online, and the law & med schools to cover. Until now.

If they close some of these campuses, we'll see a small blip in PASSHE benefit. Some are only attending because they live close to a branch campus. None will instead attend the main campus. That is basically an entirely different university, just like at Pitt.

I figure we'd pick up at least a few of the Mont Alto kids at Ship. York would probably split several ways.

[Fightingscot82]

Not surprised that Harrisburg campus leads that list as that has become a pretty viable four-year school. Can't believe they're not losing money on several of those places. My school district has elementary schools with a bigger enrollment than several of them. I think it puts quite a perspective on PASSHE having "only" 90,000 students.

Oh they're losing money on everyone but University Park and Harrisburg. There's just been enough margin in University Park, online, and the law & med schools to cover. Until now.

If they close some of these campuses, we'll see a small blip in PASSHE benefit. Some are only attending because they live close to a branch campus. None will instead attend the main campus. That is basically an entirely different university, just like at Pitt.

[Ship69]

Gov. Shapiro has proposed closing Rockview State Prison (just outside State College) and the Quehanna Youth Boot Camp facility (between State College and Lock Haven).

Also, here is the Penn State campus locations & fall 2024 enrollments.

Not surprised that Harrisburg campus leads that list as that has become a pretty viable four-year school. Can't believe they're not losing money on several of those places. My school district has elementary schools with a bigger enrollment than several of them. I think it puts quite a perspective on PASSHE having "only" 90,000 students.

[Fightingscot82]

Gov. Shapiro has proposed closing Rockview State Prison (just outside State College) and the Quehanna Youth Boot Camp facility (between State College and Lock Haven).

Also, here is the Penn State campus locations & fall 2024 enrollments.

[IUPNation]

The prison rate grew with the left and right; it didn't matter which party had the governor. Peak was in 2009, and in 2019 it was increased x7 over 1970. From 2005 to 2015 rural counties had the highest rate and Indiana County had a 173% increase in incarceration rates of their population.

Prisons are what keep dead towns on life support.

[Bart]

Prisons require prisoners from cities to keep the rural prison workforce going..that’s why mass incarceration is supported by the right.

The prison rate grew with the left and right; it didn't matter which party had the governor. Peak was in 2009, and in 2019 it was increased x7 over 1970. From 2005 to 2015 rural counties had the highest rate and Indiana County had a 173% increase in incarceration rates of their population.

[Ship69]

Good points. Of course, some can easily point out that other costs have gone up like local fees that PA says can't be paid for with "tuition"

If there's one thing this country is becoming good at, it's finding ways to thwart good policy. The biggest change I've seen in this country during my 70-some years on the planet is the transition of the U.S. from the country that was going to put a man on the moon within 10 years — and did it with time to spare — into the "can't do" country we have today. Social media, which makes every Joe Blow an expert on everything, has a lot to do with it.

[IUPNation]

"Gov. Josh Shapiro's $51.5 billion budget proposal calls for saving costs by closing two state correctional institutions and two state-run community corrections centers."

https://www.wvia.org/2025-02-04/shap...er-100-million

Someday they will close a couple of colleges.

Prisons require prisoners from cities to keep the rural prison workforce going..that’s why mass incarceration is supported by the right.

[Fightingscot82]

Given the rising cost of nearly everything (with more increases likely to come given our current love for trade wars), I don't think PASSHE has gotten nearly enough credit for this. I guess it's not as sexy as pointing out every flaw in the system. Maintaining this should be a no-brainer, but unfortunately this is Harrisburg we're taling about.

Good points. Of course, some can easily point out that other costs have gone up like local fees that PA says can't be paid for with "tuition"