PASSHE Institutions Merging

[iupgroundhog]

https://triblive.com/opinion/colin-m...e-predicament/

Bart, I am surprised by your reaction against the Bloom/LHU/Mansfield alliance. You seem to believe that Bloom is getting screwed in the deal.

I see it as a perfectly sensible, even inevitable, progression given the PASSHE plan, overall. Furthermore, I don't see Bloom losing identity or status with it. Bloom might even gain status as a result if it is seen as being the dominant player among the three.

In this arrangement, Mansfield is losing a lot, LH is next, and Bloom so far isn't losing much.

But this kind of parochialism can't get in the way of the plan. Territorialism will only hold the system back.

In fact, this isn't anything new. The schools have been tied together as one system since 1983. When PASSHE was formed, it was IUP that lost a degree of distinctiveness. The rest did not, including Bloom. In fact, the rest of the system gained. We have lived with that for 37 years. I thought then, and I still do now, that IUP should have gone the state-related route. Of course, they didn't.

At this point, I think we have to look at what is good for the system as a whole. None of the schools can stand on their own, with the exception of perhaps West Chester.

They are making a big deal of the % enrollment declines for LHU and Mansfield. However, these are small numbers. The bigger problems are at bigger schools that have lost large percentages, albeit not as large percentage-wise as LHU and Mansfield. Think IUP, Ship, Cal, Boro, and Clarion.

The eastern schools like Bloom, Ville, and ESU may have only lost ~ 15% of enrollment, as compared to 25-35% elsewhere; however, they are not in good shape. It's likely another 15% is coming.

BTW, Kutztown's situation is similar to the western schools. Not sure what happened there.

[Bart]

enrollment declines and very high costs per student

https://triblive.com/opinion/colin-m...e-predicament/

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The theory is that required courses in Physics for example can be taught to LHU students on-line from Bloom or Mansfield - covid validated the ability to do this. Or they may keep a physical science department, to teach physics, and Geology classes required by other majors. I wonder if anyone has floated the idea of PSU - Mansfield, or PSU LockHaven.? The latter would be popular with students because of the access to the football games. Throw in free tickets, and you'd probably double the enrollment.

I wouldn't doubt Pitt or PSU would love to take over a couple of our schools.

[Bart]

The math and history majors will end, not the departments. They still need to provide the courses needed to complete general education and other courses needed for other majors.

I didn't know LHU had a music major. That one is particularly expensive. Beyond classroom courses, you also need faculty to lead ensembles and teach private instrumental lessons. Plus, Mansfield has an excellent music program.

When they say they are going to have a moratorium on the activity of the departments, what else could it be a suspension of their activity. The merger is considering a single faculty and staff, so faculty may be moved to another university or teach online. Sounds like LHU students would take all their history and math general education courses on line. The other possibility thrown out there is to have seamless transitions between universities. Evidently now some classes aren't accepted at all the universities. One proposal is a student could end up attending 2 or more universities to get the degree they want.

[Fightingscot82]

LHU proposal:



https://www.lockhaven.com/news/local...al-challenges/

It is difficult to imagine a university without a history or math department. This isn't going to end well.

LHU union:



LHU president:


https://www.lockhaven.com/news/local...stees-meeting/

The math and history majors will end, not the departments. They still need to provide the courses needed to complete general education and other courses needed for other majors.

I didn't know LHU had a music major. That one is particularly expensive. Beyond classroom courses, you also need faculty to lead ensembles and teach private instrumental lessons. Plus, Mansfield has an excellent music program.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

100% of the people in jail have been found to have broken the law. You don't want to go to jail, don't break the law. Or cut a deal...See Ray Lewis.

Cops don't go to prison?? I refer you to this: https://www.ranker.com/list/ex-cops-...n/ranker-crime But I'm sure you will dismiss it as irrelevent and then call me a white police racist. Facts are just sooo very inconvenient!

Where's Ray's tuxedo? Lol. Poof. Gone forever.

[IUPNation]

100% of the people in jail have been found to have broken the law. You don't want to go to jail, don't break the law. Or cut a deal...See Ray Lewis.

Cops don't go to prison?? I refer you to this: https://www.ranker.com/list/ex-cops-...n/ranker-crime But I'm sure you will dismiss it as irrelevent and then call me a white police racist. Facts are just sooo very inconvenient!

Cops walk more than they get sent to jail.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
And I feel fine

Underrated song.

[Bart]

The end is near.

It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
And I feel fine

[ironmaniup]

LHU proposal:



https://www.lockhaven.com/news/local...al-challenges/

It is difficult to imagine a university without a history or math department. This isn't going to end well.

LHU union:



LHU president:


https://www.lockhaven.com/news/local...stees-meeting/

The theory is that required courses in Physics for example can be taught to LHU students on-line from Bloom or Mansfield - covid validated the ability to do this. Or they may keep a physical science department, to teach physics, and Geology classes required by other majors. I wonder if anyone has floated the idea of PSU - Mansfield, or PSU LockHaven.? The latter would be popular with students because of the access to the football games. Throw in free tickets, and you'd probably double the enrollment.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

LHU proposal:



https://www.lockhaven.com/news/local...al-challenges/

It is difficult to imagine a university without a history or math department. This isn't going to end well.

LHU union:



LHU president:


https://www.lockhaven.com/news/local...stees-meeting/

The end is near.

[Bart]

LHU proposal:

Among these decisions is the impending loss of 47 full-time staff members, placing seven programs in moratorium and raising the average class size from a 19.2 ratio to 32 as well as educational integration with Bloomsburg and Mansfield universities.
The seven programs that may be placed in moratorium include: art, foreign languages, geology, history, international studies, math, music (both BA and BFA), physics, political science, sociology, M.Ed. Alternative Education and athletic training.

https://www.lockhaven.com/news/local...al-challenges/

It is difficult to imagine a university without a history or math department. This isn't going to end well.

LHU union:

LHU president:
https://www.lockhaven.com/news/local...stees-meeting/

[Bart]

And they both provide good paying jobs in otherwise sleepy rural areas, so any potential closing is fought tooth and nail.

It's rather expensive to find 200 acres to build prisons or colleges within city limits. As for the good paying jobs, people move into those areas for the jobs, so they don't usually benefit the locals.

[boatcapt]

Typically I agree, but I bring it up because similarly any job loss will be fought tooth and nail.

Yep...Anytime there is a "makework" project that an area has become dependent on, people (and the politicians that represent them) will argue that it not be shut down. But just because an area depends on it for work doesn't mean it should remain open,,,be it a prison or a local university.

[Fightingscot82]

I see what you did there! Keeping with the theme, if "enrollment" were down 50%, I would say close it and send the inmates to another instutution.

Typically I agree, but I bring it up because similarly any job loss will be fought tooth and nail.