PASSHE Institutions Merging

[playersdad]

As the athletic dept. of the state schools become more impacted by budget cuts I see (just my uneducated thoughts) programs cut and multiple programs cut to keep pace with Title IX. For example, I could see institutions that combine services offer only football at one school and their "partner" offering baseball at the other for example. I also see the privates (Seton Hill, Gannon, and Mercyhurst) benefitting as they can still have better than average facilities, offer scholarships, pay coaches, and recruit from other than their own county. I see them politely asked to find another conference shortly.

[Bart]

My guess and 100% guessing here: reducing some assistant coach positions to PT or GA, reimbursing based on receipts instead of mileage, and significantly reducing any team trips. Sending a volleyball team to Myrtle Beach for a 3 day tournament is expensive.

Mansfield announced last month they will not renew contracts for full-time assistant coaches.

[iupgroundhog]

Some updates on integration:

- It looks like a full on merger might be off the table. Middle States, the accrediting organization for this region, requires a main campus designation for multi campus schools. PASSHE has said that's off the table, so UWP & UEP or similar is done-zo.

- At least in the west, the goal is to have "three robust athletic departments." This makes it less likely that a revenue producing program will be cut. Reductions will probably be in staffing and operations/travel.

- Foundations and some of the Alumni Associations are legally separate 501c3 non-profits run by their own boards. The state can't force these organizations to merge or combine finances.

- Councils of trustees would combine but that also means a reduction in local governance of these schools.

- It's possible that we'll see all six schools retain their names and identities. Governance and administration will be centralized under a coalition. The descriptor for this entity I've heard from several is "holding company".

I don't really follow what you're saying here. The official word from PASSHE from the outset has been to insist that these were not mergers.

The interesting difference between the west triad and the northern triad is the group of schools involved. In the west, Clarion, Cal, and Edinboro are all relative equals in size, curriculum, etc. However, the northern triad has 1 really small school (Mansfield), 1 small school (LHU), and 1 bigger school (Bloom) that appears to have a dominant role in the triad. The situation for the two triads may not end up following the same course.

I think we have to keep in mind that what's been discussed so far is the just the first step in what will be an evolutionary process. Implement the initial plans, meet the state's financial goals That's what we know. What we don't know is what happens to the schools over the next 2-4 years. Most likely, the schools in the west are going to continue to lose enrollment. That will have to be managed. Having the common administration for the 3 schools provides more flexibility (and removes the obstacle of parochialism) to make further changes/adjustments.

I don't see any winners amongst the west triad of schools. I think significant problems loom for them as this all moves forward. In the northern triad, I think for LHU there is a significant risk to the institution continuing with the same footprint. For Mansfield, I think it ultimately lets them avoid closure altogether. I think Bloom acquires a larger footprint as a result.

As for sports, what does "three robust athletic departments" mean? I don't think that kind of independence for the 3 athletic departments was spelled out in the recent PASSHE document relating to sports. I think as far as each athletic department is concerned they are going to lose quite a bit of autonomy. They aren't in control of their own destiny. I do think we can breathe easier because changes to sports will lag behind the academics/administrative by a couple of years.

[Fightingscot82]

What does that really mean? Travel-wise, they still have to play road games. I suppose they can limit the recruiting budget and the amount of coin they reimburse to coaches for recruiting ... which obviously won't help recruiting. They can do a lot of 'out-n-backs' rather than stay in hotels.

I'm curious what 'staffing' would likely be scaled back. Our programs don't run like D1's ... they don't all have bogus positions like Director of Toilet Paper Replacement or the Assistant to the Assistant's Assistant Director of Basketball Operations. Usually everybody they have in D2 is needed -- and overworked.

To run D2 varsity sports there's only so much you can cut (it's already pretty bare bone).

My guess and 100% guessing here: reducing some assistant coach positions to PT or GA, reimbursing based on receipts instead of mileage, and significantly reducing any team trips. Sending a volleyball team to Myrtle Beach for a 3 day tournament is expensive.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Some updates on integration:

- It looks like a full on merger might be off the table. Middle States, the accrediting organization for this region, requires a main campus designation for multi campus schools. PASSHE has said that's off the table, so UWP & UEP or similar is done-zo.

- At least in the west, the goal is to have "three robust athletic departments." This makes it less likely that a revenue producing program will be cut. Reductions will probably be in staffing and operations/travel.

- Foundations and some of the Alumni Associations are legally separate 501c3 non-profits run by their own boards. The state can't force these organizations to merge or combine finances.

- Councils of trustees would combine but that also means a reduction in local governance of these schools.

- It's possible that we'll see all six schools retain their names and identities. Governance and administration will be centralized under a coalition. The descriptor for this entity I've heard from several is "holding company".

What does that really mean? Travel-wise, they still have to play road games. I suppose they can limit the recruiting budget and the amount of coin they reimburse to coaches for recruiting ... which obviously won't help recruiting. They can do a lot of 'out-n-backs' rather than stay in hotels.

I'm curious what 'staffing' would likely be scaled back. Our programs don't run like D1's ... they don't all have bogus positions like Director of Toilet Paper Replacement or the Assistant to the Assistant's Assistant Director of Basketball Operations. Usually everybody they have in D2 is needed -- and overworked.

To run D2 varsity sports there's only so much you can cut (it's already pretty bare bone).