PASSHE Institutions Merging

[iupgroundhog]

However, this type of research needs to be scrutinized. Not saying it doesn't reflect reality. There are a lot of factors that go into this and if I had to guess which schools would come out with the worst ratings without seeing this study I think I would be correct.

Remember to not confuse correlation with causation, For example, these 4 campuses have lost some of the highest percentages of students, so could it be true that those remaining are skewed towards locals more? Could a factor be the nature of the greater community, including outside of the campus?

Furthermore, this is qualitative research which always comes with a caveat that the conclusions are not necessarily statistically projectable. This article states that the results are in opposition to a quantitative survey done in 2022 and claims that this is the real deal because "participants didn't just fill in blanks." That is clearly debatable.

How in-depth did the questioners probe? The specific incidents mentioned in the article are terrible but they are anecdotal.

[iupgroundhog]

Can you give me an example to understand your perspective?

I don't recall all of the details but a year or 2 ago there was an egregious act of hate at IUP (didn't it happen at a BB game?) and the President took decisive and appropriate action which was supported by the IUP community, in general. The message was unambiguous. That's one. Those are the kinds of acts that strengthen the culture. But to a great extent, I think you would find differences at the university level, e.g. on-campus groups and activities that strengthen the culture. If those kinds of things are absent, a different culture can take hold.

[Ship69]

Maybe they get all the rural students while IUP and Slimey get students From urban areas.

Ship is located in one of the most consistently red areas of the state.

[Ship69]

I knew that was going to be the answer when I asked it.

Oh? I actually didn't know which school she had attended until I looked it up.

[Fightingscot82]

I'm sorry, but if you believe that each administration is completely neutral, I have a bridge to sell you. Harrisburg isn't going to bother to be the enforcer, so effectively every PASSHE office is essentially on their own.

Can you give me an example to understand your perspective?

[EastStroud13]

Not at PASSHE schools. Administration by law must be viewpoint neutral. The political culture of each campus is purely independent on who enrolls.

I'm sorry, but if you believe that each administration is completely neutral, I have a bridge to sell you. Harrisburg isn't going to bother to be the enforcer, so effectively every PASSHE office is essentially on their own.

[Fightingscot82]

Perhaps the students create the environment, but it is the administration that allows it to happen. The responsibility falls squarely on them.

It's not a complete coincidence that all four are in rural, conservative areas. Pennsyltucky has a major problem with racism and always has. You can find evidence of this at high schools as well. This isn't simply Nation hysteria.

Not at PASSHE schools. Administration by law must be viewpoint neutral. The political culture of each campus is purely independent on who enrolls.

[IUPNation]

Perhaps the students create the environment, but it is the administration that allows it to happen. The responsibility falls squarely on them.

It's not a complete coincidence that all four are in rural, conservative areas. Pennsyltucky has a major problem with racism and always has. You can find evidence of this at high schools as well. This isn't simply Nation hysteria.

Nation personally experienced it.

[EastStroud13]

You can say that all the campuses are in conservative ares. It is the students who create the campus environment and they could come from liberal places. The surprise is that 3 of the worst campuses merged into 1.

Perhaps the students create the environment, but it is the administration that allows it to happen. The responsibility falls squarely on them.

It's not a complete coincidence that all four are in rural, conservative areas. Pennsyltucky has a major problem with racism and always has. You can find evidence of this at high schools as well. This isn't simply Nation hysteria.

[IUPNation]

I guess you didn't read the articles.

I browsed through it.

Trust me I had plenty of harassment in my 4 years at IUP. The notion that all college students are liberals is a myth. There were plenty of Neanderthals dragging their knuckles across the Oak Grove.

[Bart]

Maybe they get all the rural students while IUP and Slimey get students From urban areas.

I guess you didn't read the articles.

[IUPNation]

You can say that all the campuses are in conservative ares. It is the students who create the campus environment and they could come from liberal places. The surprise is that 3 of the worst campuses merged into 1.

Maybe they get all the rural students while IUP and Slimey get students From urban areas.

[Bart]

Not a surprise. Most of the campuses are located in highly conservative areas.

You can say that all the campuses are in conservative ares. It is the students who create the campus environment and they could come from liberal places. The surprise is that 3 of the worst campuses merged into 1.

[Fightingscot82]

Cheyney may the only (then) PSAC I haven't been to for a game.

As I recall their football field was pretty rough, correct?

Everything IUPNation said is accurate. I was visiting in Chadds Ford a several years ago and realized we were so close so I drove to campus to make it to all 14 PASSHE campuses. It was rough. There were 3 types of buildings: early 19th century stone houses, characterless Cold War era buildings, and a couple brand new "brick and plastic" buildings. No landscaping anywhere. No little details that make a campus look nice. The football stadium reminded me of something you'd see in a poor city neighborhood park. Wood open bleacher seating. Unmaintained grass field. Old fashioned "light bulb" scoreboard.

[IUPNation]

Four of the six merged campuses considered hostile environments for black students.


"Three in Western Pennsylvania and one in north-central Pennsylvania as most problematic. They include the three campuses making up Pennsylvania Western University — Edinboro, Clarion and California — and Mansfield University, which is now a part of the newly merged Commonwealth University."

https://www.inquirer.com/education/p...-20240130.html

Not a surprise. Most of the campuses are located in highly conservative areas.