PASSHE Institutions Merging

[Ram040506]

The only positive thing for Edinboro that's come from this merger is the new E logo with a sword through it. I sincerely hope there's no PennWest anywhere. Just Edinboro Fighting Scots, which seems par for the course so far in Athletics.

That logo is awesome!

[iupgroundhog]

Oh they're Commonwealth. When PASSHE is holding meetings and tracking, its Commonwealth. No separation of campus. When I have meetings with folks at the three campuses, everything they have says Commonwealth (email, title, etc.). I just this morning saw a job posting for Bloomsburg:

https://commonwealthu.peopleadmin.com/postings/1040

Department Dean of Students
Home Campus: Bloomsburg
Work Location: Home Campus

"This position reports to the Dean of Students and works to foster collaboration throughout Commonwealth University..."

"...support the development of the overall Commonwealth University student..."

The slow walked the marketing integration because of the response to Penn West's rollout. If anyone is saying that the individual campuses are still going to function independently they're lying. Penn West said the same thing. A PASSHE BOG member (a state legislator) has directed the system to force an immediate full replacement of all campus signage from the old names. Bloomsburg is the healthiest of the three but they'll be dragged down as a regression to the mean of the three campuses like IUP was dragged down as a regression to the mean of the other campuses when forced into PASSHE.

That's a good post. On the other hand, you are restating the stated goals of the merger. A lot of what you guys are saying is true with regard to Bloom. However, I think you are overstating Bloom's market position at the time of the merger. The trends were pointing downward on a scale almost like that for the western schools, actually a more negative decline than Shippensburg. On the other hand, at that time LHU was experiencing an uptick under the then-president. It had the chance to be Renaissance-like, not unlike the reversal we've seen with their football team this year., There were numbers to bear that out but I realize it is also subjective and based on projections and estimates that are irrelevant today.

I don't understand how you can claim that Bloom will come back to the mean and, at the same time, claim that the ultimate result is that Bloom will be "the main campus" and the others will be "branch campuses." Seems counterintuitive to me. I don't know how much the location of the administration influences how resources are distributed. Just because PSAC admin is headquartered in Lock Haven doesn't mean anything. It's got to be somewhere.

Time will tell.

Edit: After re-reading your post, I would say there was never a claim that the schools would "function independently", as you say. It is "integration", after all. What they did say, ultimately, is that they would retain their unique identities. That is primarily related to athletics.

[Fightingscot82]

Oh they're Commonwealth. When PASSHE is holding meetings and tracking, its Commonwealth. No separation of campus. When I have meetings with folks at the three campuses, everything they have says Commonwealth (email, title, etc.). I just this morning saw a job posting for Bloomsburg:

https://commonwealthu.peopleadmin.com/postings/1040

Department Dean of Students
Home Campus: Bloomsburg
Work Location: Home Campus

"This position reports to the Dean of Students and works to foster collaboration throughout Commonwealth University..."

"...support the development of the overall Commonwealth University student..."

The slow walked the marketing integration because of the response to Penn West's rollout. If anyone is saying that the individual campuses are still going to function independently they're lying. Penn West said the same thing. A PASSHE BOG member (a state legislator) has directed the system to force an immediate full replacement of all campus signage from the old names. Bloomsburg is the healthiest of the three but they'll be dragged down as a regression to the mean of the three campuses like IUP was dragged down as a regression to the mean of the other campuses when forced into PASSHE.

[Fightingscot82]

With Edinboro getting new turf will they be first to have the new branding on display?

The only positive thing for Edinboro that's come from this merger is the new E logo with a sword through it. I sincerely hope there's no PennWest anywhere. Just Edinboro Fighting Scots, which seems par for the course so far in Athletics.

[Bart]

I figured that's why you listed them. Actually, a lot of people don't know it but Iceland hasn't been a Commonwealth since 1262.

Thank you. It gives me hope Bloom won't be a Commonwealth in 2025.

[iupgroundhog]

Every place mentioned is a Commonwealth.

I figured that's why you listed them. Actually, a lot of people don't know it but Iceland hasn't been a Commonwealth since 1262.

[Bart]

I guess Commonwealth University could be in Kentucky.

Every place mentioned is a Commonwealth.

[iupgroundhog]

I would hate to lose Bloomsburg identity to a name change. Niagara Fall is in Niagara, N.Y. Bloomsburg University is in Bloomsburg, Pa.. Where is Commonwealth University? Iceland? Liberia? Bahamas? Kentucky????? I wanna go back.

"I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them."
Andy from the office

I guess Commonwealth University could be in Kentucky.

[Bart]

Maybe, but I'm not so sure. I don't see that kind of centralized structure as it continues to evolve. I believe that is what concerns Bart.

I would hate to lose Bloomsburg identity to a name change. Niagara Fall is in Niagara, N.Y. Bloomsburg University is in Bloomsburg, Pa.. Where is Commonwealth University? Iceland? Liberia? Bahamas? Kentucky????? I wanna go back.

"I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them."
Andy from the office

[iupgroundhog]

Physically, yes. Culturally, no. Eventually operationally they'll be a Bloomsburg branch campus. Bloomsburg management calls the shots. Also eventually the Commonwealth University branding will take over.

Maybe, but I'm not so sure. I don't see that kind of centralized structure as it continues to evolve. I believe that is what concerns Bart.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Physically, yes. Culturally, no. Eventually operationally they'll be a Bloomsburg branch campus. Bloomsburg management calls the shots. Also eventually the Commonwealth University branding will take over.

With Edinboro getting new turf will they be first to have the new branding on display?

[Fightingscot82]

I certainly hope Commonwealth University works and that LHU and Bloom are able to retain a unique identity in the process.

Physically, yes. Culturally, no. Eventually operationally they'll be a Bloomsburg branch campus. Bloomsburg management calls the shots. Also eventually the Commonwealth University branding will take over.

[iupgroundhog]

That number is for Bloomsburg, don't know what is going on at the others. It's no stretch to say they were getting at least four applicants for every one enrolled in the past, so I wouldn't say Commwealth is helping. Right now some incentives may help, such as local high school students taking courses at a reduced cost, and guaranteed admission and $3000 to $7000 scholarships to local students with at least an 80 average.

I certainly hope Commonwealth University works and that LHU and Bloom are able to retain a unique identity in the process.

[Bart]

22% is a good number. How do you separate that level of success from the influence of being part of Commonwealth University and the advantages/selling points they are promoting?

That number is for Bloomsburg, don't know what is going on at the others. It's no stretch to say they were getting at least four applicants for every one enrolled in the past, so I wouldn't say Commwealth is helping. Right now some incentives may help, such as local high school students taking courses at a reduced cost, and guaranteed admission and $3000 to $7000 scholarships to local students with at least an 80 average.

[iupgroundhog]

I don't doubt much of what you write there, except Bloom was already the kingpin of the NE/NC part of the state before the merger and may still be according to current enrollment numbers.
Also, applications for next year are up 22% right now.

22% is a good number. How do you separate that level of success from the influence of being part of Commonwealth University and the advantages/selling points they are promoting?