PASSHE Institutions Merging

[complaint_hopeful]

Had some solid conversations with Edinboro folks over the weekend. Systemwide retention is way down. A lot of students left during the pandemic and didn't return.

My guess is that these triads become something bigger.

They almost have to. My guess is they start sharing online classes across more schools than just the Triads at minimum.

But, I could see a Phase 2 of these Integrations with a new set of schools.

It's interesting that IUP dipped under 10,000 students...because wasn't that the magic number in the law where you couldn't be merged with? Not saying PASSHE would do that with IUP, but who knows? I think we're getting to the point where anything is on the table.

[Fightingscot82]

Chaney and Mansfield have figured out enrollment! Time for all the schools to copy them! I kid. I kid.

This is terrible. Absolutely terrible.

The funny thing is the pandemic was blamed for losses 2 years ago. Kids don't want online! Then, they rush back to campus...and bigger losses!

And these numbers are headcount. It doesn't take into account for students who are taking less credits...which can be the case. So like a 5% loss in headcount can be a 7% loss in FTE.

Had some solid conversations with Edinboro folks over the weekend. Systemwide retention is way down. A lot of students left during the pandemic and didn't return.

My guess is that these triads become something bigger.

[complaint_hopeful]

I believe those numbers are FTE students.

headcount for each of the system universities with the percentage change from last year:'

[complaint_hopeful]

consolidation of six universities into two institutions

[complaint_hopeful]

[iupgroundhog]

Bloomsburg: 7,745, down 8.19%

California: 6,512, down 5.42%

Cheyney: 642, up 2.39%

Clarion: 3,922, down 12.16%

East Stroudsburg: 5,136, down 12.08%

Edinboro: 4,043, down 6.39%

Indiana: 9,308, down 7.54%

Kutztown: 7,675, down 2.75%

Lock Haven: 2,920, down 7.68%

Mansfield: 1,803, up 0.61%

Millersville: 7,213, down 3.76%

Shippensburg: 5,668, down 7.54%

Slippery Rock: 8,424, down 5.09%

West Chester: 17,640, down 0.45%

Source: https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/1...o-decades.html

Would be interesting to see how IUP was affected in the area of foreign students, both undergrad and grad. For example, the MBA program relies so heavily on foreign students. If they were affected significantly, that number can come back quickly.

[Bart]

Chaney and Mansfield have figured out enrollment! Time for all the schools to copy them! I kid. I kid.

This is terrible. Absolutely terrible.

The funny thing is the pandemic was blamed for losses 2 years ago. Kids don't want online! Then, they rush back to campus...and bigger losses!

And these numbers are headcount. It doesn't take into account for students who are taking less credits...which can be the case. So like a 5% loss in headcount can be a 7% loss in FTE.

I believe those numbers are FTE students.

[complaint_hopeful]

Bloomsburg: 7,745, down 8.19%

California: 6,512, down 5.42%

Cheyney: 642, up 2.39%

Clarion: 3,922, down 12.16%

East Stroudsburg: 5,136, down 12.08%

Edinboro: 4,043, down 6.39%

Indiana: 9,308, down 7.54%

Kutztown: 7,675, down 2.75%

Lock Haven: 2,920, down 7.68%

Mansfield: 1,803, up 0.61%

Millersville: 7,213, down 3.76%

Shippensburg: 5,668, down 7.54%

Slippery Rock: 8,424, down 5.09%

West Chester: 17,640, down 0.45%

Source: https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/1...o-decades.html

Chaney and Mansfield have figured out enrollment! Time for all the schools to copy them! I kid. I kid.

This is terrible. Absolutely terrible.

The funny thing is the pandemic was blamed for losses 2 years ago. Kids don't want online! Then, they rush back to campus...and bigger losses!

And these numbers are headcount. It doesn't take into account for students who are taking less credits...which can be the case. So like a 5% loss in headcount can be a 7% loss in FTE.

[Bart]

Bloomsburg: 7,745, down 8.19%

California: 6,512, down 5.42%

Cheyney: 642, up 2.39%

Clarion: 3,922, down 12.16%

East Stroudsburg: 5,136, down 12.08%

Edinboro: 4,043, down 6.39%

Indiana: 9,308, down 7.54%

Kutztown: 7,675, down 2.75%

Lock Haven: 2,920, down 7.68%

Mansfield: 1,803, up 0.61%

Millersville: 7,213, down 3.76%

Shippensburg: 5,668, down 7.54%

Slippery Rock: 8,424, down 5.09%

West Chester: 17,640, down 0.45%

Source: https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/1...o-decades.html

Thanks. Bloom gave the same number, but that it was down 3.9% since last year.

[Fightingscot82]

Bloomsburg: 7,745, down 8.19%

California: 6,512, down 5.42%

Cheyney: 642, up 2.39%

Clarion: 3,922, down 12.16%

East Stroudsburg: 5,136, down 12.08%

Edinboro: 4,043, down 6.39%

Indiana: 9,308, down 7.54%

Kutztown: 7,675, down 2.75%

Lock Haven: 2,920, down 7.68%

Mansfield: 1,803, up 0.61%

Millersville: 7,213, down 3.76%

Shippensburg: 5,668, down 7.54%

Slippery Rock: 8,424, down 5.09%

West Chester: 17,640, down 0.45%

Source: https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/1...o-decades.html

[Bart]

Well this is certainly interesting.

When will we see the entire Fall 2021 enrollment figures? I have only been able to find a few.

[Fightingscot82]

Well this is certainly interesting.

[complaint_hopeful]

The West Triad gets it's name this week. It officially is announced on the 14th.

[Bart]

Looked for enrollment numbers for Fall 2021. Found some which I think are official.

................total..... undergraduate......graduate
SRU.......8,424......6,921................ 1,503.......... down 5.1%
Kutztown 7,675.... 6,697.................. 978........... down
clarion.....3069...... 2687.................. 382........... down 14.1%
Bloom..... 7,749.... 7,072................. 677............down 3.9%

Bloom blames drop due to Covid, demographic challenges, and perceptions about merger.

[complaint_hopeful]

EXACTLY! I would also say that it is school administration that shares in the blame. Seems like particular posters want to assign all the blame for the PASSHE problems on one person from one party when the truth is that both parties and multiple governors share in the blame.

But the ultimate point is the budgets are were they are and they ain't going up dramatically (MAYBE 2-3% in a given year but I note for the last two years there has been zero increase)...Likewise, enrollment is not going to go up dramatically. (if at all). The REAL question is how does PASSHE right size itself to work within its current budget and current/projected number of students. Just my opinion, but I don't see the merger plan as sufficient to provide long or even mid term stability to the PASSHE system.

The main problems with the mergers is they cost A LOT of money to implement. And yeah the state gave PASSHE money to do that, but it's 1-time and maybe it would have been better used in other ways...

And yeah...the cost to attend the schools is too high. They're priced out of the market. That needs fixed.