PASSHE Institutions Merging

[boatcapt]

It's funny, though. At the time, I don't remember many people objecting to the IUP Housing "Revival." Sure, they complained about how the kids today need all these amenities. But I don't remember hearing that the project would price them out of the market or warnings about a dropoff in college-age population. I think a lot of people thought it would lure the kids to IUP.

I recall some supporters of various schools talking about housing construction and renovations and how they were going to be able to compete "with the best" because their student "creature comforts" were soooo very, very nice (new dorms with AC, hot and cold running campus wide free wifi, multiple dining options at name brand on-campus resturants, on-campus concerts by "name" performers, etc).

[complaint_hopeful]

Yep. 10 years ago, the thought process of most schools was to beautify campuses with amenities for kids.

[Bart]

It's funny, though. At the time, I don't remember many people objecting to the IUP Housing "Revival." Sure, they complained about how the kids today need all these amenities. But I don't remember hearing that the project would price them out of the market or warnings about a dropoff in college-age population. I think a lot of people thought it would lure the kids to IUP.

I guess everyone who can read tea leaves are in West Chester, and the rest are now suffering future shock.

[iupgroundhog]

It seems building residence halls was a bad idea when West Chester has about 36% of student living on campus, and IUP only 32%. The issue may be whether they are filled to capacity. Bloom built several campus housing options during the last decade in the neighborhood of $200 million. They have 42.3% of students living on campus and are at less then 80% capacity. Now they are going to be part of the loneliest number since the number 1.

It's funny, though. At the time, I don't remember many people objecting to the IUP Housing "Revival." Sure, they complained about how the kids today need all these amenities. But I don't remember hearing that the project would price them out of the market or warnings about a dropoff in college-age population. I think a lot of people thought it would lure the kids to IUP.

[Bart]

NOW I remember who it was!!!!!

West Chester's enrollment increase didn't translate into a lot of new dorm space because the drop in birth rate that started west of the Susquehanna is making its way east. They did not overbuild housing like so many other PASSHE schools did.

Where can one find the academic ranking of the PSAC schools that you reference?

It seems building residence halls was a bad idea when West Chester has about 36% of student living on campus, and IUP only 32%. The issue may be whether they are filled to capacity. Bloom built several campus housing options during the last decade in the neighborhood of $200 million. They have 42.3% of students living on campus and are at less then 80% capacity. Now they are going to be part of the loneliest number since the number 1.

[Horror Child]

top three Pee Sack schools academically

NOW I remember who it was!!!!!

West Chester's enrollment increase didn't translate into a lot of new dorm space because the drop in birth rate that started west of the Susquehanna is making its way east. They did not overbuild housing like so many other PASSHE schools did.

Where can one find the academic ranking of the PSAC schools that you reference?

[Fightingscot82]

That's my take. He was just trying to say that if we don't change the path we're on...it's going to fail and we'll need to disband. More context is he has been doing townhalls where people ask him questions and he gave off-the-cuff answers. His answer was totally politicized.

I was listening to a Podcast from Raging Chicken and he spoke at I believe Kutztown and he made a comment about 'fail fast' and then modify. He's trying to use like Gates Foundation and Silicon Valley strategies. But, some people hear 'fail fast' and think that means this whole thing will fail.

Frankly, I like that someone is trying new strategies. This thing has been limping along too long. That said, I just don't know that the Universities are capable of changing this drastically. And it may be too late financially.

Raging Chicken is a Kutztown professor so everything on there is viewed through that lens.

[complaint_hopeful]

I don't think he self-destructed. I think his hyperbole was taken out of context so they could use it against him. He's right - if they don't find some radical solutions the financially solvent schools will drain their savings covering for the failing schools. I'm not defending him - I think it was more of a gaffe that's being politicized for one group's gain.

That's my take. He was just trying to say that if we don't change the path we're on...it's going to fail and we'll need to disband. More context is he has been doing townhalls where people ask him questions and he gave off-the-cuff answers. His answer was totally politicized.

I was listening to a Podcast from Raging Chicken and he spoke at I believe Kutztown and he made a comment about 'fail fast' and then modify. He's trying to use like Gates Foundation and Silicon Valley strategies. But, some people hear 'fail fast' and think that means this whole thing will fail.

Frankly, I like that someone is trying new strategies. This thing has been limping along too long. That said, I just don't know that the Universities are capable of changing this drastically. And it may be too late financially.

[complaint_hopeful]

Sure does.

Where I believe the faculty union and others are wrong is thinking that if they force his resignation that this plan will go away. The chancellor answers to the system board of governors - if they were against this plan they would have put the kibosh on it months ago. With the chancellor gone the system stays the course without a top leader. Nothing changes. Its a wasted effort but that union has never seen a labor vs. management fight they didn't like.

The real villain is the state legislature's hands-off oversight and unwillingness to prioritize funding for state-owned universities. Or even failure to gain the knowledge on the benefits of a well-educated population.

For naming, I don't see a problem with directional names. They're the least offensive and the least likely to be rejected by the public.

I've been saying that too..the real issue is the state funding.

But yeah...if the Integrations don't happen...schools will likely start to fail financially. If the Integrations do happen, they have somewhat of a better chance to survive.

He's also right that you can't cut your way out of this. Some of these schools have been cutting costs for 7-8 years. Gotta grow. But that will be very difficult.

IF the Chancellor were to leave, the Integration goes forward but without leadership.

The Faculty Unions love to fight, but they have no leverage. That's essentially what I took Greenstein's disband the system comments to mean. Without Integrations, some schools fail for sure.

[Fightingscot82]

All true but to self-destruct like he did in response to the resistance was a very bad thing. Inherent to his role is to be able to balance all the factions and I think he kind of lost it. That kind of thing just doesn't blow over in this environment.

As for names, I agree. Directional names followed by the town make sense. Also, just because there is a tiny school in NEPA called Keystone doesn't mean the PASSHE can't use the word Keystone in their name. It would be clearly a distinct entity. Keystone is a good word to consider.

I don't think he self-destructed. I think his hyperbole was taken out of context so they could use it against him. He's right - if they don't find some radical solutions the financially solvent schools will drain their savings covering for the failing schools. I'm not defending him - I think it was more of a gaffe that's being politicized for one group's gain.

[iupgroundhog]

Sure does.

Where I believe the faculty union and others are wrong is thinking that if they force his resignation that this plan will go away. The chancellor answers to the system board of governors - if they were against this plan they would have put the kibosh on it months ago. With the chancellor gone the system stays the course without a top leader. Nothing changes. Its a wasted effort but that union has never seen a labor vs. management fight they didn't like.

The real villain is the state legislature's hands-off oversight and unwillingness to prioritize funding for state-owned universities. Or even failure to gain the knowledge on the benefits of a well-educated population.

For naming, I don't see a problem with directional names. They're the least offensive and the least likely to be rejected by the public.

All true but to self-destruct like he did in response to the resistance was a very bad thing. Inherent to his role is to be able to balance all the factions and I think he kind of lost it. That kind of thing just doesn't blow over in this environment.

As for names, I agree. Directional names followed by the town make sense. Also, just because there is a tiny school in NEPA called Keystone doesn't mean the PASSHE can't use the word Keystone in their name. It would be clearly a distinct entity. Keystone is a good word to consider.

[Fightingscot82]

I think you are confusing designing with handling the details. You keep saying he's not designing it, the schools are. But the overall "design" has his name on it. He's just letting the others work out the details.

Sure does.

Where I believe the faculty union and others are wrong is thinking that if they force his resignation that this plan will go away. The chancellor answers to the system board of governors - if they were against this plan they would have put the kibosh on it months ago. With the chancellor gone the system stays the course without a top leader. Nothing changes. Its a wasted effort but that union has never seen a labor vs. management fight they didn't like.

The real villain is the state legislature's hands-off oversight and unwillingness to prioritize funding for state-owned universities. Or even failure to gain the knowledge on the benefits of a well-educated population.

For naming, I don't see a problem with directional names. They're the least offensive and the least likely to be rejected by the public.

[ESU Warrior]

I like Keystone University. Or Keystone State.

That said, it will take a long time to build a brand.

There is already a "Keystone College" in NEPA

[complaint_hopeful]

I think you are confusing designing with handling the details. You keep saying he's not designing it, the schools are. But the overall "design" has his name on it. He's just letting the others work out the details.

Semantics

I mean the big details like the triads and that stuff are his. The Integrations wouldn't be happening without him. He also talked about how he thought athletics programs would be losing money and presumably reduced...but then after it was examined, that wasn't the case. So he looks at the data and adapts.

Honestly, without him...they'd likely keep limping along as they have been for the past 30 years. And maybe the sustainability plans work?

It's honestly hard to say. There's not a lot of communication, details, decisions from what I see...other than the very high level pr goals that are released. Now they have to know more behind the scenes. They're just not showing their cards.

Once they start releasing details...which Academic program design should be coming within the next week or so...then we should know more. Supposedly a lot will be released over next 2 weeks. Time will tell I guess.

Until we see those details, it's hard to say anything definitively. But he's definitely the catalyst for this all.

[iupgroundhog]

I think so. The thing is, he's not designing this. He's letting the schools and consultants.

I know the sports committees don't want to lose sports and are fighting hard to keep them.

You make good points. How about this? There's 1 budget. So what if they decide to load a team with scholarships. Like say Cal at football. Then say they load Edinboro up with basketball scholarships?

I think you are confusing designing with handling the details. You keep saying he's not designing it, the schools are. But the overall "design" has his name on it. He's just letting the others work out the details.