PASSHE Institutions Merging

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Iup has claimed that in 5 yrs it would meet the students/ faculty ratio passhe wants through retirement, but passhe wants it done in 2. The question is will they have to rehire in 2 to 3 years- national faculty searches are expensive. The other issue is that faculty do more than teach, things like fund raising Grant writing, recruiting and so losing faculty reduces these value added things. It weakens the universities significantly. Of course there is always the resentment as culpable groups like admissions or the president is unscathed

No doubt it's not a positive thing in many regards. But, it needs done. Strip it down and rebuild, slowly, if the need arises.

How can IUP get an extra 1,800 students or Clarion another 500? How can they retain better?

We've pointed out most of the problems pertaining to declining enrollment -- Pitt/PSU branches, large schools (WVU) with lower standards, shrinking polulation but still having the same number of schools, shaky reputaions, etc.

How do they bounce back?

"Financially unstable" IUP is building a new $90 million math building. Doesn't seem like the start we needed.

I thought Prez Dris had some interesting comments in that article.

[boatcapt]

I don't get the big shock over faculty being cut. It's a failing business right now. That's what happens. If things turn around they can hire the next batch. That's the breaks (and what happens in every other profession in the known world).

It sucks for those involved but they (system) have to dig out of this mess. Drastic change requires drastic measures.

When your enrollment is free falling out of the sky ... time to sink or swim.

You are 100% correct. Drastic times require drastic measures.

It's hard to do but the correct move would have been to "right size" the faculty as enrollment declined over the last 10 years. If a school had done that, they would probably be in much better position now. I would say that the PASSHE schools are not unique in ignoring the obvious and taking no real action as their ship takes on water year after year.

The schools may yet be saved but it will take drastic and painful action. Some of the schools will be up to the challenge...but some probably will not.

[Bart]

Something a lot of people learned from this is that the money really sits with PASSHE. So reserves are held collectively with PASSHE. Right now those total roughly $700 million. Based on what I've seen before, at least $300 million of that is West Chester. None of it is Cheney's. I've been told Cal and/or Clarion are near zero as well.

As was said PASSHE should be considered as having a single bank account, which is probably why WCU wanted to separate itself from the system. Now their $300 million dollar reserve will have to be shared with the others. As was said 'We need to restore accounts that we have drawn down.' Take from the rich and give to the poor. Or as Karl Marx said from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

[ironmaniup]

I don't get the big shock over faculty being cut. It's a failing business right now. That's what happens. If things turn around they can hire the next batch. That's the breaks (and what happens in every other profession in the known world).

It sucks for those involved but they (system) have to dig out of this mess. Drastic change requires drastic measures.

When your enrollment is free falling out of the sky ... time to sink or swim.

Iup has claimed that in 5 yrs it would meet the students/ faculty ratio passhe wants through retirement, but passhe wants it done in 2. The question is will they have to rehire in 2 to 3 years- national faculty searches are expensive. The other issue is that faculty do more than teach, things like fund raising Grant writing, recruiting and so losing faculty reduces these value added things. It weakens the universities significantly. Of course there is always the resentment as culpable groups like admissions or the president is unscathed

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I don't get the big shock over faculty being cut. It's a failing business right now. That's what happens. If things turn around they can hire the next batch. That's the breaks (and what happens in every other profession in the known world).

It sucks for those involved but they (system) have to dig out of this mess. Drastic change requires drastic measures.

When your enrollment is free falling out of the sky ... time to sink or swim.

[Bart]

"
The Universities of California, Cheyney, Clarion, Edinboro, Indiana, Lock Haven and Mansfield are facing huge faculty cuts."

https://wcuquad.com/6017276/news/202...culty-layoffs/

[Fightingscot82]

Left over money at the end of the fiscal year. This is how Cal was funding athletic scholarships. The PASSHE term for this is "unrestricted net assets". At the end of the FY, the schools can spend the money on pet projects. Like football.

[iupgroundhog]

Something a lot of people learned from this is that the money really sits with PASSHE. So reserves are held collectively with PASSHE. Right now those total roughly $700 million. Based on what I've seen before, at least $300 million of that is West Chester. None of it is Cheney's. I've been told Cal and/or Clarion are near zero as well.

Next question: How does an institution acquire reserves? Is this "profit?"

[Fightingscot82]

Can you explain how WCU's reserves are keeping everyone else afloat? I thought a school's reserves were a school's reserves.

Something a lot of people learned from this is that the money really sits with PASSHE. So reserves are held collectively with PASSHE. Right now those total roughly $700 million. Based on what I've seen before, at least $300 million of that is West Chester. None of it is Cheney's. I've been told Cal and/or Clarion are near zero as well.

[iupgroundhog]

Most of the schools are still staffed for the 2010-11 peak. Any dip in revenue hurts, but a 30% drop really hurts. Chipping away at their reserves isn't good. West Chester's reserves are keeping everyone afloat.

Can you explain how WCU's reserves are keeping everyone else afloat? I thought a school's reserves were a school's reserves.

[iupgroundhog]

Let's not allow one poster to reduce the level of our conversation.

[boatcapt]

As I indicated to consider this editorial direction, if it is the case, does not come close to making either of these papers "left wing" unless you are so far right it appears so from your prospective. They would never come close to endorsing the policies of the far left. Center left at the most and that is really very weak.

A term in the current lexicon - Institutional Bias. While the NYT and WAPO as institutions do not specifically say they are indorsing the policies of the far left, the culture and makeup of their newsrooms and the stories they chose to publish show their bias.

[Fightingscot82]

If they have so much in reserves why do they need so many walk ons for foosball?

Because they saw what happens when a university pours every possible dime into athletics. It crashes. At least that parking garage is finally getting fixed.

[boatcapt]

Funny you use the word equate. Most folks just want to be treated equally...You know tax cuts for EVERYBODY...Healthcare for EVERYBODY...Put yourself in someone else's shoes for a second, and you might see it too...Maybe you are too far up in your ivory tower to notice...

Hahahahaha! High up in my ivory tower...that's funny! Whatever floor of the ivory tower I occupy, I have gotten there by hard work and inspite of race and sex based discrimination I have had to endure. I can count four jobs that I know of that I did not get hired for because of my skin color or sex...those are the ones I've known about. In one case I actually went to EEO and tried to file race based discrimination charges...The EEO specialist said that I clearly was discriminated against based on my race BUUUUTTTT that since I was not one of the "protected classes," I was forbidden from filing any EEO complaints. In her words, it is OK to discriminate based on race and sex as long as the person is white and male. I've walked into bars in NY, Miami, Philadelphia, etc and been told that they don't serve "my kind" and that I should leave before things "got ugly." I remember applying for a particular scholarship at the Univ of MD and being told when they returned my application that the scholarship was not for me because I was the "wrong color." As I progressed in my career, I moved into a number of management and leadership positions that included "hiring authority." Over the years, I would say that I have interviewed and selected over 200 individuals for positions. In at least 75% of the jobs, I received two selection lists from HR...a "diversity list" and a "best qualified" list. If I hired off the diversity list, no questions were asked about my selection process and no justification needed to be provided. If I selected off the best qualified list, I had to spend about a week (on average) justifying my selection, having my selection process reviewed and questioned and endure a "diversity review" of my work unit. On at least four separate occasions, my boss at the time specifically instructed me to select ONLY from the diversity list.

[boatcapt]

Bless your heart.

Aren't you sweet.