Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Respond to PASSHE Consolidation Vote prnewswire.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from prnewswire.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Inside the Numbers of One State’s Plan to Consolidate Its Public System of Higher Ed June 29, 2021
About a year ago, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, or Passhe, took the first step toward merging six of the 14 universities in a system that has weathered enrollment declines and financial pressures for a decade.
And as early as next month, the system’s Board of Governors could take a final vote on plans to make those six universities into two. California, Clarion, and Edinboro Universities would become one institution in western Pennsylvania. Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield Universities would become one institution in the state’s northeast.
“[We have] concerns about students being forced into hybrid courses, concerns about the economic impact on the communities in which those universities reside, and concerns about the cost versus savings of the consolidation plan as it was announced,” says Martin.
She says the plan is moving too fast, and may be ignoring student voices and the communities universities serve.
“The notion that there’s not going to be an economic impact is disingenuous because the impact is going to happen this year and next in those communities because of the massive job loss,” says Martin.
Enrollment at PASSHE universities has dropped since 2010 and 2011, but Martin says enrollment is now at the same level it was in 2000.
Merging PA state universities
On Wednesday, the Board of Governors approved two plans to restructure six universities into two combinations of three. Author: Peggy Lee Updated: 11:28 AM EDT April 28, 2021
COLUMBIA COUNTY, Pa.
UPDATE: On Wednesday, the Board of Governors for Pennsylvania s State System of Higher Education approved today two plans to restructure six universities into two combinations of three. The integrated institutions would be California, Clarion, and Edinboro Universities in the western part of the state, and Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield Universities in the northeastern region.
A 60-day public comment period will now take place. Those who wish to read the plans can do so by clicking here. Two virtual public hearings are scheduled for June 9 and 10.
Pennsylvania state system of higher education to vote on university mergers bizjournals.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bizjournals.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.