Min Xian / WPSU
A plan that would merge six of Pennsylvania’s state universities into two regional schools moved forward Wednesday.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) board of governors voted 17-2 to initiate public review of the plan, moving one step closer to a major shakeup in Pennsylvania’s higher education landscape.
Wednesday’s vote is not final. It opens a 60-day comment period. PASSHE is planning to host at least two virtual forums on June 9 and 10. The board will take a binding vote on the integration plan in July.
The integration plan calls for two mergers, one in the northeastern region of the state and one in the western region. The proposed northeastern entity would consist of Lock Haven, Mansfield, and Bloomsburg Universities. Its western equivalent would include Clarion University, Edinboro University, and California University of Pennsylvania.
Plans to combine six state-owned universities into two new institutions are moving forward.
During a special meeting Wednesday morning, the board of governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education voted to approve a pair of proposed integration plans.
The vote opened a 60-day public comment period, with a final vote scheduled for July and implementation taking place in 2022.
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The plans would see Bloomsburg, Mansfield and Lock Haven universities in northern Pennsylvania merge into one institution and California, Clarion and Edinboro in western Pennsylvania merge into another.
All six campuses would remain open, with integrated faculty, curriculum and enrollment strategies.
Staffing cuts as a result of merging six state universities, including California University of Pennsylvania, into two are expected to be ârelatively smallâ and mostly involve management positions, the chancellor of the state System of Higher Education said Wednesday.
Chancellor Daniel Greenstein made that clear after the state system held a special meeting to approve the mergers, sending the plan into the public comment phase for 60 days.
âNot everyone will be pleased with everything,â Cindy Shapira, chairwoman of the state system board of governors, said while opening the 8:30 a.m. virtual meeting.
Cal U. is expected to be the main campus when it merges with Edinboro and Clarion under a Western Pennsylvania school that has yet to be named. The other mergers involve Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield.
WHYY
By
Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. (Pat Little/AP Photo)
Updated 4:40 p.m.
A plan that would merge six of Pennsylvania’s state universities into two regional schools moved forward Wednesday.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) board of governors voted 17-2 to initiate public review of the plan, moving one step closer a major shakeup in Pennsylvania’s higher education landscape
Wednesday’s vote is not final. It opens a 60-day comment period. PASSHE is planning to host at least two virtual forums on June 9 and 10. The board will take a binding vote on the integration plan in July.
Meanwhile, alumni groups that have challenged higher education consolidation in Pennsylvania will host virtual events this week to prepare a response to the two plans. Dozens of alumni of state public universities, as well as state residents, have expressed concern that PASSHE chancellor Daniel Greenstein is rushing into consolidation without first pushing the state Legislature to better fund the system.
The first plan, dubbed the west integration plan, will consolidate California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University and Edinboro University, which are all located in the western part of the state. The second plan, called the northeast integration plan, will consolidate Bloomsburg University, Lock Haven University and Mansfield University. The second group of universities is clustered in the northeastern part of the state.