Merger plan approved for six Pennsylvania universities What would change ellwoodcityledger.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ellwoodcityledger.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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.
The first look at an integrated Lock Haven-Bloomsburg-Mansfield University is here.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education on Monday released a draft report that essentially recommends consolidating the three state-run schools.
And while the report answers some questions, others are left unanswered.
The nearly 440-page draft was put out for public view on the PASSHE website at https://www.passhe.edu/inside/BOG/BOG%20Agendas/04-28-2021%20Agenda.pdf.
Leading up to the draft, LHU and other state-run schools have furloughed faculty and staff so to balance their budgets.
CHRIS MORELLI/THE EXPRESS
Ulmer Hall, at the Lock Haven University campus, is shown.
From Staff Reports
LOCK HAVEN While trustees of Lock Haven University do not have any vote in the proposed integration of LHU, Mansfield and Bloomsburg universities, The Express recently asked each trustee a set of questions to gauge their thoughts on the ongoing process.
The Board of Governors meets this Wednesday in Harrisburg to receive the integration plans.
Receipt of the consolidation proposals which culminate months of meetings by multiple task forces established by PASSHE triggers a 60-day public committee period before the board is scheduled to act on integration in July.
LHU trustees include: Daniel Elby, chairman; Mary Coploff, vice chair; Mike Hanna Jr., secretary; Margery Brown Dosey; Krystjan Callahan; John Gower; James Gregory; Albert Jones; Angela Smith; Mark Stern and Mia Swales.
From Staff Reports
LOCK HAVEN While trustees of Lock Haven University do not have any vote in the proposed integration of LHU, Mansfield and Bloomsburg universities, The Express nonethless recently asked each trustee a set of questions to gauge their thoughts on the ongoing process.
Faced with declining enrollments, stagnant state funds vs. increasing payroll and operating costs, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education set out two years ago to right-size those schools with enrollment under 10,000 by mandating, among other things, a balanced budget.
The result has been and continues to be multiple furloughs of faculty and staff across most of the system.