Penn State’s board of trustees voted to close seven branch campuses, including two in the Susquehanna Valley: Penn State York and Penn State Mont Alto. The other five are New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, Dubois and Fayette.Penn State president Neeli Bendapudi says a 43 percent decline in enrollment and financial pressure are to blame. Emphasizing post-pandemic changes, including more virtual and hybrid learning. Many on the board say this is not a new issue. They state that it’s been a big topic for many years now, and their hope is that it doesn’t happen again for the remaining branch campuses.Those seven campuses will now be on what they are calling a “two-year wind-down period” until 2027, when they are officially forced to close their doors.A difficult decision for many, but one they say is necessary.”Yes, it’s a tough decision, but it’s the right one for Penn State, and I will support this resolution,” Brandon Short said. But they didn’t all vote for the closure.Nicholas Roland was one of the eight who voted against it.”I think we could be more collaborative and more committed to renewal than this moment that we’re in right now suggests to me,” Roland said. Nicholas was outvoted, leaving many in just two short years without their schooling jobs and a key staple of their community.In a statement to News 8 from Mont Alto and York’s regional chancellor, Dr Marilyn Wells, she says in part, “Tonight was a very emotional evening for our campus communities, and we are focused on caring for our students, faculty, and staff. “Bendapudi says the next steps are to figure out how to repurpose the seven campuses by working with officials and alumni to figure out what is best for the local communities.
Penn State’s board of trustees voted to close seven branch campuses, including two in the Susquehanna Valley: Penn State York and Penn State Mont Alto.
The other five are New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, Dubois and Fayette.
Penn State president Neeli Bendapudi says a 43 percent decline in enrollment and financial pressure are to blame. Emphasizing post-pandemic changes, including more virtual and hybrid learning.
Many on the board say this is not a new issue. They state that it’s been a big topic for many years now, and their hope is that it doesn’t happen again for the remaining branch campuses.
Those seven campuses will now be on what they are calling a “two-year wind-down period” until 2027, when they are officially forced to close their doors.
A difficult decision for many, but one they say is necessary.
“Yes, it’s a tough decision, but it’s the right one for Penn State, and I will support this resolution,” Brandon Short said.
But they didn’t all vote for the closure.
Nicholas Roland was one of the eight who voted against it.
“I think we could be more collaborative and more committed to renewal than this moment that we’re in right now suggests to me,” Roland said.
Nicholas was outvoted, leaving many in just two short years without their schooling jobs and a key staple of their community.
In a statement to News 8 from Mont Alto and York’s regional chancellor, Dr Marilyn Wells, she says in part, “Tonight was a very emotional evening for our campus communities, and we are focused on caring for our students, faculty, and staff. “
Bendapudi says the next steps are to figure out how to repurpose the seven campuses by working with officials and alumni to figure out what is best for the local communities.