SHARON, Pa. – Amid news reports that Penn State’s president recommended closing seven campuses, including Shenango, university trustees have pushed back a vote.
The panel was set to meet Thursday in a public session to consider Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi’s recommendation regarding campus closures. A university statement issued Monday said the meeting will instead be in executive session.
After that meeting, “more information will be shared regarding the timing of the public meeting.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Monday that the university proposed closing seven campuses, including Penn State Shenango.
The university’s statement called it regrettable that communities that may be affected by campus closures are hearing information before a final board of trustees decision and announcement.
“The Board of Trustees, who must meet and hold a public vote on this matter, have not done so,” the statement said. “Until then, no decision regarding any campus is final.”
Penn State announced last February that some campuses would close due to declining enrollment.
The university’s president wrote at that time in a message to the community that the university made enhancements to enrollment management, fought for parity in state funding and sought new ways to expand access. But enrollment continues to decline, and in many of the counties where the campuses are located, population is projected to decrease for the next 30 years, Bendapudi wrote in February.
“Given these realities, we must make hard decisions now to ensure Penn State’s future remains strong,” Bendapudi wrote. “It has become clear that we cannot sustain a viable Commonwealth Campus ecosystem without closing some campuses.”
A decision initially was expected before spring commencement but was pushed back until after those ceremonies. Penn State Shenango’s commencement was Friday.
The chairman of Penn State’s board of trustees also issued a statement Monday calling it disheartening that information was reported before a board vote.
Board of Trustees Chair David Kleppinger shared the following statement: “Given the complexity of this decision, trustees will be taking additional time to review the President’s recommendation and the supporting materials. There is significant information in the full recommendation which will be shared following a board vote. I find it deeply frustrating that someone with early access to this recommendation decided to share it with the media with absolutely no regard for how this information would impact members of our campus communities. Our students, faculty and staff deserve better.”