PA University Merger: Questions Linger As Final Vote Looms

HARRISBURG, PA — With six of Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned universities on the cusp of merging into two entities, several important questions about the consolidation plan remain unanswered.

The final versions of the State System of Higher Education's contentious merger plan does not say when or if the NCAA will allow the six universities to maintain their individual athletic teams. It also offers no clue as to what the Middle States Commission for Higher Education accreditation process might be for the merged schools.

Also unaddressed are the potential names for the two newly created universities.

The system's board of governors will meet July 14 and likely will decide whether to combine California, Clarion and Edinboro in the western part of the state; Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield could merge in the eastern portion.

If the panel votes to approve the consolidation, it would take effect in the fall 2022 semester.

The plan has prompted controversy and criticism, and at least one state senator has asked for a two-year moratorium on implementing it. During a public comment period that ended June 30,
many people contended that the plan was being rushed and could have a detrimental education effect on students attending the six universities.

A study released in April by the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst asserted that the consolidation could result in the loss of 1,531 system faculty and staff jobs by 2023 - an overall system job reduction of 14 percent.

See the eastern universities consolidation plan here.

See the western universities consolidation plan here.

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