PA Sen. Brewster Wants State University Merger Plan Delayed

HARRISBURG, PA — A Pittsburgh-area state senator is calling for a two-year delay in implementing the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education's plan to merge six state universities into two.

Sen. Jim Brewster of McKeesport this week wrote system board chair Cynthia Shapira and Chancellor Dan Greenstein, saying an immediate consolidation during recovery efforts from the coronavirus outbreak could trigger unforeseen consequences.

“The decision to significantly reorganize how our universities provide education at these institutions should not be done without a great deal of discussion with all stakeholders,” Brewster wrote. “It also should not be considered without fully understanding that actions in haste will have long-lasting deleterious effects or be on the agenda of policymakers in the immediate aftermath of a debilitating pandemic.”

Six of Pennsylvania's 14 State System of Higher Education universities would consolidate into two integrations under the current plan. California, Clarion and Edinboro would merge in the western part of the state; Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield would combine in the eastern portion.

The system is now taking public comments on the plan and could vote to finalize it as early as mid-July. Should that happen, the integrations would occur in the fall 2022 semester.

The eastern universities would operate under one name, and the western ones would be under a different one. The various campuses would be branches of the singularly-named universities.

The move could provide $18.4 million in savings after five years and save some of the universities from financial collapse, according to agency documents. Under the plan, all six campuses would stay open and have two leadership teams with integrated leadership.

In his letter, Brewster said delaying the plan would give the General Assembly - currently awash in a $10 billion surplus due mostly to federal pandemic assistance - an opportunity to possibly come up with a better proposal.

“The potential application of new federal resources, in concert with heightened state support may provide a path for bold and progressive action that does not involve consolidation/mergers,” he wrote. “In addition, I believe the merger — as discussed — should serve as a wake-up call for the General Assembly to end years of neglect. It creates a platform for lawmakers to work with our partners at the federal level to make the investment needed in affordable higher education.”

See Brewster's entire letter here.

Comment on the consolidation plan here.