Plans To Merge, Rename 6 PA State Universities Move Forward

PENNSYLVANIA — Plans advanced Wednesday to advance the consolidation of six of Pennsylvania's 14 state universities. The State System of Higher Education voted to move ahead with merging California, Clarion and Edinboro universities in the western part of the state and Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield in the eastern portion.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education approved a 60-day comment period on the consolidation plan. Public hearings on the proposal will be held via Zoom on June 9 and 10. Depending on public reaction, final approval could occur this summer, with the changes being implemented in the 2022-23 school year.

The eastern universities would be 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.

The agency contends the plan would:

• Expand program breadth while maintaining essential residential character at each campus.
• Capitalize on existing strengths at all institutions; achieve more together than any one of them could do alone.
• Invest in new areas to serve new students who need help, grow enrollment and drive regional economic development.

Click here for the eastern university integration plan.

Click here for the western university integration plan.