The board of governors of the State System of Higher Education on Wednesday unanimously approved the system’s efforts to continue plans to integrate six of the system’s universities into two single-accredited entities.
This came after State System Chancellor Dan Greenstein presented the board with an initial financial review of the proposed integrations. Right now, two combinations are being considered. One is for Califonria, Clarion and Ediboro universities to combine, and the other is for Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield. Each integration would be it’s own single-accredited entity, with single leadership, faculty, enrollment management strategy and budget. The integration would also honor the local identity of the communities they are located in.
Greenstein said in a statement that the integrations will mean greater student opportunities in those regions and “As we strive to hold our place as the affordable public higher education option, we must continue to think and act boldly so that any Pennsylvanian, regardless of zip code, can continue their education at a State System university.”
The integration plan does not apply to IUP or West Chester universities, as both had a fall 2019 enrollment headcount of over 10,000 students.
The next step for the integration process is the development of an implementation plan, which could be brought to the board as early as April 2021. The earliest an integrated university could accept students is currently August of 2022.
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