Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi has asked the university’s board of trustees to approve closing seven of its Commonwealth Campuses, including Penn State Wilkes-Barre, after a review of the system.
The university released a preliminary report of its findings on Tuesday night.
The board of trustees will meet Thursday morning to vote on the recommendation.
Below is a breakdown of the four regional campuses — Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Scranton and Schuylkill — and the reasons for closing or maintaining each campus according to the report.
Penn State Wilkes-Barre
The campus in rural Lehman Twp. is recommended for closure due to its size, location, lack of on-campus housing and enrollment decline, regional redundancy and operational inefficiencies that limit the campus’ long-term viability, according to the report.
The campus has experienced a 46% drop in enrollment over the last decade.
Penn State Scranton in Dunmore is recommended to serve as the primary anchor Northeastern Pennsylvania.
“The geographic and programmatic overlap between these campuses has made it increasingly difficult to justify maintaining Penn State Wilkes-Barre, particularly as the University seeks to streamline operations and reinvest in the campuses that show promising growth potential.
“Additionally, there is no compelling academic niche or distinctive program portfolio at Penn State Wilkes-Barre that cannot be replicated or consolidated at Penn State Scranton, Penn State Hazleton, or through Penn State World Campus with minimal disruption, and students can be supported through structured transition pathways that preserve their access to a Penn State degree.”
The report did highlight that Penn State Wilkes-Barre provides the only baccalaureate surveying engineering program in Pennsylvania; it distributes $900,000 in scholarships yearly; hosts a regional Science Olympiad and weekly Friedman Observatory events; and serves serves a distinct population of students that are unlikely to travel to another institution.
Penn State Hazleton
The Hazleton campus should remain open due to its position in a growing area in terms of population and economy, according to the report.
Penn State Hazleton campus enrolls the highest percentage of students from underrepresented minority backgrounds across the Commonwealth Campuses, according to the report.
The campus also maintains residential housing with the ability to expand.
The recommended closure of Penn State Wilkes-Barre could increase enrollment at the Hazleton campus and create a “more robust learning and working environment,” the report says.
“With continued support and expanded programmatic focus, Penn State Hazleton is poised to serve as a regional access and equity leader, and as a stabilizing presence in the University’s Northeastern Pennsylvania footprint.”
The report cited Penn State Hazleton’s strong partnership with the Hazleton Area School District and its community relationships with the Luzerne Foundation and the Pasco L. Schiavo Scholarship fund.
In addition, the report says institutions located outside of the United States have expressed an interest in partnering with Penn State to send computer science students to Hazleton.
Penn State Schuylkill
The campus in Schuylkill Haven is recommended to stay open due to recent growth.
“Although the region’s population is currently in decline and is projected to remain so for decades, the campus is one of the only in the entire ecosystem that has seen three consecutive years of enrollment growth.
“While the county itself is not experiencing population growth, Penn State Schuylkill draws students from a multi-county region, including nearby Berks and Lebanon Counties, which continue to send significant numbers of students to Commonwealth Campuses. Penn State Schuylkill’s geographic position and compact campus make it an important access point for students who might not otherwise pursue a Penn State degree.
“With targeted support, Penn State Schuylkill can continue to deliver high-quality education to a broad regional population while contributing to the overall goals of the Commonwealth Campus.”
The report highlighted Schuylkill’s recently updated nursing suit, Penn State-owned student housing and the campus’ radiological sciences program.
Penn State Scranton
Penn State Scranton is recommended for continued investment based on its regional significance, operational soundness and capacity to serve as a primary hub for Northeastern Pennsylvania, according to the report.
The report acknowledges that Penn State Scranton lacks on-campus housing but says it functions “effectively as a commuter campus with strong connections to local school districts, employers and transfer pipelines.”
“Penn State Scranton stands out not only for its current viability but also for its future potential. It is already being positioned to absorb students from nearby Penn State Wilkes-Barre, reinforcing its role as a regional hub. This consolidation strategy is expected to improve efficiency while ensuring that Northeastern Pennsylvania remains well-served by Penn State’s academic offerings.
The report highlighted Penn State Scranton’s recently renovated mechanical engineering labs, nursing suite and library.