11 stories about the human and educational cost of Penn State campus closures
This collection of stories delves into the human and educational cost of Penn State's decision to close seven commonwealth campuses. Several articles explore the toll on both students and faculty even before closure decisions were final, as seen in the distress at Penn State Fayette and scrutiny during a faculty senate meeting. Questions and concerns about the future permeate discussions around sustainability and transparency.
As the board approved the closures, Penn State's president assured support for affected students and staff, though tensions and uncertainties continue to loom. Read the stories below.
NO. 1: HERE’S A LOOK AT HOW EACH PENN STATE COMMONWEALTH CAMPUS WAS AFFECTED BY BUYOUTS
Some campuses lost more than 30% of staff to the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program. | Published July 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Halie Kines
NO. 2: ARE PENN STATE’S COMMONWEALTH CAMPUSES AT RISK OF CLOSING? FACULTY SENATE SEEKS ANSWERS
When asked directly whether commonwealth campuses would close, university leaders did not give a yes or no answer. | Published January 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Halie Kines
NO. 3: PENN STATE WILL KEEP LARGEST COMMONWEALTH CAMPUSES OPEN, EXPLORE CLOSURES FOR OTHERS
“We have exhausted reasonable alternatives to maintain the current number of campuses,” President Neeli Bendapudi wrote in a statement. | Published February 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Halie Kines
NO. 4: PENN STATE PRESIDENT ADDRESSES COMMUNITY, RELEASES REPORT AFTER CAMPUS PROPOSAL LEAKS
The board of trustees still need to approve the campus closure plan before anything is final. | Published May 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Halie Kines
NO. 5: STRESS, UNCERTAINTY MARK END OF PENN STATE SEMESTER AS CAMPUS CLOSURE DECISION LOOMS
The faculty senate chair characterized morale as “far lower” than it was during the Sandusky scandal. | Published May 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Halie Kines
NO. 6: TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT EACH PENN STATE COMMONWEALTH CAMPUS PROPOSED FOR CLOSURE
The university released a 143-page report that listed the reasons for the proposed closures at DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York. | Published May 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Josh Moyer
NO. 7: PENN STATE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVES PLAN TO CLOSE 7 COMMONWEALTH CAMPUSES
Eight trustees voted against the proposal. | Published May 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Halie Kines
NO. 8: PENN STATE PRESIDENT ADDRESSES COMMUNITY AFTER BOARD APPROVES 7 CAMPUS CLOSURES
“As we move through this period of change over the next two years, I want to be crystal clear about one thing: our people come first,” Bendapudi said | Published May 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Halie Kines
NO. 9: PENN STATE FACULTY ALLIANCE DELIVERS PETITION TO BENDAPUDI’S OFFICE TO STOP CAMPUS CLOSURES
“These campuses are not just buildings under threat; they are workplaces, classrooms, and communities that deliver a high-quality Penn State education across the Commonwealth,” the petition states. | Published May 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Halie Kines
NO. 10: DID PENN STATE PUT THE ‘CART BEFORE THE HORSE’? TRUSTEES DEBATE CAMPUS CLOSURES
Said one trustee, who opposed the closures: “I just think that this process, as much as I appreciate it, and as much as I appreciate all my colleagues on this board, we really have have moved very, very quickly.” | Published May 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Josh Moyer
NO. 11: PENN STATE’S CAMPUS CLOSURES ARE OFFICIAL. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT FOR EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS?
A union representing technical service employees at Penn State said they “intend to bargain with the university over these impacts in hopes that we can soften the blow of this terrible decision for our members.” | Published May 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Halie Kines
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.