Penn State board votes to close 7 branch campuses
Penn State's board has voted to close seven of the university's branch campuses.
After nearly two hours, Penn State's board of trustees voted 25-8 to close the DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York campuses after the spring of the 2026-27 academic year.
"This decision before us is not only difficult, but it's deeply personal for all of us and the people involved," said Penn State board of trustees chair David Kleppinger.
Penn State cites declining enrollment
Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said over the past 10 years, enrollment has dropped 43% at those seven campuses and the financial picture is equally sobering.
"We are spreading our students, faculty and staff so thin that we jeopardize the quality of education and the support that we can offer. We are subsidizing decline at the expense of growth," Bendapudi said.
"I want to be clear: we did not arrive at this moment because people failed. In fact, the opposite is true. We heard from more than 500 people ... emails, letters, calls, mostly, of course, advocating for their local campus," she added.
Some trustees wanted more time to decide
Some of the trustees who weren't on board with the closures wanted more time to make the best decision.
"I'm going to vote against and it's not because these challenges aren't real. It's because our values must be real," said trustee Nicholas Rowland.
"I stand for a vote to go on, not a vote for closure," said trustee Ted Brown.
Other trustees said it was time to make a "tough decision"
Others said they didn't think delaying the vote was an option given the reality they face now.
"I love Penn State, Penn State changed my life, and I want it to continue to change people's lives for generations to come. But this vote is about making the tough decision today that will ensure a brighter future for Penn State. So now is the time to adapt, evolve and find a new pathway forward by fulfilling our mission to invest in excellence and create an environment for a brighter future," said trustee Brandon Short.
"We owe the students, faculty and staff closure, so I vote in recommendation for the proposal that the leadership team has put forth," said trustee Karen Quintos.
"Hope is not a strategy; we've got to do something. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and again and again and expecting a different outcome," said trustee Mary Lee Schneider.
Community in shock after vote
Families and students connected to Penn State's branch campuses are in shock.
"So many people that I know have gone to school here, started out here," said Alan Hooks, who is the husband of a Penn State New Kensington professor. "What price do you put on the education of the students of that community? The community needs somewhere for some of these people to start."
The university is offering resources for those impacted, including letting students complete their degree through the university and giving faculty members priority hiring considerations for other available positions.
The university says the seven campuses closing account for 3.6% of students, 3.4% of faculty and 2.2% of total staff. Thirteen branch campuses will still be open.
Penn State's Beaver, Greater Allegheny, Hazleton, Schuylkill and Scranton campuses had previously been considered for closure, but were taken off the chopping block.
