State board in April to consider integration plan for California, Clarion, Edinboro universities
Mar. 6—A mid-April presentation to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors is the next step in a proposed consolidation of California, Clarion and Edinboro universities as an integrated institution.
If the plan receives affirmation from the board, "it will kick off a 60-day public comment period, and the board will make a decision at its summer meeting," according to Christine Kindl, vice president of communications and marketing at California University of Pennsylvania.
If all goes well, integration of the three state-owned universities in Western Pennsylvania could be completed in time for the fall 2022 semester. The PASSHE board also is considering a similar integration of a trio of Northern Tier universities — Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield.
PASSHE Chancellor Dan Greenstein has noted the proposed moves are meant to make operation of the schools more cost efficient while benefiting students and providing opportunity for growth.
As part of the integration process, the three western universities each have submitted paperwork to the accrediting Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
According to Interim President Robert Thorn, Cal U has been designated as the administrative hub among the trio of campuses because it recently completed its accreditation, but he stressed that the designation is merely to comply with a Middle States submission requirement. Kindl noted the universities would be "three co-equal partners" under the integration plan.
In the planning process, Thorn said, "working groups have used enrollment, completion, faculty complement and regional workforce data to identify approximately 80 disciplinary units, or areas of study, that will be offered."
"Some programs will be based at one campus, others will be distributed across multiple campuses," Kindl said.
A new name has yet to be selected for the integrated university, Thorn said, adding that the location names of the partner campuses should continue to be recognized.
While the process for filling positions at the integrated university remains under development, retirement incentives are being offered, Thorn said. "No potential changes will impact our legal responsibility to honor collective bargaining agreements," he said.
Adapting to the evolving covid-19 pandemic, Cal U is offering about half of its classes on campus this semester, but Thorn said more in-person classes should be available next fall.
"The pandemic experience has taught us a great deal about what we can do virtually and what we can do well in a virtual environment," Kindl said, though many students "crave that residential, on-campus experience."
In addition to in-person classes, the integrated university could allow students to virtually participate in courses offered at partner campuses.
"This gives students wonderful opportunities to pick up a class they might not have had access to prior to integration," Kindl said.
There are 6,885 students enrolled at Cal U, representing a .63% increase from the previous academic year.
Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff at 724-836-6622, jhimler@triblive.com or via Twitter .