3 PA State Schools May Merge
 

Clarion, Edinboro, Cal U

https://www.google.com/amp/s/pittsbu...le-merger/amp/

Wonder what happens to GL?

IMO this is a result of spending too much on fancy dorms and amenities for colleges that caters to lower income students...

As far as we know, this is a merging of the online program and some administrative functions only. No campuses are closing and none of them will become “branches” of another (especially since Clarion already has a branch campus).

It is not a “merger” (the word is never mentioned) but an “integration.” KDKA obviously is trying to get views and clicks by calling it a merger.

Dear Clarion Universtiy Alumni,

Today, the Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education affirmed moving to the next phase in a process that would potentially integrate Clarion, Edinboro and California universities. The affirmation follows several months of exploration that determined that integration would help the individual universities and the State System as a whole achieve financial sustainability.

Details of the plan are being discussed, but if ultimately approved next summer, the three universities would become one accredited entity with a single leadership and budget and a unified enrollment management strategy.

Would Clarion University continue to exist? Absolutely! In fact, the integration would ensure our ability to continue providing the exceptional education for which Clarion University has been known since we opened our doors in 1867.

Leveraging combined scale would create expanded opportunities for the traditional face-to-face student experience, deliver new online offerings, as well as uncover cost efficiencies, which would keep Clarion University and other State System universities accessible.

Through the collective talent of the faculty and staff at Clarion, California and Edinboro, we would reconceive, rebuild, refresh and expand what we offer to students. We would help shape the future of public higher education, not just in Pennsylvania, but nationwide.

Our current and future students would have access to a more diversified academic programming array than Clarion alone could offer, yet they would still enjoy what makes Clarion University unique. Collectively, the three universities serve more than 16,000 students, and we see this an opportunity for a greater number of students to experience what separates Clarion from other universities.

The integration would position the three schools to stand up a low-cost, high quality online undergraduate degree and degree completion program. Clarion repeatedly is recognized for excellence in online education. With the strength that California and Edinboro add, collectively we would develop a Pennsylvania-based, Pennsylvania-connected online program that’s affordable and relevant to careers in the commonwealth.

We are excited at the opportunities that lie ahead. The integration of Clarion, Edinboro and California universities, through combined scale and geographical proximity, would create opportunities to reach new markets of students and meet regional workforce needs.

Through this work, we would ensure not just the long-term viability of Clarion, but also of its 13 sister universities and Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.

Dr. Dale

Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson
President
Clarion University

Yeah, I saw the KDKA story (at work, I don’t watch that crap!) it was very confusing. They mentioned that all three schools have nursing programs, as if they were only going to offer certain programs at certain schools?

That’s how some programs used to be...like IUP was the only place for SAHE and criminal justice, Clarion was library science etc. I don’t know if this was in writing or just a gentleman’s agreement, but it seemed to work better than all the schools trying to be all things to everybody. It is a SYSTEM, it needs to work as one instead of 14 individual parts.

Not state schools and works well with what each school provides, Cleveland has 3 private schools that share resources. Students at the Cleveland Institute of Art and Cleveland Institute of Music take many of their non-major classes at Case Western Reserve University and they share a lot of amenities. Dorms are still school-specific because living arrangements are often focused on their majors.

Not an issue for Greek Life since only CWRU and only Case students are permitted to participate. But, CIA and CIM students can participate in other clubs at CWRU.

CIM and CIA students are able to participate in Greek Life at CWRU. It’s not very common but it’s certainly happened before.

CWRU students can also take some credits of CIM or CIA courses for no charge each semester if they’re interested in some of the more specific offerings.

This may be just the tip of the iceberg. A year or so ago the state commissioned a report to study the declining enrollment and financial issues within the PASSHE. The report recommended a reduction from 14 to 8. I saw a report this morning that freshmen enrollment is down 16% this year at 4 year universities. Clearly, this is tied to COVID. But, it could signal some big changes ahead for higher education. Will be interesting to see how this merger evolves.

A lot of Georgia colleges, technical colleges, and universities merged about 10 years ago. People were upset and there were a lot of bumps along the way, but everything seems to have worked out.

In case anyone was curious, per Irishpipes' Chapter Listing thread:

Active at all three:
Delta Zeta

Active at two:
Alpha Sigma Alpha
Alpha Sigma Tau
Phi Sigma Sigma
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Zeta Tau Alpha

Active at one:
Alpha Gamma Delta
Delta Phi Epsilon
Sigma Kappa

OMG. Chapters are not merging or closing. These schools are hundreds of miles apart.

My cousin's granddaughter is a Freshman at CIA and she said she couldn't go through recruitment Winter Semester. <shrug> Granddaughter of cousin would be a legacy of one of the sororities at CWRU.
I would agree that it is not very common, though.

Understood. Just figured since we're hear on Greekchat and the OP asked about Greek Life, I would post the Greek chapters on each campus ;)

P.S. Do you know why AST closed at Clarion? I can't say I remember.

those aren't the only 3
 

https://www.wnep.com/article/news/lo...5-b545d94859ac

Mansfield, Lock Haven and Bloomsburg too. PASSHE is STRUGGLING BIG TIME. We've heard that Mansfield and Lock Haven may become Bloomsburg satellite campuses. Bloomsburg is already running their purchasing, HR and other functions. Mansfield has about 1,400 students and Lock Haven about 2,500 from what I've heard.

Is it just me, or does Pennsylvania have A LOT of colleges and universities?

Every time I drive through the state, I see the number of signs on the highways indicating an exit for a school and think, "ANOTHER one?"

It became even more apparent recently when I drove north-south through the state with my bf who grew up in the south, and every other exit he asked, "Now what the heck is THAT school?" Granted, I've heard of a lot of them simply because AST has so many chapters in the state, but it does seem like there's one on every street corner. Ok, maybe not that many, but you get the idea.

I have to wonder how long they can all keep up, especially after the effects this pandemic will have on higher education.