UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (WTAJ) — Penn State University President Neeli Bendapudi announced Tuesday the formation of a group tasked with potentially closing multiple Commonwealth campuses.
Bendapudi said the University had to make “difficult choices” when it comes to campuses across Pennsylvania, however, she added that the seven biggest campuses will remain open and they’ll continue to invest in them.
Those seven are Abington, Altoona, Behrend, Berks, Brandywine, Harrisburg, and Lehigh Valley, along with the graduate education-focused campus at Great Valley.
Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses and Executive Chancellor Margo DelliCarpini, Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Tracy Langkilde, and Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff Michael Wade Smith to co-lead a group that will determine which of the other 12 campuses should remain open, and which should close.
Bendapudi added that campuses chosen to close won’t close until after the 2026-2027 school year and all students who begin with Penn State will have the opportunity to finish with Penn State to get their degree.
What Bendapudi said was a definitive:
- No campus identified for closure will close before the end of the 2026-27 academic year, allowing associate degree students enrolling in fall 2025 enough time to complete their degrees and 2+2 bachelor’s degree students enough time to reach the point at which they would transition to another Penn State campus.
- They will continue extending offers and admitting new students for Fall 2025 at all Commonwealth Campuses.
- Every student who begins a Penn State degree will have the opportunity to complete it at Penn State.
Bendapudi said they have tried to reverse the trends that are taking place, however, some are unavoidable — stating that some counties with campuses are experiencing a population decline that may continue for several decades.
While seeing success with changes they’ve made, Bendapudi pointed out the trends remain an issue as many colleges across the country are experiencing similar troubles. Enrollment at Penn State’s main campus is growing, but enrollment at many Commonwealth campuses has continued to decline.
“Some have expressed concern that closing or consolidating certain campuses may mark just ‘phase one’ of ongoing cuts or restructuring,” Bendapudi said in the announcement. “I want to be clear: My intention is to determine a comprehensive, long-term course for success. We recognize that no campus can thrive without sufficient support. That is why, once we finalize decisions, we will do so with the intent of preserving a thriving, sustainable Commonwealth Campus ecosystem — one that meets the needs of today’s students and remains robust for the next 100 years.”
Bendapudi added that they will try to assist faculty and staff at any campus that closes to find a position elsewhere within Penn State. Students at those campuses will be able to complete their degree at another location or online.
You can read the full release from Penn State by clicking here.
