Speakers oppose Pa. state university mergers

By Stacy Wolford

By CHRISTINE HAINES
chaines@yourmvi.com

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) officials heard nearly three hours of testimony Wednesday on the integration plan that would merge six state universities into two, with nearly every person testifying opposing the plan.
California University of Pennsylvania is among the schools to be merged under the western integration plan. It would be combined with Clarion and Edinboro universities. The northeastern integration would combine Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities. Key to the plan, in addition to combined administrations, would be online classes, particularly for upper-level courses.
Holiday Adair, who teaches at Cal U, was the first person to offer testimony at the Wednesday morning virtual session.
“Students really struggled with remote classes this year,” Adair said, saying the number who did poorly was statistically significant compared to her previous years of teaching. “Students kept telling me they couldn’t learn this way.”
Adair said alumni have told her they are concerned the speed with which the plan is being adopted will guarantee its failure.
Mark Stempka, a 2010 graduate of East Stroudsburg University, offered his support for the chancellor and the integration plans.
“I applaud the chancellor coming here over the past few years and holding the mirror up,” Stempka said. “At some point we need to right-size for the future. The cycle of population loss is going to continue if Pennsylvania doesn’t change itself.”
Part way through testimony from Cal U history professor Laura Teunnerman both the audio and video cut out.
“Now you’ve experienced my worst teaching nightmare when the screen goes blank,” Teunnerman said.
Teunnerman asked the PASSHE Board of Governors to — at the very least — slow down the process.
“We’re just now doing a public-impact study and a survey of the students,” Teunnerman said. “I believe we would benefit from some type of collaboration, but not this particular plan.”
Roger Wolbert, an associate professor at Edinboro who holds degrees from Clarion and Millersville, said that while there is a need for change and that there are benefits to sharing services at the universities, the current proposal is being made in haste. “Our universities are sending the message that this plan has already been approved,” Wolbert said. “Let’s slow down and consider the long-term effects.”
California resident and Cal U instructor Lynne Langley said she absolutely loves the university.
“Our town is going to suffer greatly, but the biggest thing is our students. A lot of them live in remote areas with poor internet service,” Langley said. “At least put the brakes on. Consider what you’re going to do to students who have poor internet connections.”

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