Brewster: University merger hearings ‘have not gone well’

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport, is beginning to get some response to a letter he sent to top officials in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education urging them to put a two-year hold on plans to integrate six state-owned universities.

Brewster said he spoke recently with Sen. Judy Schwank, who sits on the PASSHE Board of Governors, which will vote on the integration plan in  July. The plan would merge California University of Pennsylvania with Edinboro and Clarion universities in the west, while Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield would combine in the northeast. Four virtual public hearings on the plan were held recently.

“They realize the public hearings have not gone well,” Brewster said of the Board of Governors.

California Borough Council adopted a resolution last week opposing the plan, citing the impact it would have on the community as faculty and staff layoffs occur, given that the university is the largest employer in the borough and one of the largest in the region.

“Their observations as a community are the same as what I said would happen,” Brewster said.

Brewster has begun reaching out to elected officials in all six of the university towns slated for integration after discussions he has had with PASSHE Chancellor Daniel Greenstein.

“The part I was most disturbed about, when I questioned the chancellor about whether anyone had spoken to local officials, he said yes, but when I reached out, that wasn’t the case,” Brewster said. “I did get from Sen. (Judy) Schwank that the board is looking at the local communities. I believe we now have them listening to some of the more sensitive issues.”

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