Penn State restructures branch campuses, including New Kensington and Fayette
Penn State University is switching to a regional model of overseeing many of its branch campuses and will bring New Kensington and Fayette under the direction of Chancellor Megan Nagel at the Greater Allegheny campus in McKeesport.
It is the latest in a series of moves to confront sharp declines in enrollment on those campuses and a budget shortfall systemwide that has plagued Pennsylvania’s flagship public university.
Kevin Snider, chancellor of Penn State New Kensington since July 2008, will remain in his position through Dec. 31, to collaborate on the transition for the campus’ Digital Foundry in New Kensington.
He will then retire, spokesman Wyatt Dubois said Tuesday.
The interim chancellor/ chief academic officer at Fayette will work through the end of his term with Nagel to facilitate the transition in this region.
Word of the new management model comes as Penn State announced one out of every 10 employees on its 20 commonwealth campuses will leave the university this month or later this year, having accepted the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program that ran through May 31.
The 383 employees, or about 21% of those who were eligible across the state, opted to leave. About 77% of employees participating in the buyouts were staff.
What it will mean for course offerings this fall and beyond on those campuses, as well as staff assignments, was not immediately clear.
“This regionalization effort is in its beginning stages,” Dubois said. “As we develop new organizational structures, we will evaluate employee levels needed to provide appropriate and consistent services across locations.”
The dollar value of salary and fringe expense associated with these 383 employees is $43 million, according to an announcement by the university. But actual savings will not be known until later in the year, when university leaders know which positions will be backfilled.
The buyouts and worries about layoffs have weighed heavily on employees. But Penn State officials assert their approach was intended to avoid more draconian cuts seen elsewhere.
“Penn State has been making adjustments to address the reality of changing demographics in Pennsylvania and across the country, but these small changes are not enough to position the University for the long term,” said Margo Delli-Carpini, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor. “We have to make fundamental changes that create the most efficient organization possible in delivering on Penn State’s mission.”
About 49,000 of Penn State’s 88,000 students attend the main University Park campus. Those on the statewide branches have seen sharp losses since 2010, as have branches of the University of Pittsburgh and nearly all of the 10 state-owned universities.
In the west, Penn State Beaver and Penn State Shenango will be led by Chancellor Carey McDougal of Beaver, officials said.
In the northeast, Penn State Hazleton, Penn State Scranton and Penn State Wilkes-Barre will be led by Chancellor Elizabeth Wright. Wilkes-Barre Chancellor Lynda Goldstein will remain in her job through the end of her contract in 2025 to work with Wright and the director of academic affairs at Scranton to facilitate the transition in this region.
In the southeast, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Mont Alto and Penn State York will be led by Chancellor Marilyn Wells.
