LOCK HAVEN – Lock Haven Metropolis Council desires the Pennsylvania State Increased Schooling System (PASSHE) to curb the mixing of Lock Haven College into Bloomsburg and Mansfield.

The Council this week unanimously accepted a decision opposing the proposed merger of the three establishments.

Metropolis Councilor Invoice Mincer proposed the measure, saying PASSHE wanted to conduct a extra in-depth examine of the affect of any merger on college students, the group and the economic system.

His decision got here a day earlier than PASSHE’s Chancellor Daniel Greenstein had a digital assembly with LHU school and employees, and days earlier than Greenstein’s scheduled testimony to the Basic Meeting.

PASSHE faces a deficit of roughly $ 250 million and faces vital challenges as a result of declining enrollment.

These enrollments fell extra drastically as a result of COVID-19 in 2020-2021, with many college students selecting to take a break from increased training. Dozens of employees and college have come collectively to develop an integration proposal that can be offered to the Board of Governors on April 23.

This can set off a 60 day public remark interval. The general public system has seen a 21% drop in enrollment since 2010.

The sharpest decline was seen amongst college students from low- and middle-income households, the precise demographic group served by LHU. Moreover, non-public universities and schools have began providing vital scholarships and help to draw college students, making it all of the harder to compete among the many 250 establishments that supply levels in Pennsylvania to draw college students.

Mincer’s decision expressed numerous considerations, noting the lack of 58 LHU school positions by 2022.

Councilor Doug Byerly mentioned he believed the mixing would assist Bloomsburg and Mansfield, however insisted Lock Haven is “Actually hammered” whereas having stabilized his registrations and made different modifications to enhance his place.

Mayor Joel Lengthy mentioned that the state system “Transfer the objective posts” on public colleges after initially proposing that Lock Haven and Mansfield merge.

Council Vice-Chairman Steve Stevenson argued that the Chancellor is “We shoved it down our throats.”

Though he joined his colleagues and voted for Mincer’s decision, Councilor Richard Morris mentioned he believed it could possibly be “untimely” as a result of the state board will not vote on the mixing plan till April 23. Morris known as the state course of flawed. Others mentioned they thought the accent was rushed.

Metropolis supervisor Greg Wilson had tax income in thoughts, saying if the college paid property taxes it could be over $ 500,000, however the college advantages enormously from the companies town supplies.

Mincer’s decision reads as follows;

– Whereas the Nationwide Increased Schooling System has introduced its intention to combine or mix Lock Haven College, Bloomsburg College and Mansfield College right into a single accredited entity; and

– Whereas integration is described by the nationwide increased training system as a multi-year dedication course of that lasts solely six months from October 2020 to April 2021; and

– Whereas a full and complete integration plan that gives monetary overview and group affect, and exhibits that college students in our group may have expanded on-site alternatives has not been offered to Metropolis Council; and

– Whereas, integration requires the elimination of a minimum of 15 professorships in 2021 and 43 others in 2022, eliminating 1 / 4 of the college’s academics, which has the impact of lowering slightly than widening the scholar alternatives on website; and

– Whereas, by sound monetary administration, Lock Haven College has greater than $ 50 million in reserves which can be utilized to help Lock Haven College whereas permitting further time to plan for college integration;

Now, due to this fact, Be it resolved that Lock Haven Metropolis Council determine to oppose the mixing of the three establishments till a full and complete plan is offered to the council and the group that exhibits that the cost-saving measures will translate right into a better on-site alternative for the scholars, employees and college of Lock Haven College and the group they inhabit.