Edinboro consolidation: New details provided on 'main campus' and academic programs
EDINBORO — California University of Pennsylvania will be the "main campus" when Edinboro, Clarion and California universities consolidate next year.
But that doesn't mean that California will have higher status or even be home to the full university administration.
California instead will be the main campus mainly because the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which accredits the universities, requires a main campus or administrative hub, Edinboro University interim President Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson said this week in a message to the Edinboro and Clarion campus communities. Pehrsson, also Clarion University president, is leading planning to consolidate the three state-owned universities.
California was chosen as the main campus because it was accredited by Middle States more recently than Edinboro or Clarion. The combined university will retain California's accreditation and degree-granting authority, Pehrsson said.
That doesn't mean that California University will be the hub of the combined university in any concrete way.
"Although this designation is required by MSCHE accreditation policies and appears in the submission for compliance purposes, we have clearly stated to Middle States that the three campuses of our new Integrated University will operate as partners in all other respects," Pehrsson said.
Consolidation came a step closer last week when the three universities submitted first-round paperwork required for accreditation.
More:PASSHE moves forward with plan to combine Edinboro, 2 other universities
"While not identical, the forms submitted to Middle States are aligned and consistent, with common boilerplate, timelines and details," Pehrsson said.
Those details and others outlined by Pehrsson include:
- There will be about 80 areas of academic study selected based on enrollment, completion rates, faculty complement and regional workforce data.
- Some programs, including general education courses, will be offered in-person at all three campuses, others at one or two campuses based on student demand, faculty complement, facilities and other factors.
- Students will take some courses in person and others remotely. "A typical student at the Integrated University would take in-person courses delivered on their home campus, plus some hybrid, remote-learning or online courses with faculty based at another campus," Pehrsson said.
- Fully online degree programs will be offered through the new university's virtual campus.
- The integration team has made a formal proposal to the NCAA to retain all intercollegiate sports on all three campuses. "We continue to pursue this path with the NCAA and are encouraged by the thoughtful response to our request," Pehrsson said.
- The university's tentative organizational chart covers academic affairs; student affairs; strategic enrollment management; university advancement; administration and finance; diversity, equity and inclusion, and virtual and global education.
Among details to be determined are how jobs will be filled at the new university. It's expected that some jobs will be filled by appointment and others through an interview process during the transition to the new university.
"No potential changes will impact our legal responsibility to honor collective bargaining agreements," Pehrsson said.
More:Edinboro University to cut the equivalent of dozens of faculty jobs in spring
Also yet to come are second-phase Middle States submissions, including details on how each campus will meet accreditation standards within the consolidated university.
Plans to consolidate the three universities, and to consolidate Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities in northeastern Pennsylvania, will be presented to the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education this coming spring. The board is expected to take action on the plan in July following two months of public comment.
Pehrsson pledged to provide more details on the planned academic programs and the financial impact of consolidation in coming weeks.
California University interim President Bob Thorn presented a similar planning update to California students, faculty and staff on Thursday.
Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @ETNmyers.
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