Apr 9, 2021 2 min read

Nearly 70% of faculty members at six state-owned universities that are slated for consolidation are not supportive of the mergers, according to a report released Wednesday by the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties.

PSSHE plans to consolidate the six universities into two –  California, Clarion and Edinboro universities in the west, and Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities in the east.

The survey completed by nearly 1,000 APSCUF members – about 67% –  revealed little enthusiasm for the consolidation.

Only 26 (3%) of the respondents who answered a question about faculty excitement said they are excited about consolidation, whle 825 respondents (83%) said they are not.

“Unfortunately, there is little faculty buy-in to the current plan,” said Dr. Jamie Martin, an Indiana University of Pennsylvania professor and APSCUF president.

The combined campuses would have share faculty, staff and academic programs.

Additionally, the suvey showed:

Less than 8% of the faculty members who responded to the survey indicated support for the consolidation.

Only 7% of respondents believe the consolidation process has been transparent, while 78% think it has not been transparent.

About 11% of the faculty members believe that” the final program curricular array will reflect the work they did in the consolidation sub-groups;”  63% of respondents don’t believe it will.

And less than 2% believe students are excited, while 60% do not think they are.

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, PASSHE spokesman David Pidgeon said, “The next chapter in the history of these incredibly important institutions is being written right now by more than a thousand students, faculty, staff, trustees, and members of the community who have the courage to face our steep challenges, to come together and solve those challenges through innovation and creativity.”

Pidgeon said preliminary implementation plans may go before the PASSHE Board of Governors on April 28.

If approved, it will kick-start a two-month public comment period, and the final plans could go before the board as early as July.

Pidgeon described the change as necessary in order for state’s system of universities to continue to be a reliable pathway for all students in Pennsylvania.

 But Martin said APSCUF’s survey results “show a disconnect between the narratives that exist and are being pushed in many venues by the State System regarding the views of faculty.”

“It would behoove the State System, including the chancellor and the Board of Governors, to listen to the concerns expressed by our faculty and to take them to heart,” she said.