Penn State New Kensington students and staff concerned for future of campus

Penn State New Kensington student Karisa Smalling has some concerns about changes for Penn State’s Commonwealth campuses.

“My concern is that they are claiming to make these changes to create the most efficient organization possible, but I don’t see how offering buyouts to employees is going to make it more efficient at the end of the day,” Smalling said. “I know that my campus, in particular, was already pretty short-staffed.”

Smalling is referring to plans announced last week that would see the university consolidate administrations over several of its satellite campuses, including placing the Upper Burrell and Fayette County campuses under the direction of Chancellor Megan Nagel of the Greater Allegheny campus in McKeesport.

The move will mean the retirement at the end of the year of popular Penn State New Kensington Chancellor Kevin Snider.

The changes also include a voluntary separation incentive offered to eligible university employees, including professors.

Across the university, 393 employees accepted the offer. The number amounts to about 21% of the eligible employees and represents about 10% of satellite campus employees, according to statements from Penn State.

The university said the changes are necessary to cope with declining enrollments at satellite campuses and an overall $49 million deficit for those campuses.

Over the past 10 years, enrollment at the satellite campuses has declined by about 24%, according to the university. All but two of the campuses have seen enrollment drops of between 16% and 50% over that time.

“We will continue to provide a robust experience for our students from the time they arrive on campus during new student orientation to the time they graduate. Currently, there are no anticipated service disruptions, and Dr. Snider and campus leadership (are) working to make decisions and establish plans to make sure the student experience remains strong,” said Corinne Coulson, Penn State New Kensington’s director of strategic communications and marketing.

The university’s assurances, while appreciated, do not erase uncertainties about the future.

“You ask questions and no one knows the answers yet,” said Michael Marsili, Penn State New Kensington’s head softball coach.

Marsili said a significant amount of the enrollments at Penn State New Kensington are student-athletes, and changing the curriculum could mean losing them to other campuses. In addition, he laments that the budget cuts satellite campuses have been facing and the absence of the faculty members who accepted the voluntary separation agreement could mean restrictions on their sports teams’ resources and result in an understaffed sports department.

As of late, Marsili said there has been no communication between the coaches and administration about how best to support the sports programs and the students involved.

Penn State New Kensington fifth-year student and volleyball player Giana Miller worries about how these large-scale changes may impact other student-athletes on campus.

“While I’m not too concerned for my own classes, I am concerned for others. My major is communications, so it’s mainly online and my classes can be taken very easily from other campuses if not available at Penn State New Kensington,” she said.

However, she worries for “other majors and classes that require a lot of in-person time and attention.”

While Smalling said the uncertainty is a worry, she said she has faith in university administrators.

“But, at the same time, I trust that they know what is best for Penn State campuses,” she said.

Students and staff can keep up with the latest news on the reorganization through the university’s road map website at roadmap.psu.edu.