Penn State Trustees voting today on future of Shenango, other campuses

Penn State University trustees are set to meet later today to vote on recommendations for the future of its Commonwealth Campuses, including the closure of the Shenango and six other campuses.

The Board of Trustees is scheduled to convene a public session at 5 p.m. to vote on a proposal outlining changes to the branch campuses. The meeting will be livestreamed, and a recording will be available afterward.

The university administration, led by President Neeli Bendapudi, shared the recommendations with the board last month, allowing time for review before today’s anticipated vote

Following the trustees’ meeting, Bendapudi is scheduled to deliver a livestream address to the Penn State community, expected to begin about an hour after the board adjourns. This address will be open to the public, and a recording will be made available for those unable to watch live.

A 143-page document indicated that the Shenango campus in Sharon was among seven campuses recommended for closure over two years. In addition to Shenango, the other campuses facing potential closure are Penn State DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Wilkes-Barre, and York.

The report cited a 46% decline in enrollment at Shenango over the past decade, limited regional growth potential, and operational inefficiencies at Shenango.

The document also highlighted Mercer County’s challenging demographic and economic conditions, including population loss and a shrinking college-age population, as factors hindering enrollment at Shenango.

The report noted that 46% of classes at Penn State Shenango have fewer than seven students enrolled, and that the campus’s small size and high per-student fixed costs make it reliant on central university subsidies. It also suggested that Shenango’s academic offerings largely duplicate those at other nearby Penn State locations and the online World Campus.

The university has outlined initial transition plans for students at any potentially closing campus, assuring that all will have the opportunity to complete their Penn State education. This includes guidance on degree completion options and pathways to other Penn State campuses, including online programs.

For Shenango, the plan indicated that current and admitted associate degree students would be able to complete their coursework, while bachelor’s degree students could continue through the 2026-27 academic year. The university stated it would not accept new applicants or transfers to the Shenango campus beyond the fall 2025 semester.

Penn State also committed to honoring contracts for faculty and staff at affected campuses. Tenured and tenure-track faculty would be offered need-driven reassignments, while non-tenure-line and staff employees would receive priority hiring consideration for open positions across the university.