University System unsustainable. (Chester, West Chester, Lincoln: private schools, universities, closing)

[krogerDisco]

Looks like PA state universities will undergo a review.

Chancellor says state-owned university system 'unsustainable,' orders sweeping review | TribLIVE

Some mergers are possible. Maybe Pitt will pick up a school or two. Penn State is already chock-a-block with campuses all around the state.

[bluecarebear]

Declining attendance has been discussed for a couple years. Even Penn State was considering closing a couple campuses.

1. The entire university system is outdated. Get rid of electives and slim the process down to 2-2 1/2 years. Make the universities more of a trade school experience. Actually teach trades at universities.

2. Everyone has a degree. This state is highly educated. Degrees are as common as high school diplomas. It makes spending $50,000+ on college seem pointless. The costs have to go down.

3. The economy of the state. It's not causing people to stay or move here and we have a declining population, especially in the rural areas. Many college grads find themselves not making more than an individual who didn't attend college.

[cpomp]

Universities that don't have a niche/aren't major players will unfortunately continue to suffer. I notice as powerful private schools like Penn, Drexel, Villanova get bigger and bigger, you have state schools as well as small private schools like Widener, LaSalle and St Joes that continue to lose students.


West Chester seems to be the exception the state school system, the University is rapidly growing, however Cheney down the street I predict will close/break-up within the next decade.

[bradjl2009]

I can't say I'm too shocked, some of the state owned schools are quite small and few of them really have a strong academic reputation (Pitt and Penn State aren't state owned, just state funded). Plus, the birth rate was relatively high from the mid 80's through the mid 90's and we're now at the point where a large majority of people in that age group have finished their undergrad if they wanted to get one the traditional way.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by cpomp

West Chester seems to be the exception the state school system, the University is rapidly growing, however Cheney down the street I predict will close/break-up within the next decade.

I know it's part of a different university system, but they should merge Cheney with Lincoln. They aren't that far apart, and Pennsylvania just doesn't have high enough interest in HBCUs these days to warrant keeping two public ones open.

[KevinE]

Finally! Most of these schools are nothing more than degree mills that should've been shut down years ago. If the graduation rate is lower than the acceptance rate then shut it down.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by KevinE

Finally! Most of these schools are nothing more than degree mills that should've been shut down years ago. If the graduation rate is lower than the acceptance rate then shut it down.

I don't disagree with the first sentence, but I don't understand using the bolded as a litmus test. Outside of the extreme ends of the spectrum, acceptance rate and academic quality are weakly correlated.

[Dequindre]

I applaud this review of their options going forward. Many of the failing PASSHE universities have been earnestly trying to make things work, but some are having a very difficult time combating population decline or increased competition. I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the universities sold or shuttered completely.

[trackstar13]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

I can't say I'm too shocked, some of the state owned schools are quite small and few of them really have a strong academic reputation (Pitt and Penn State aren't state owned, just state funded). Plus, the birth rate was relatively high from the mid 80's through the mid 90's and we're now at the point where a large majority of people in that age group have finished their undergrad if they wanted to get one the traditional way.

Your statement about academic reputation may apply to graduate degrees and programs, but the strength of PA state owned universities for many years has been the quality of undergraduate education. Having worked at and attended R-1, small private, and stated owned universities, I can safely say that the education provided to undergraduate students in a variety of majors at state owned universities is excellent. This includes having professors who have actually worked in the field or currently work in the field and actually working with your professor rather than a teaching assistant. I think the major issue these schools are facing is related to the demographics of Pennsylvania and the influence the rising cost of attendance is having on enrollment. For instance, why would someone pay the same price or more to go to a state owned university with increasing costs and class sizes when they can go to a small, private university with smaller class sizes for the same or less due to the tuition discount rate? Undergraduate university program rankings are not always useful and often they are done with questionable methodologies such as peer assessments by faculty and deans, who are clouded by their experiences in the "academy."

For example: Best Undergraduate Business Programs Methodology | Best Colleges | US News

[trackstar13]

Originally Posted by KevinE

Finally! Most of these schools are nothing more than degree mills that should've been shut down years ago. If the graduation rate is lower than the acceptance rate then shut it down.

Your second sentence doesn't make any sense and suggests grade inflation and several other ideas to make sure that the students graduate at all costs. This would by definition make a school a "diploma mill" as you say. Schools with high acceptance rates should have lower graduation rates, because this means that almost anyone can get in, but the professors are challenging the students and not everyone with a pulse graduates.