Plan to Integrate Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield Universities Released
If approved by the PASSHE Board of Governors this summer, the integration of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Mansfield universities is expected to happen by July of 2022. The Northeast Integration plan was released recently and public comments are being accepted through June 30th. According to system officials, students and the communities where those institutions are located should see little change initially.
More than 500 students, faculty, staff, trustees, and community leaders helped shape the plan. Some of the highlights are as follows:
- A single faculty providing instruction in a unified academic program array. Students will be able to select from an expanded array of academic programs, including nearly double the program options for Mansfield and Lock Haven students.
- 75% of enrollment is clustered in 8-10 disciplinary areas and these academic programs will continue to be delivered 100% in-person on all three campuses. A typical student will take most in-person courses at their home campus and some courses through real-time remote learning.
- Expanded opportunities for adult students seeking to re-skill and up-skill through non-degree credentialing courses.
- Each institution’s name, logo, mascot, and identity will be preserved. An integrated entity name will be established and used for accreditation purposes.
- Students will have access to on-campus housing, student clubs and organizations, athletics, and other activities on all three campuses. The system is pursuing a path with the NCAA for each campus to retain its current complement of teams.
- Students can design a university experience that works for them with dedicated support services on each campus.
- A single President and leadership team with one reporting relationship to the Board of Governors through the Chancellor.
A link to the plan, FAQs, and a form to submit comments are available at bloomu.edu/integration (link). On Thursday, May 6th, B.U. President Bashar Hanna, Ph.D., and Chamber President Fred Gaffney participated in an hour-long discussion about the integration on WVIA’s Keystone Edition program. That video is available here.