Penn State won’t announce which of its branch campuses will close until after the class of 2025 graduates, university officials said Thursday.
University President Neeli Bendapudi said in a statement that school administration will delay announcing plans for its Commonwealth Campus system until mid-May.
Twelve Penn State branch campuses statewide — including all Pittsburgh-area campuses, like Beaver, Fayette, New Kensington and Greater Allegheny — are on the potential chopping block because of finances, demographic shifts and declining enrollment, the university announced in February.
University officials had planned to reach a final decision on campus closures before Penn State’s spring commencement.
“Final exams and commencement are rapidly approaching — activities of great significance for our entire community,” Bendapudi’s statement said. “My team has consulted with students, faculty, and staff on the timing of any announcements, and I agree with their broad recommendation to hold until after these milestone events.”
Penn State’s Board of Trustees will plan to meet in mid-May to consider Bendapudi’s recommendations, she said. Decisions won’t be final until action is taken by the board.
Bendapudi said Penn State will share advance notice of the board’s public meeting date once scheduled. She will communicate with Penn State students and faculty immediately after the board meeting, the statement said.