LHU President Pignatello Provides Update on Three-School “Integration”

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Lock Haven University President Robert Pignatello on Thursday provided the college community an update on state system plans to “integrate” Lock Haven University, Mansfield University and Bloomsburg University. That concept was approved by the state System of Higher Education board on Wednesday.

Pignatello’s “message” offered further information on further opportunities for LHU students during the coronavirus pandemic. He also lauded the campus community for its response to keep the campus save during the pandemic.

The president’s message, as circulated on Thursday:

Dear Campus Community,
This week the PASSHE Board of Governors affirmed the System’s efforts to continue planning for university integrations. The board unanimously affirmed the process and next steps after Chancellor Dan Greenstein presented findings from an initial financial review of the proposed integrations.
Chancellor Greenstein said, “The data and the analysis are showing clearly that the path forward on integrations will mean greater student opportunity in regions critical to Pennsylvania’s economy. As we strive to hold our place as the affordable public higher education option, we must continue to think and act boldly so that any Pennsylvanian, regardless of zip code, can continue their education at a State System university.”

The next step in the integrations process is development of an implementation plan, which could be presented to the Board as early as April 2021. The process, laid out in Act 50 of 2020, includes a 60-day public comment period and periodic updates to members of the General Assembly. The earliest an integrated university could begin accepting students would be August 2022. More information about the Board of Governors meeting is available here.

We will continue to keep you informed as the integration process moves forward and will provide opportunities to offer input and feedback. More specifically task forces representing all aspects of University functions will be set up with representatives from all three campuses. This will be our opportunity to shape the outcomes of any proposed plan and I encourage us to take full advantage of this. It is important too that students’ voices are heard.

As we move forward in the fall semester and look towards spring, we are examining opportunities to provide more, safe in-person social activities for our students and campus community. We know that for students, personal interaction is a hallmark of the college experience and that it is also integral to making and maintaining connections with faculty, staff, and their peers. I would like to encourage the use of more synchronized learning in the spring semester in order to foster those critical connections; this is important for our students’ academic experience, connection to The Haven, and learning outcomes. They should also include the exploration of small faculty-led, in-person, class-based discussion groups.

In addition to looking to increase safe, in-person social activities and learning modalities we are also looking to safely increase the level of organized activities for our student-athletes. Together with the athletic department, we are examining options to allow more organized athletic activity to be led by our coaches including organized limited practices and workouts. We will know more about Spring sports in general, in the coming weeks after scheduled discussions with PSAC.
Clearly, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on our collective mental health. It is an issue that bears great significance for our entire campus community—faculty, staff, and students. We are examining opportunities to increase mental health services for our students. I would like to commend our Mental Health Task Force for their work in this area and for providing strong recommendations on next steps that will benefit the entire campus community.

Earlier this week, in recognition of World Mental Health Day, Clinical Mental Health Counseling student Kaitlyn Timko offered tips on mental health and self-care in a video on LHU’s Facebook page. I’d like to thank Kaitlyn for offering her perspective and I encourage you to watch it. Stay tuned to LHU’s social media channels for more tips and content from our Clinical Mental Health Counseling students.

I would like to exhort the entire community to continue to take the virus seriously as we head into colder weather, where we generally spend more time indoors, and where we are already witnessing the rise of infection rates in Pennsylvania and across the country. At LHU, our efforts are paying off. Our last round of random testing demonstrated that we are managing the level of infection very well and breaking the infection chain by identifying where it is, isolating those cases, and providing assistance needed to those who become infected or may have been exposed. I thank everyone who is complying with the guidelines that we have been promoting to protect themselves and all of us. Let’s continue this vigilance as we march to the end of the in-person part of this semester—right before Thanksgiving.

Finally, I would like to announce the retirement of Executive Assistant to the President, Gwen Bechdel effective at the end of this year. Gwen has served the University for the past thirty years and has been a vital member of the President’s office since 1999. Her knowledge, expertise, and many, many contributions to our entire campus community will be greatly missed. Earlier this week two job postings were made—a Chief of Staff/Executive Assistant to the President and Administrative Assistant to replace both Gwen and Sherry Brooks who retired over the summer. These positions are posted internally, and I encourage qualified members of our campus community to apply.

I know these are trying times and I appreciate everyone’s commitment and support of our university. Together, we will successfully navigate these uncharted waters.

Let me know what you think at president@lockhaven.edu.