Lock Haven City Council critical of planned integration of LHU with Bloomsburg, Mansfield

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Lock Haven City Council went on record Monday night with a strongly worded resolution in opposition to the proposed integration of three state system schools, Lock Haven University, Bloomsburg University and Mansfield University.

The resolution, proposed by council member Bill Mincer said the city is opposed to the integration proposal until a comprehensive study of its impact is completed. The State System of Higher Education Board is to vote on April 23 to further the consolidation. The resolution lists a number of concerns about the proposal, including the resulting loss of 58 faculty positions through 2022.

Councilman Doug Byerly said the integration will help Bloomsburg and Mansfield, but LHU is “really being hammered.” He said the local school has done everything to remain viable over the years. Council vice-president Steve Stevenson said state chancellor Daniel Greenstein is “ramming it down our throats.” Mayor Joel Long said the state system keeps “moving the goalposts” on the state schools; it was noted an earlier integration proposal would have combined just Lock Haven and Mansfield.

Council member Richard Morris, who joined council in a unanimous vote for the resolution, said the council action could be seen as “premature” as the state system board will not vote on the integration plan until April 23. He pointed out some form of consolidation had been first broached by the state system in 2106 as the enrollment decline at the 14 state schools was underway, continuing to the present.

Morris called the state process flawed and several council members claimed the study has been rushed. City manager Greg Wilson called LHU “our university” and spoke of the services provided to the local school. He said if the state-owned school had to pay real estate taxes, the bill would be more than half a million dollars; meanwhile the school benefits from multiple services provided by the city and community.

The text of the resolution:

Whereas,        The State System of Higher Education has announced its intention to integrate, or combine, Lock Haven University, Bloomsburg University, and Mansfield University into a single accredited entity; and

Whereas,        The integration is described by the State System of Higher Education as a process of multi-year engagement that lasts only six months from October 2020 to April 2021; and

Whereas,        A complete and comprehensive integration plan that provides financial review and community impact, and shows that our community’s students will have expanded on-site opportunities has not been provided to City Council; and

Whereas,        The integration calls for at least 15 faculty positions to be eliminated in 2021 and an additional 43 in 2022, removing a quarter of the university’s instructors which has the result of reducing rather than expanding on-site student opportunities; and 

Whereas,        Through sound fiscal management, Lock Haven University has more than $50 million in reserves that can used to sustain Lock Haven University while allowing additional time to plan for a university integration;

Now, Therefore, be it resolved that the City Council of Lock Haven does resolve to oppose the integration of the three institutions until a complete and comprehensive plan is presented to Council and the community that shows that the cost-saving measures will result in greater on-site opportunity for the students, staff, and faculty at Lock Haven University and the community they call home.