State university system must change
It is no surprise that the union representing hundreds of professors with the State System of Higher Education is not supportive of a plan to merge six of the 14 affiliated universities.
It is an understandable matter of self-interest for the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties.
A plan to combine six universities into two institutions will, no doubt, mean job reductions among faculty and staff at the universities of California, Clarion and Edinboro in the west, and Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield in the northeast.
APSCUF, looking down a short tunnel toward a summer vote on the consolidations, surveyed professors and — predictably — found low support for the idea. Responses from nearly 1,000 faculty members reflected a paltry (almost) 8% in favor of the plan, according to union leaders. Nearly 1,500 faculty members were asked to complete the survey and the number of respondents was about 1,000.
Problems with the state system are plain: enrollment (currently at about 94,000) has been declining for years. Leaders have rightly observed that past practice — which amounts to “doing what we’ve been doing” — is not sustainable. And what they’ve been doing is using the stronger performers in the system to prop up the weaker members.
Something must give if the network of state schools is to survive and thrive.
APSCUF raises a variety of concerns including a so-called lack of transparency in the process as well as the unknown impact of consolidation on curriculum at the universities. While it would be expected for the union to raise red flags where members see the need, its leadership must do more than that. It must be solution-driven in its criticisms.
APSCUF President Jamie Martin underscores the lack of faculty “buyin” to the consolidation plan, which will face an initial vote this month by the state system’s board of governors. This begs an answer to the obvious question: What plan would garner support? Other than to press for more money from the state, there’s been no alternative put on the table.
Certainly there are many unknown particulars in the consolidation proposal. But, even if the mergers ultimately win approval of the governing board, the consolidations wouldn’t be made until fall 2022. There’s time to work out the details. And that effort must include input from faculty.
Adequate state funding in higher education is a legitimate issue. Pennsylvania does not provide enough financial assistance to a state university system aimed at providing a quality, affordable higher education to state residents. But not all problems can be solved by throwing dollar bills at them. Structural changes are needed in a system with declining enrollment, down about 22% (some 26,000 students) since the heyday of 2010 when enrollment peaked at 120,000.
If APSCUF doesn’t like the consolidation plan that’s been drafted, it should produce an alternate — one that is rooted in the reality that this system is struggling and past practices aren’t the way for the future. Change is difficult. Reduction is painful. In this case, both are needed if this valuable system of public higher education is to flourish.