HR 179 — A Resolution urging The Pennsylvania State University and its President to use transparency in closing any of its Commonwealth campuses.

PRINTER'S NO.   1273

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



              HOUSE RESOLUTION
                 No. 179
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY COOPER, BARTON, HILL-EVANS, KAUFFMAN, KUZMA,
        MATZIE, MULLINS, REICHARD, TWARDZIK, WALSH, WATRO AND
        WENTLING, APRIL 4, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 4, 2025


                                  A RESOLUTION
 1   Urging The Pennsylvania State University and its President to
 2      use transparency in closing any of its Commonwealth campuses.
 3         WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania State University was originally
 4   chartered by an act of the General Assembly on February 22,
 5   1855, as the "Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania"; and
 6         WHEREAS, The Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862 allocated Federal
 7   lands to states to finance the establishment of universities
 8   with a mission to "promote the liberal and practical education
 9   of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and
10   professions in life"; and
11         WHEREAS, The Morrill Land-Grant Act was accepted by the
12   General Assembly in 1863 and The Pennsylvania State University
13   was designated as the land-grant institution in Pennsylvania;
14   and
15         WHEREAS, The impact of Penn State University's land-grant
16   mission is reinforced by the fact that more than 95% of
17   Pennsylvania residents live within 30 miles of one of its
 1   campuses, and this accessibility underscores the mission's
 2   significance, with the potential to positively influence more
 3   than 12.3 million Pennsylvanians; and
 4      WHEREAS, Penn State University was founded on the
 5   institutional promise to provide education, share research and
 6   offer public service to all Pennsylvanians; and
 7      WHEREAS, The President of Penn State University announced on
 8   February 25, 2025, that 12 of Penn State University's
 9   Commonwealth campuses are under consideration to be closed; and
10      WHEREAS, The potential closure of Commonwealth campuses would
11   significantly reduce educational access for Pennsylvania
12   residents, particularly affecting rural and underserved
13   communities that rely on these campuses for affordable higher
14   education opportunities; and
15      WHEREAS, These campus closures would have profound economic
16   impacts on local communities, potentially eliminating jobs,
17   reducing local spending and diminishing educational and cultural
18   resources that benefit the broader population beyond enrolled
19   students; and
20      WHEREAS, A decision of this magnitude requires thorough
21   community engagement, comprehensive data sharing and clear
22   communication of the criteria being used to determine campus
23   viability; and
24      WHEREAS, Transparent decision-making processes that include
25   input from affected students, faculty, staff, alumni and
26   community stakeholders are essential to maintaining public trust
27   in a land-grant institution that serves all Pennsylvanians; and
28      WHEREAS, Penn State University has a responsibility to
29   publicly demonstrate how any proposed closure aligns with the
30   university's land-grant mission and to provide detailed plans

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 1   for how educational access will be maintained for affected
 2   communities; therefore be it
 3      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge The
 4   Pennsylvania State University to explore all possibilities in
 5   lieu of closure of any of its Commonwealth campuses; and be it
 6   further
 7      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the
 8   President of The Pennsylvania State University to give serious
 9   and careful consideration to the impacts of the closure on the
10   students, employees and local communities; and be it further
11      RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be sent to the
12   President of The Pennsylvania State University and its Board of
13   Trustees.




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