Board of Governors approves merger of 6 Pennsylvania universities

CALIFORNIA, Pa. — Six of Pennsylvania’s higher education facilities will officially merge into two new universities by the end of 2022, according to the Board of Governors for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.

The unanimous approval means that California, Clarion and Edinboro will come together to form a single university with three partner campuses in western Pennsylvania, while Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield will do likewise in northeastern Pennsylvania.

“Today’s vote represents the most profound reimagining of public higher education in the commonwealth since the State System began in 1983,” said Cindy Shapira, chair of the Board of Governors. “This effort has proven we can fulfill what we set out to do — ensuring student and institutional success while providing the highest quality education at the lowest possible price.”

The board explained that some of the most important tasks are developing the curriculum that supports the new academic program array, fleshing out organizational charts and finalizing work with the NCAA to ensure athletics will continue at each campus.

The Board also appointed Bashar Hanna as interim president of Mansfield and Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson as interim president of California, to begin no later than Aug. 1. Hanna currently serves as president of Bloomsburg and interim president of Lock Haven, while Pehrsson serves as president of Clarion and interim president of Edinboro.

Robert J. Thorn, interim president of Cal U, shared the following message to students and faculty about the merger:

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The first cohort of students will begin at an integrated university in August 2022, with the integrated curriculum being finalized by August of 2024.

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