Pennsylvania Western University

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Not to be confused with Western University of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Western University
Pennsylvania Western University - Logo.svg
Other name
PennWest University
Former name
TypePublic
Established1 July, 2022 (Planned)
Academic affiliation
PASSHE
PresidentDale-Elizabeth Pehrsson
Students14,447 [1]
Undergraduates10,561
Postgraduates3,916
Location
California, Pennsylvania, Clarion, Pennsylvania, Edinboro
,
Pennsylvania
,
United States
ColorsRed, Blue & Gold
NicknameVarious
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division I – MAC
NCAA Division II – PSAC
MascotVarious
Websitewww.pennwest.edu
PennWest University - Logo.svg

Pennsylvania Western University, or PennWest [2] is a public university with campuses in California, Pennsylvania; Clarion, Pennsylvania; and Edinboro, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. It was created by the merger of the former California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and it is set to begin operations as a unified university on 1 July 2022.[3][4][5] [1]

History[]

Pre-PennWest[]

Main articles: California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

California University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1852, when the town of California started an academy for kindergarten to college-level courses. In 1864 the school relocated to a new location, now the center of the campus' present location, the following year it was chartered as a normal school. In 1914 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania bought the school, renamed it to California State Normal School, and converted it to a two-year school for training elementary school teachers. In 1928 the state restored the four year programs and it became California State Teachers College. The college's offerings continued expanding through the first part of the 20th century, eventually renaming as California State College in 1959 and adding a graduate program in 1962. On 1 July 1983, the school joined the newly formed State System of Higher Education, gained university status and became California University of Pennsylvania.[6]

Clarion University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1867 in northwestern Pennsylvania to serve the needs of that rural part of the state. It started as a Seminary and became a 'Normal School' in 1887 and a community college-level institution in 1920. Clarion became a college in 1929. In the 1960s and 1970s the college expanded its offerings and size significantly. On July 1, 1982, Clarion joined the newly formed State System of Higher Education, gained university status and became Clarion University of Pennsylvania. [7]

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1857 as a training school for teachers. In 1914 it was purchased by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and became Edinboro State Normal School, growing its academic offers to the point it became known as Edinboro State College in 1960, and became a university in 1983 with the formation of PASSHE.[8]

System redesign[]

In June 2016, under PASSHE Chancellor Frank Brogan, PASSHE began a review of the entire system, intending to identify needed changes for the long-term success of the system and its universities. During the first half of 2017, data was collected and reviewed to devise recommendations for the system. National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) was asked to conduct the review, gather data and produce a report. This report, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Strategic System Review Findings & Recommendations, published in July 2017 had identified two critical problems facing PASSHE: declining state funding and demographic decline, as Pennsylvania's citizens increasingly trended older. Additionally, it identified numerous issues troubling the system that ultimately returned to Act 188, the law passed in 1982 that formed PASSHE.[9]

The report concluded that the manner in which PASSHE was governed, via the Board of Governors, was increasingly unable to make decisions as its membership was increasingly politicized, concerned with the overall population of Pennsylvania, rather than needs of students and the state of Pennsylvania, and unclear authority and accountability. Also identified was a lack of collaboration within the system to coordinate post-secondary education policy. Notably, this plan stressed that there were, in its view, some options that would be ill advised, and fail to adress and possibly worsen the core issues. Among those items not recommended was "mergers of any State System institution with another that results in the loss of an individual institution’s name, colors, symbols, or separate institutional accreditation."[9]

On July 1, 2020, Act 50 of 2020 was signed into law, which granted the Board Of Governors authority to develop a procedure to "create, expand, consolidate, transfer or affiliate an institution".[10][11] However, this power was restricted to only institutions that had fewer than 10,000 students in fall 2019. It also did not grant the authority to close any of the 14 institutions. On 14 October, 2020, PASSHE published Policy 2020-03: Act 50 of 2020 Implementation Policy which laid out the process for PASSHE to use their Act 50 powers. In October 2020, PASSHE started work on plans to consolidate six universities into two universities.[12] The earliest that it was expected the planned changes could have an impact on students was semester of fall 2022.

Western Integration[]

On April 23, 2021 the Board of Governors approved the proposed west and northeast integration plans, and initiated a 60-day comment period. The vote was 17-2. [13][14] The final plan, which would be voted on, was unveiled on 7 July, 2021. The final proposal would use the authority granted by Act 50 to integrate California University, Clarion University and Edinboro University into a single entity. On 14 July, 2021, the Board of Governors approved the integration plans for both west and northeast integration plans on a roll call vote with no opposition.[15][16]

Formation of PennWest[]

On July 14, 2021, the merger of California, Clarion and Edinboro universities to create PennWest was approved, pending approval by Middle States, with a planned start date for the merged university of July 1, 2022.[16] On October 14, 2021, Clarion University president Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson revealed the name for the integrated university: Pennsylvania Western University. This name was approved by the Board of Governors in voice vote with no opposition. The name is to be come effective on 1 July 2022, pending approval by The Middle States Commission on Higher Education, who do accreditation for the university. [17] The same day, students enrolled for the fall 2021 at California, Clarion and Edinboro universities presented with three logo designs, to consider and select for the new logo for the new name, over a two week period ending on 22 October, 2021. [18] On 6 December, 2021 the new logo was revealed, with students having decided on "Design option B", featuring a compass rose design.[19]

Campuses[]

Campus Name Location Enrollment [20] Endowment Campus Logo Athletics
Affiliation Nickname
PennWest California California 6,512 $24.1 million PennWest - California - Logo.svg NCAA Div II
PSAC 		Vulcans
   
PennWest Clarion Clarion 3,922 $38.7 million PennWest - Clarion - Logo.svg NCAA Div II
PSAC 		Golden Eagles
   
PennWest Edinboro Edinboro 4,043 $26.4 million PennWest - Edinboro - Logo.svg NCAA Div II
PSAC 		Fighting Scots
   

References[]

  1. ^ a b Pennsylvania Western University (Spring 2022). "About - PennWest". pennwest.edu. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  2. ^ "University Integrations". Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Introducing Pennsylvania Western University". California University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  4. ^ Erdley, Deb. "Pennsylvania Western University name adopted for merged state campuses". Trib Total Media. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  5. ^ Carden, Julia (26 February 2022). "Best of the West: Dr. Dale presents latest integration update". The Clarion Call. Edinboro, PA: The Clarion Call. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  6. ^ "California University of Pennsylvania: A brief history". California University of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  7. ^ Clarion University of Pennsylvania. "History". clarion.edu. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  8. ^ Edinboro University. "Our History". edinboro.edu. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  9. ^ a b The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (21 July 2017). "Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education - Strategic System Review Findings & Recommendations" (PDF). passhe.edu. pp. 1–4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  10. ^ Murphy, Jan (2 July 2020). "Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf signs into law state universities' reform bill that opens the door to dramatic changes". PennLive. Archived from the original on 7 April 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  11. ^ PA State System of Higher Education - Board of Governors (14 October 2020). "Policy 2020-03: Act 50 of 2020 Implementation Policy" (PDF). passhe.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  12. ^ Dunklau, Sam (27 October 2020). "PASSHE Begins Planning For Six-University Consolidation, Including Lock Haven". WPSU. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  13. ^ Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (28 April 2021). "Meeting Minutes - 282th Meeting" (PDF). passhe.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  14. ^ Wolfman-Arent, Avi (13 July 2021). "Pa. Moves Forward On Plan To Merge Six State Universities Into Two". Public Media for Central Pennsylvania. WPSU. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  15. ^ Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (14 July 2021). "Meeting Minutes - 284th Meeting" (PDF). passhe.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  16. ^ a b Xian, Min (13 July 2021). "PASSHE Approves Plan To Merge Six State Universities Into Two". Public Media for Central Pennsylvania. WPSU. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  17. ^ Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (14 October 2021). "Meeting Minutes - 286th Meeting" (PDF). passhe.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  18. ^ Pennsylvania Western University. 14 October 2021. Subject line:Choose a design for the new university’s name. Email to California, Clarion & Edinboro students, obtained via a right to know request. "As future PennWest students, YOU can choose how the new name will appear on everything from billboards and brochures to clothing and other gear. ... As students and future alumni, your voice matters. Please review these designs and cast your vote before the survey closes at noon on Friday, Oct. 22."
  19. ^ "Pennsylvania Western University woodmark design revealed". The Meadville Tribune. 3 December 2021. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2022. (Note: Headline contains misspelling "woodmark" instead of "wordmark")
  20. ^ Pennsylvania Western University. "Campus Life - PennWest". pennwest.edu. Retrieved 3 March 2022.

External links[]

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