Penn State report outlines reasons for keeping Scranton campus open
Citing its importance to the region and the diverse population it serves, Penn State officials are recommending keeping Penn State Scranton open to be a hub for Penn State in Northeast Pennsylvania.
In a report issued Tuesday, officials said the campus in Dunmore is worth investing in because of 'its regional significance, operational soundness, and capacity to serve as a primary hub for Northeastern Pennsylvania' and suggested it serve as the primary anchor for the region.
The report highlights investments in the campus, including the renovated mechanical engineering labs, nursing suite and library. It points out the mechanical engineering program is growing and the nursing program is regionally respected.
The campus unveiled a $13.1 million renovation of the library and nursing facilities last fall and dedicated a new mechanical engineering building in late 2022.
Officials acknowledged in the report that the campus has experienced declining enrollment but remains viable for future growth and investment, adding that being in Lackawanna County puts it in a position to serve a dense and diverse population.
'Unlike many campuses facing demographic headwinds, Penn State Scranton benefits from proximity to growing suburban communities and school districts and access to major highways, making it a logical anchor for Penn State's presence in the region,' the report states. 'The area's demographic profile also includes significant populations of first-generation and lower socioeconomic status students, aligning with Penn State's access mission.'
The campus enrolled 827 students for the fall semester, 88% of which live in Pennsylvania and nearly 55% of which reside in Lackawanna County, according to enrollment information from the university. Enrollment has dropped nearly 27% in 10 years and 40% from its peak of 1,388 students in 2010, according to the report.
Of those students, nearly 42% are Pell Grant recipients, 16% are underrepresented minorities, almost 46% are first-generation college students and nearly 17% are student athletes.
While on-campus housing isn't offered, the report states the campus has strong connections to local school districts, employers and transfer pipelines, characteristics that the report said makes it particularly well suited to support dual enrollment growth, regional partnerships and hybrid academic models.
'Penn State Scranton's leadership has demonstrated both vision and effectiveness,' it concludes. 'The campus has consistently engaged in University-wide planning and collaboration efforts, and its openness to innovation positions it well to adopt new delivery models or share administrative services with other locations. Faculty and staff have embraced Penn State's goals, and the campus community has maintained a strong culture of adaptability and student-centeredness.'
Elizabeth Wright, regional chancellor for the campus and the ones in Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre, said in an emailed statement Wednesday that while there has been no official decision by the Board of Trustees regarding campus closures, the recommendation to keep the Scranton campus open and invest in it was based its location near major interstates and metropolitan areas, demographics and the significant number of first generation and low income students.
She added the campus' mechanical engineering and nursing programs are two areas with strong potential based on community needs and trends.
'The campus has already made significant investments in those programs over the past several years, most recently with the Mechanical Engineering Building, new Nursing Suite and Library Building renovations,' Wright said in the statement. 'We believe Penn State Scranton enhances Penn State's mission and provide meaningful impact to northeast Pennsylvania.'
Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi announced in February that some commonwealth campuses will be closing, and she will decide which ones by the end of the semester, with no campus closing before the end of the 2026-27 academic year.
The announcement stated that 12 of the university's 19 campuses — including Scranton and three others in Northeast Pennsylvania, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and Schuylkill — were under review.
Media outlets reported this week that the president recommended closing the DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York campuses. Officials publicly shared the full recommendation report regarding the campus closures Tuesday night following the reports.
Trustees will meet privately Thursday to continue discussing the proposal, SpotlightPA reported.
Elected officials and community leaders in Lackawanna County have called for Penn State Scranton to remain open, citing its importance to the region and the students it enrolls.
Reached for comment about the report Wednesday, Bob Durkin, president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, said he was happy to hear the campus could remain open.
'I'm pleased that Penn State has decided to continue that investment and to recognize the financial, economic and workforce value of Penn State Scranton,' he said.
Durkin said the campus is top for nursing and mechanical engineering, job fields that are forecasted to grow in the region. Penn State Scranton also employs people from the area on its campus.
'They've provided us with assistance and direction on how do they and we help grow the workforce and the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania,' Durkin said.
He said the campus allows students to access a Penn State education locally and it fits in well with the higher education ecosystem in Northeast Pennsylvania.
'Penn State is an absolutely first-class institution and that's an experience that you can only get if you're in a commonwealth campus,' Durkin said. 'I'm looking forward to Penn State University Park continuing to follow up on those words and continuing to invest as necessary.'
In addition Penn State Scranton, the report outlines reasons for keeping the Hazleton and Schuylkill campuses open.
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