STATE COLLEGE – A panel of Penn State administrators have recommended that Penn State Mont Alto, Penn State’s oldest campus, be closed afte the 2026-2027 academic year, a decision state representatives in the area say was poorly conceived and will hurt the Franklin County community.
Reps. Chad Reichard (R-Franklin) and Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin/Adams) said in a statement Wednesday, May 15, “From the start, this process has been conducted under a shroud with very little, if any, transparency. This was a poor, rushed process that failed to take into account how a decision in State College would impact the lives of residents and students of Franklin County.”
Since, at this point, the recommendation must still be approved by the Penn State Board of Truistees, they vowed to continue a fight to keep the historic campus open.
“By the sounds of it, administrators looked at numbers and neglected to take into account how such a major decision would affect students and communities. Our students, faculty and staff deserve better,” Reichard and Kauffman said in their joint statement.
For its part, the panel noted Mont Alto is one of seven campuses recommended for closure, due to high costs and declining enrollments.
“These campuses face overlapping challenges, including enrollment and financial decline, low housing occupancy, and significant maintenance backlog,” the report said. “The projected low enrollments pose challenges for creating the kind of robust on-campus student experience that is consistent with the Penn State brand.
“Keeping them open would require an estimated $19 million in annual financial support, $21 million in annual overhead expense, and more than $200 million in future facilities investment – resources that could be redirected to enhance and strengthen the campuses that remain,” the report continued. “These campuses currently enroll 3.6% of Penn State’s students and employ 3.4% of Penn State’s faculty and2.2% of Penn State’s staff.”
However, Reichard and Kauffman contend, “Mont Alto has been and continues to be a beacon of learning in Franklin County. It provides work-ready employees who fill jobs here and elsewhere. Local high school students rely on the campus for advanced learning as they prepare for post-secondary schooling.
“With a vote by the board of trustees pending, we will continue to fight against this rushed decision and will advocate to keep Mont Alto open,” the two representative said. “We strongly urge the trustees to reject the president’s proposal and do a more in-depth study that truly examines the impact that Mont Alto and all branch campus have on local communities.”
The other campuses recommended for closure are: Penn State DuBois, Penn State Fayette, Penn State New Kensington, Penn State Shenango, Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Penn State York.
Campuses remaining open are: Penn State Lehigh Valley, Penn State Harrisburg, Penn State Erie, Penn State Abington, Penn State Altoona, Penn State Berks and Penn State Brandywine.
As for Mont Alto, the report noted the campus lost $3 million last year, had an enrollment of 613 and a graduation rate of 48 percent after four years and 57 after six. The report also noted there are four other colleges within 30 miles of Mont Alto and 12 within 50 miles.
On the other hand, the report noted that Franklin County’s youth population is projected to increase by 4 percent by 2030, while nearby Adams drops by 1 percent and Cumberland increases a whopping 13 percent.
It also mentions the new New Allied Health Building at Mont Alto, a $13.5 million investment with 22,000 square feet of classroom space, along with containing simulation labs and advanced equipment. The campus has strong ties to WellSpan Health and other healthcare provider, the report said.
The scenic campus also is Penn State’s oldest Commonwealth Campus location dating to 1901 and is an arboretum with over 1,000 trees. The campus has existing agreements with Micheaux State Forest and Waynesboro Watershed for research and classes.
Penn State Mont Alto’s forestry program is the oldest in the country, and it has attracted considerable public interest for its continuation, according to the report.
