HARRISBURG – The May edition of a local television program hosted by Senator Dave Argall focuses on the potential closure of two local Penn State campuses. The program features roundtable discussions with state legislators addressing the status of Penn State Schuylkill and Penn State Hazleton.
Earlier this year, Penn State’s President, Neeli Bendapudi, revealed that 12 branch campuses, including Schuylkill and Hazleton, might face closure. This announcement came unexpectedly for those associated with the campuses.
The first roundtable took place at the John E. Morgan Auditorium in Penn State Schuylkill, where over 100 attendees discussed the campus’s prospects. Senator Argall emphasized the campus’s recent growth, stating, “Since Penn State Schuylkill is the only branch campus to see their student population increase over the past five years and Hazleton is one of the fastest-growing regions in the state both in population and economic development, I struggle to understand how these campuses ended up on the potential closure list in the first place.”
The second roundtable occurred at Hazleton’s LaunchBox, where discussions similarly focused on supporting the campus’s continued operation. Argall, sharing his personal connection to the campuses, remarked, “As an alumnus and a former instructor at Penn State for decades, I understand the value of these two campuses,” further adding his consistent support for the university’s state funding during his legislative career. However, he cautioned, “If these campuses are closed, I cannot support their appropriation going forward.”
The program is available online and is set to air on local stations.
