High school counselors weigh options as Penn State branch campuses hang in the balance

Burrell High School guidance counselor Sandra Oskin thinks Penn State New Kensington is still a good option for prospective students, despite the Upper Burrell campus potentially closing in two years.

“I’m hoping it remains a viable option — especially for Burrell,” she said. “It’s been a great resource. It’s convenient for students. It’s a really classy campus.”

Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi on Tuesday said some of its branch campuses — including New Kensington, Fayette, Greater Allegheny and Beaver — could close because of declining enrollment, demographic shifts and finances.

It’s expected that a recommendation on closures will be announced sometime this spring, with a final decision expected before graduation.

No campus would close before the end of the 2026-27 school year, university officials have said.

For campuses that close in two years, faculty can explore opportunities to be assigned elsewhere within Penn State, and students will have a pathway so they can complete their degrees at Penn State, either on campus or online, Bendapudi said.

Oskin said Burrell counselors will still present Penn State New Kensington as an option for prospective students with the hope it survives the cuts.

She acknowledged the advising process will become more difficult, as students typically attend a branch campus for two years.

With changes to the branch campuses, some programs could have students spending one year at a branch campus before heading elsewhere.

Oskin said high school counselors will have to await information from Penn State on those situations.

“I don’t think Penn State would leave students hanging,” she said. “I think they would help the students with a transition.”

If PSNK ultimately closes, Oskin said, there likely would be an uptick in enrollment at community colleges, such as Westmoreland County Community College and the Community College of Allegheny County.

At Plum Senior High School, those options appear to be more attractive to students rather than PSNK, said counselor Tina Crissman.

“Our enrollment at Penn State New Kensington has declined over the years,” Crissman said.

Plum Principal Patrick Baughman believes prospective students may feel PSNK is a little too close to home, coupled with the fact that other options, like CCAC, are cheaper.

It’s yet to be seen what impact Penn State branch closures will have at area high schools, Crissman said. She said Plum’s staff works with students to help find a good fit for them to continue their education.

“Our students are pretty informed of what schools are there and how to get to that end goal,” she said.

With the higher education landscape, Baughman said, school staff presents all options to students, including affordability.

“We want them to be informed decision makers,” he said.

Burrell’s Oskin said other effects of a closure would include the loss of collaborations between the Upper Burrell campus and area high schools, where students can obtain college credit for certain high school classes.

Students and the community also benefit from Penn State New Kensington programs, including the Digital Foundry, a business development service; and The Corner, an entrepreneur training center and co-working space.

PSNK also offers athletic scholarships and opportunities that students otherwise wouldn’t be able to get at University Park.

“It’s been a resource that’s not appreciated enough,” said Oskin, who has been a counselor at Burrell High School for 20 years.

Interest among students wanting to attend PSNK has remained about the same during her time at the school, she said.

Valley Jr.-Sr. High School Principal Jon Banko said there doesn’t seem to be any more or less interest among local, smaller colleges.

“I have the sense that when students are seriously considering these campuses, it’s because they provide smaller class sizes, and they are close enough to stay at home to maintain employment locally or to maintain their comfort level with the change,” Banko said.

“The career planning conversations that students have with teachers often focus on what interests the student has, their academic strengths and what they feel they can handle with regard to going away for school.”

Self-fulfilling prophecy?

Andrea Adolph, an English professor at PSNK, finds the new budget model for branch campuses to be a self-fulfilling prophecy from university leaders.

She said Penn State sets tuition rates, then penalizes branch campuses for bringing in fewer tuition dollars per-student than they do at University Park or bigger branch campuses that charge more in tuition.

“When you do not provide a budget that sustains the mission of the campuses and the university, what can you expect?” she said.

“The only transparency seems to be how obvious it is that we are not set up to succeed, which is shameful, since our campuses collectively serve the larger number of in-state students, first-generation and low-income students, adult learners and those from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.”

Adolph said there is a need for a Penn State presence in the Pittsburgh region. The New Kensington campus, she said, offers majors including accredited programs in radiological sciences, biomedical engineering technology and electro-mechanical engineering technology.

“Our next steps as faculty and staff here is to provide the best education and experiences for our students while they are here,” Adolph said. “Everyone is uneasy, including students. So it’s important to address the issue, clarify what is rumor and what is known, but ultimately to make education the most important part of what we do now and will continue to do.”