Feb. 27, 2025
HARRISBURG – Reps. Tim Twardzik (R-Schuylkill), Jamie Barton (R-Berks/Schuylkill), Joanne Stehr (R-Northumberland/Schuylkill) and Dane Watro (R-Luzerne/Schuylkill), and Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) issued statements condemning Penn State’s new plan that could close Penn State Schuylkill. The closure of this campus would jeopardize local jobs, harm the regional economy, and make it harder to earn a college degree in northeast Pennsylvania.
“Penn State Schuylkill has been vital to our region,” said Twardzik. “The campus has seen growth in enrollment and its internship program has strengthened our local workforce, while its nursing program has provided over 200 nurses to the area. Closing this campus would take away critical opportunities for our community. I will work with my colleagues to ensure this campus remains open.”
“Penn State Schuylkill has made and continues to make significant contributions to the region, improving our quality of life in the process. The school enriches the community by making higher education accessible for more than 600 students who can choose from 275 majors, which is crucial for those who don’t want to relocate to pursue a degree,” said Watro. “Keeping our educated young people in Pennsylvania is a longtime goal that Penn State Schuylkill is helping us to achieve. Losing it would be a major blow to the momentum we are now seeing in our region after years of hard work by so many.”
"Penn State Schuylkill has provided countless students with access to a high-quality education close to home," said Stehr. "Closing the campus would eliminate opportunities and limit options for those who wish to build their futures in our region. I am committed to working with my colleagues to ensure these campuses remain open."
“Penn State Schuylkill is very special place for a multitude of reasons,” Barton said. “My family moved to Schuylkill County in 1969 because my father accepted a position with Penn State Schuylkill. Aside from good jobs and a boost to the economy, these campuses also offer students the chance to pursue arts, athletics and many different academic opportunities that might not be possible otherwise. Keeping this campus means keeping that dream alive for so many students and families in our area.”
The lawmakers invite anyone who feels strongly about the potential closure of Penn State Schuylkill to share their opinion by completing a one-question survey.
“In 24 hours, more than two thousand people took our survey, sharing their strong opposition to this potentially devastating plan by Penn State,” said Argall. “We’ll be sharing the final results and the unified opposition of our state legislative delegation directly with Penn State leadership.”
The survey can be completed here.
Penn State Schuylkill is the only campus in the Penn State system that has seen enrollment growth every year since 2021, with a 17.5% increase and projections for continued growth next year. The campus is home to innovative programs such as the Penn State Schuylkill Co-Op, which connects students with real-world job opportunities while helping employers build a skilled workforce.
Additionally, Penn State Schuylkill recently introduced a nursing program that has been a major success. The program has expanded, and students are now training in state-of-the-art labs, helping to address the ongoing health care worker shortage in the region.
The lawmakers are calling on Penn State’s administration to recognize the value Penn State Schuylkill brings to the region and keep the campus open.