14 hours Ago By Jen Garofalo
British author C.S. Lewis once said, “The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.
” And, for the past six decades, the faculty at Penn State Fayette has endeavored to do that. They’ve cultivated the chance for local, post-secondary education in an area where the opportunity to continue learning after high school is scarce. Now, we must all fight to ensure that the chance to do that remains.
On Feb. 25, Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said operating all of the university’s 19 branch campuses is no longer financially feasible. The seven largest will remain open; the smaller ones – including Penn State Fayette – could be closed.
“Devastating” was the word used by many to describe the news, prompting community leaders, elected officials, and campus students to demand that Penn State University continue its commitment to local education. Within days of the announcement, Penn State Fayette student Brandon Pitts started a Change.org petition to rally support for the campus.
In 24 hours, more than 1,000 people signed it. Less than one week later, it was nearing 2,000. Supporters of the campus flooded the comments.
As a third-year nursing student, Pitts said Fayette Campus (how many referred to it before it became The Eberly Campus) is a “true home” for him. “I can honestly say that our campus isn’t just a place to learn; it’s a family where every staff member and student matters,” he wrote. With 60 years of students passing through, Pitts’ sentiments are shared by thousands of others, many of whom may not have had the option to continue learning without a local university.
Closing the campus would throw up one more barrier for students in an already economically challenged area. With higher education costs out of control (another editorial for another time), a commuter campus may be the only option for some students to attain associate’s or bachelor’s degrees. Admittedly, enrollment at the campus is down.
Data provided by the university indicated 407 students enrolled this fall. That’s a drop from 577 who enrolled five years ago. In addition to the enrollment figures, however, university officials must also consider the potential for students to stay here, work here and make a home here – contributing to the local economy.
To keep the campus here, local officials have formed the Penn State Business Advocacy Task Force. The group’s goal is to bring everyone impacted by the school together to make their voices heard. Those interested in helping can call or email the Fayette Chamber of Commerce.
Saving the campus may seem like an uphill battle. In an impassioned video on Facebook, state Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa called it a “David and Goliath fight.
” But, if any community can take Goliath on and win, it’s the people of Fayette County..
