The Penn State Schuylkill campus offers everything Serena Jones needs. It’s a first class nursing school where the Tamaqua High School graduate can earn a bachelor’s degree, and a place for her to continue to play basketball. And it’s just 20 minutes from home so it’s a quick drive home after a long day of classes and basketball practices or games.

“I’m very involved there,” Jones said. “It’s a small campus but growing.”

That’s why she was surprised when she heard the news that the Schuylkill Haven and Hazleton campuses are being considered for closure in Spring 2026.

The college is citing declining enrollments, demographic shifts and financial pressures. Twelve of the college’s branches will be scrutinized for closure by an internal team. The college reported Tuesday that the decision will be announced by commencement time.

Jones comes from a family of nurses and wants to work in a labor and delivery department of a hospital.

“I would like to be that nurse that changes people for the better,” she said.

The nursing suite at Schuylkill Haven is new, installed the year before Jones enrolled. She is in her junior year so the closure would not affect her degree.

But, she said, “I would hate to see it go. They do such much for the community.”

The campus just has a few dorms, but has been working to improve areas of study, especially the nursing program.

Jones said she prefers the family atmosphere of the small campus. At most, there are 30 students in her nursing classes and she talks about the one-on-one attention she gets.

Commuting to the local branch has made college so much more affordable for Jones, who was also able to get scholarships to help with costs.

She also enjoys extending her high school basketball career, something she would not be able to do at the main campus.

Jones said faculty and students had a lot of questions Wednesday.

“The school said they’d be transparent,” Jones said. “I’m trying not to panic. It’s not going to happen overnight.”

Frankie Martinelli, a Marian High School graduate, is a first-year student at Penn State Hazleton.

Right now she is a psychology major but will likely change to business to pursue her goal of a career in sports marketing/management.

“Penn State Hazleton has an amazing culture around sports (and in general) and there are many opportunities on campus to be connected to the programs,” Martinelli said.

“Whether you are an athlete, manager, fan etc., you are able to be apart of the team. You can work with the trainers, the athletic director, and coaches to learn about the different aspects of athletics.”

The branch campus is an extension of the small school atmosphere she enjoyed at Marian.

“The atmosphere that I felt at Marian is very similar to what I feel as an athlete as Penn State Hazleton. People know my name and say hi in passing just because I play on the basketball team. The small family at Hazleton was extremely welcoming to me as I began my first semester here in January.”

And it’s so close to home.

“I didn’t have to live on campus and I could wake up 20 minutes before class, get in my car, and make it to class on time. I am able to go to my mom’s office in between classes because of the campus location,” Martinelli said.

“Many kids I know have gone away to school and just didn’t like it. They came home and found themselves comfortable again at Penn State Hazleton.”

Penn State was never a question for Martinelli.

“I grew up a Penn State football fan. We were always at main campus and it was my dream school.”

Like Jones, she wanted to continue to play basketball, which makes the branch ideal.

“Here I am now, a Penn State student that still gets to play basketball! I would hate to see this campus close. It would be a true shame.”