Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi posted a letter Thursday saying that the decision on which campuses will closed has been delayed until mid-May. Both Hazleton and Schuylkill campuses are under consideration for closure.

“Over the past several months, we have asked a great deal of our Commonwealth Campus students, faculty, and staff – especially those at the 12 campuses being considered for closure. The uncertainty that has accompanied this process has not been easy, and I remain deeply grateful for the resilience, grace, and dedication you’ve shown during this time,” Bendapudi said.

She said the initial goal was to reach final decisions before spring commencement.

However, she said, “My team has consulted with students, faculty, and staff on the timing of any announcements, and I agree with their broad recommendation to hold until after these milestone events. As a result, I have decided to delay the announcement of campus decisions until mid-May.

The board of trustees is planning to convene in mid-May to consider Commonwealth Campus recommendations.

“We will share advance notice of the board’s public meeting date once scheduled, and how to observe the proceedings,” Bendapudi said.

She said following the meeting, leaders will notify faculty, staff and students immediately.

“We also know that some of you may be away from campus at that time, so we are preparing both in-person and virtual opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to come together, ask questions, and support one another,” she wrote.

The possible closure of 12 out of 19 campuses was announced in late February.

Bendapudi said Penn State has tried to save the campuses, but enrollments are declining at most schools and populations in nearby areas are projected to continue declining.

“Given these realities, we must make hard decisions now to ensure Penn State’s future remains strong,” Bendapudi said.

The university’s seven largest branch campuses — Abington, Altoona, Behrend, Berks, Brandywine, Harrisburg and Lehigh Valley — will remain open.

“It has become clear that we cannot sustain a viable Commonwealth Campus ecosystem without closing some campuses,” she said.

About 6,000 students were enrolled at those 12 schools last fall, out of about 23,000 total at the branch campuses, according to Penn State’s data.

Bendapudi said the school’s graduate education-focused campus at Great Valley, Penn State Dickinson Law, the College of Medicine and the Pennsylvania College of Technology will remain open.

No campus will close before the end of the 2026-27 academic year, according to Bendapudi.

“I know this delay may bring mixed emotions – relief for some, renewed frustration for others. Please know that this decision reflects our belief that you deserve both clarity and compassion,” she wrote Thursday.

The potential closure sparked concern of the two local campuses sparked round tables, with community leaders discussing the economic and academic benefits of keeping the branch campuses open.

State Sen. David Argall posted a survey on his site, which to date has more than 5,000 responses supporting the campuses.