Students, educators, employers and concerned citizens filled the John E. Morgan Auditorium at Penn State Schuylkill on Friday to share their opposition to Penn State’s plan to potentially close the campus.

In February, the university announced that the closure of 12 of 19 branch campuses was being considered, including the campus in Schuylkill Haven and the campus in Hazleton.

Friday’s public roundtable event described how Penn State Schuylkill has changed lives throughout the Schuylkill County region and beyond.

It was hosted by state Sen. David Argall, R-29; and state reps. Tim Twardzik, R-123; Jamie Barton, R-124; JoAnne Stehr, R-107; and Dane Watro, R-116.

Argall opened by noting that the goal was to provide Penn State with as much information as possible about Penn State Schuylkill’s impact on the community to guide the final decision.

State of campus

During the first panel discussion, Dr. Cory Scherer, interim chancellor of Penn State Schuylkill, said that despite the news of the potential closure, applications and acceptances have increased compared with last year.

He also discussed how the significant wait to hear Penn State leadership’s final decision has taken a serious toll on students, educators and administrators.

Dr. Patrick Jones, the former chancellor of Penn State Schuylkill, told stories of alumni attending Harvard University, Penn Veterinary School and other prestigious schools after graduation.

He also discussed the Penn State Schuylkill Co-Op, which currently connects 160 students to 100 employers.

Joseph Gera, the vice chair of the Penn State Schuylkill Co-Op National Advisory Council, discussed how the co-op program has successfully brought new opportunities to students and employers, saying that “its success has caught the attention of (PSU) President (Neeli) Bendapudi, to the point where she would like to replicate our co-op education delivery model to other campuses.”

Officials, employers

The second panel featured elected officials and employers from Schuylkill County, who discussed how the campus has positively affected local communities and the regional economy.

Schuylkill County commissioners Larry Padora, Barron “Boots” Hetherington and Gary Hess discussed how the campus serves as a community hub, hosting a wide variety of events.

Robert Carl, the president and CEO of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, discussed the success of Penn State Schuylkill’s recently created nursing program, which serves as a direct workforce pipeline to local health care systems.

He also referenced a report indicating that Penn State Schuylkill was a local anchor institution that contributed $33.9 million to Pennsylvania’s economy.

Frank Zukas, the president of the Schuylkill Economic Development Corp., said that businesses seeking skilled workers benefit from the university’s steady supply of graduates ready to enter the workforce.

He also noted that the university’s resources, networking opportunities and industry partnerships make Schuylkill County an attractive location for business investment.

Students

The final panel discussion featured students, who shared their perspectives on how Penn State Schuylkill has changed their lives.

Seth Hubler, a Penn State Schuylkill alumnus, discussed how his Penn State Schuylkill experience — including traveling internationally, serving as the student body president and participating in the co-op program — had prepared him for his current role as the outreach director for Argall’s office.

Carter Strouse, a second-year student, said: “I never imagined myself pursuing academics with the level of passion and commitment that I do now.

“Yet, here I am, thriving and growing both personally and professionally. This is, in large part, due to the supportive and empowering environment fostered at Penn State Schuylkill.”

At the conclusion of the event, members of the public told their stories about the value of the campus to the Schuylkill County community.

Legislators

“The potential closure of Penn State Schuylkill is a serious concern for our community, and we cannot let this decision be made without local input,” Twardzik said. “This campus provides invaluable educational opportunities and plays a critical role in our regional economy.

“Today’s roundtable brought together students, educators, business leaders and elected officials to discuss how we can work together to protect this institution and ensure it remains a resource for generations to come.

“Our panelists today spoke about success, partnership and opportunity made possible by our branch campus. The way we spell success in Schuylkill is P-S-U.”

Barton also weighed in.

“It’s clear to me and everyone who took part in this event that Penn State Schuylkill is an integral part of our community,” he said. “If Penn State needed any evidence as to why this campus cannot close, this roundtable is all the proof needed. So many people are fighting to keep this campus open.

“Faculty, staff, students, alumni, business leaders, nonprofits and even unaffiliated community members know how important Penn State Schuylkill is to the area.

“Closing it would do irreversible harm to Schuylkill County and its people.”

Argall closed the session with a warning.

“I have supported Penn State’s appropriation each and every year in my time in the House and the Senate,” he said. “If they close this campus down, I will never support this funding again.”