Penn State’s Board of Trustees voted to close seven of the twelve branch campuses that were up for consideration in a virtual meeting on May 22.

Those campuses, to close after the spring 2027 semester, are New Kensington, Fayette, DuBois, Mont Alto, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York.

According to Penn State’s 2024 records, the closing campuses hosted 3,100 students and 520 full-time employees who will experience the brunt of the effects.

Penn State trustees indicated a commitment to helping those affected students explore options to continue their education with PSU and the remaining campuses, including the online World Campus.

The fate of the campuses themselves and the towns that they have become staple hubs within are unsure, leaving community leaders and students with questions.

Triblive reporter Kellen Stepler joins host Zac Gibson to explain the rationale behind these closures through the lens of Pennsylvania’s changing college landscape and provide insight on the possibilities for the future of the soon-to-close campuses.

This is “From the Newsroom.”