Penn State faculty fear the school will close campuses across the state

[PurposePitch]

Someone's story? It is Penn State's history, and fact. A cult? You are sad.

Source is "Penn State an Illustrated History", by Michael Bezilla. Published by the Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park and London. 1985

Read it and learn dolt.

It's someone's story. And it has pictures, too. That's right up your alley - a picture book for story time.

Listen, guy. Paterno didn't launch the grand expansion of PSU in enrollment and reputation. It was WELL underway before Paterno took the reins of the football squad, as enrollment numbers show. And it happened for obvious reasons (some of which I already referenced) largely having nothing to do with Paterno, or the football team. Expansion actually ground to a halt as Paterno was establishing the football program as top notch. The myth of Paterno was a nice story. It is, as you cuckoo birds like to say ... fake news.

 

[Sullivan]

**** you. PSU tuition has always been at the very top of all public schools. Does not matter who the Governor was. The amount of idiocy on this board is just breathtaking sometimes, and your morons who try to politicize every single thing are just the worst. PA has never supported college education well (taxes). That's just the reality.

PA spends more than 40% of the entire budget on education. If you increase it for colleges and universities, where in the education budget are you going to take it from?

 

[GSPMax]

It's someone's story. And it has pictures, too. That's right up your alley - a picture book for story time.

Listen, guy. Paterno didn't launch the grand expansion of PSU in enrollment and reputation. It was WELL underway before Paterno took the reins of the football squad, as enrollment numbers show. And it happened for obvious reasons (some of which I already referenced) largely having nothing to do with Paterno, or the football team. Expansion actually ground to a halt as Paterno was establishing the football program as top notch. The myth of Paterno was a nice story. It is, as you cuckoo birds like to say ... fake news.

Child. The history is nearly 400 pages and is well sourced. A picture is worth a 1000 words. Your are just that, words.

As reputation and yes the football program grew in stature, enrollment of couse increased, creating ever more alumni spreading the word about PSU academics and football. I have encountered PSU alumni around the world. Expansion did not halt, which you would know if you did your research, but did slow. There were reasons for this. I wonder what else was going on in the late 60's and early 70's. There was also an economic downturn with corresponding downturns in job.

I am a baby boomer. When I applied for admittance to Penn State, the application asked why the applicant wanted to come to Penn State. One of the choices was because of the football program. That is not why I went to Penn State but I am certain that for many it was the reason. I had many other reasons to go to PSU.

Being so young, I understand why you think Paterno was a myth. If you were alive and at Penn State in the 60's, 70's or 80's you would have seen it first and. However, one has to recognize that there are Paterno deniers of which you are one.

Now, get lost.

 

[Lion84]

He didn't start making it political...he responded to the nonsense to correct the person that was the problem. Why didn't you correctly criticize the person who started it? Feels like an agenda

Not sure if he has an agenda or is just mentally ill - I know one thing comprehension is not his strong point - must be that JC Education.

 

[diontechristmas]

This is so true, Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport offers Bachelors & Associate degrees in many fields where there is almost 100% job placement. A lot of the kids commute, graduate with less (or no) student debt and start earning very, very good salaries immediately.

Penn Tech does vocational education very well. However the place is right around 23k per year for in state tuition room and board. Should the HVAC tech program (associates) cost students almost 50k? How is that graduating with little to no debt? The place is I think more expensive that Bloomsburg and Lock Haven.

 

[diontechristmas]

Child. The history is nearly 400 pages and is well sourced. A picture is worth a 1000 words. Your are just that, words.

As reputation and yes the football program grew in stature, enrollment of couse increased, creating ever more alumni spreading the word about PSU academics and football. I have encountered PSU alumni around the world. Expansion did not halt, which you would know if you did your research, but did slow. There were reasons for this. I wonder what else was going on in the late 60's and early 70's. There was also an economic downturn with corresponding downturns in job.

I am a baby boomer. When I applied for admittance to Penn State, the application asked why the applicant wanted to come to Penn State. One of the choices was because of the football program. That is not why I went to Penn State but I am certain that for many it was the reason. I had many other reasons to go to PSU.

Being so young, I understand why you think Paterno was a myth. If you were alive and at Penn State in the 60's, 70's or 80's you would have seen it first and. However, one has to recognize that there are Paterno deniers of which you are one.

Now, get lost.

Some students do go to PSU due to football. It’s not the only determining factor but one that put it’s over the top. It’s not football in a vacuum of course, but the social life and an activities around football.

The marketing the university gets for football is more important. How many mentions does PSU get on TV, print, social media and on and on because of football. PSU may be the 1st university a young person became aware of and that sticks for many.

 

[mgkpsu]

I don't know why people are so highly criticizing the campus system PSU has without considering how much the world has changed around it. When it was constructed it mostly made sense -- and almost all of you are negating the major benefit of residents being able to do their first two years at a branch campus and then finish at UP (or many other branch campuses) to get a 4-year degree. Historically that has been a VERY good thing, and I believe only Wisconsin has/had a similar campus system. I know the school wanted to make UP 'more elite' and so sacrificed the same curriculum being offered at every campus. There were reasons for that, but many here seem to not grasp the value of that kind of system.

To do over today, of course PSU would not set up a system like this. But you guys act like online courses were around 25 years ago - they were not. So it is a problem when you've built this huge infrastructure but now it is highly inefficient. This is not an easy problem to solve and those saying "Oh, just close 15 campuses" are extremely short-minded. There are repercussions to doing that.

University administration has always been a major detractor to tuition costs and it is in every system, not just Penn State. I think everyone in every system would be shocked to see how many 'administrators' make hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's always been a huge problem and it is not easily correctable without nuclear options that have side affects no one is thinking about.

Ok, but do Lehigh, Schuykill, Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre, AND Scranton all need campuses? Or how about Lehigh Valley, Berkshire, Abington, AND Brandywine? Or Beaver, New Kensington, Greater Allegheny, AND Fayette? It's ridiculous, and they need to just bite the bullet and cut a few (I believe some don't even have dorms), sell it off to some commercial developer to get something in return, and then reevaluate again after a few years. I don't really see a significant # of students not going to PSU altogether just because of an extra 20-30 minutes of travel to a different branch campus.

 

[PurposePitch]

Child. The history is nearly 400 pages and is well sourced. A picture is worth a 1000 words. Your are just that, words.

As reputation and yes the football program grew in stature, enrollment of couse increased, creating ever more alumni spreading the word about PSU academics and football. I have encountered PSU alumni around the world. Expansion did not halt, which you would know if you did your research, but did slow. There were reasons for this. I wonder what else was going on in the late 60's and early 70's. There was also an economic downturn with corresponding downturns in job.

I am a baby boomer. When I applied for admittance to Penn State, the application asked why the applicant wanted to come to Penn State. One of the choices was because of the football program. That is not why I went to Penn State but I am certain that for many it was the reason. I had many other reasons to go to PSU.

Being so young, I understand why you think Paterno was a myth. If you were alive and at Penn State in the 60's, 70's or 80's you would have seen it first and. However, one has to recognize that there are Paterno deniers of which you are one.

Now, get lost.

You're a big fan of picture books. Got it.

You can keep restating your thesis, but the reality - the numbers - don't support it.

This is the problem with cultists, when you're looking to excuse away information that doesn't support your thesis, you embrace outside information ... "there were reasons for this. I wonder what else was going on in the late 60's and early 70's." Yet, when this outside information would get in the way of your mythology, you excuse it away. I highlighted the halt in enrollment to highlight this very fact ... and, like the cultist you are, you fell for it.

Enrollment data is all right here ...

Student Enrollment | Data Digest

Again, enrollment was already skyrocketing well before Paterno took the helm. Long before football success was a thing, or could even drive enrollment (if it could). There are obvious reasons for this, some of which I already highlighted (post-war, becoming a university, etc.). The same types of reasons (non-Paterno, non-football) that might halt enrollment increases, even in the midst of the football team's greatest successes.

You see where total enrollment, in 1975, was 61, 083? And then, in 1984, it was 61, 312? Virtually flat over a 10-year period. Arguably amidst the zenith of Paterno popularity.

But you referenced the 60's and early 70's ... so you were excuse making for yet another time period?!? So, you're basically excusing away the large majority of Paterno's era of success?

That seems like a rather poor argument on your part, no?

The topper is you were trying to excuse away enrollment figures during a particular time period, as being due to outside circumstances ... yet this time period was actually one of the best for enrollment increases. It's almost like you don't know history at all.

Being 50 years old, I appreciate the commentary that I'm "so young," however.

 

[LandoComando]

With virtual learning as an option--do we need any branch campuses?

 

[GSPMax]

You're a big fan of picture books. Got it.

You can keep restating your thesis, but the reality - the numbers - don't support it.

This is the problem with cultists, when you're looking to excuse away information that doesn't support your thesis, you embrace outside information ... "there were reasons for this. I wonder what else was going on in the late 60's and early 70's." Yet, when this outside information would get in the way of your mythology, you excuse it away. I highlighted the halt in enrollment to highlight this very fact ... and, like the cultist you are, you fell for it.

Enrollment data is all right here ... gra

Student Enrollment | Data Digest

Again, enrollment was already skyrocketing well before Paterno took the helm. Long before football success was a thing, or could even drive enrollment (if it could). There are obvious reasons for this, some of which I already highlighted (post-war, becoming a university, etc.). The same types of reasons (non-Paterno, non-football) that might halt enrollment increases, even in the midst of the football team's greatest successes.

You see where total enrollment, in 1975, was 61, 083? And then, in 1984, it was 61, 312? Virtually flat over a 10-year period. Arguably amidst the zenith of Paterno popularity.

But you referenced the 60's and early 70's ... so you were excuse making for yet another time period?!? So, you're basically excusing away the large majority of Paterno's era of success?

That seems like a rather poor argument on your part, no?

The topper is you were trying to excuse away enrollment figures during a particular time period, as being due to outside circumstances ... yet this time period was actually one of the best for enrollment increases. It's almost like you don't know history at all.

Being 50 years old, I appreciate the commentary that I'm "so young," however.

Ah, youth and inexperience. You do have a lot to learn grasshopper.

You miss the point which is not surprising.

Enrollment numbers are not the only measure of the prestige of a university. Paterno's impact was not to just increase enrollment. If you had read the paragraph, I quoted, you would note that football was the way Penn State brought national attention and prestige to Penn State.

Reading comprehension is one of the skills you should work on as you mature. If you are interested in why Penn State is the way it is today, I suggest you get the book and try to understand the history of Penn State. Until then keep blathering on about enrollment.

 

[bison13]

Ok, but do Lehigh, Schuykill, Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre, AND Scranton all need campuses? Or how about Lehigh Valley, Berkshire, Abington, AND Brandywine? Or Beaver, New Kensington, Greater Allegheny, AND Fayette? It's ridiculous, and they need to just bite the bullet and cut a few (I believe some don't even have dorms), sell it off to some commercial developer to get something in return, and then reevaluate again after a few years. I don't really see a significant # of students not going to PSU altogether just because of an extra 20-30 minutes of travel to a different branch campus.

Some of these branch campuses have resorted to adding athletic teams to try and bolster enrollment. They knew there are plenty of moms and dads who want to be able to say their little Johnnie or Suzie played college ball. But unfortunately they arent bringing in enough kids to even cover the costs of the team so it puts them further in the hole.

 

[PurposePitch]

Ah, youth and inexperience. You do have a lot to learn grasshopper.

You miss the point which is not surprising.

Enrollment numbers are not the only measure of the prestige of a university. Paterno's impact was not to just increase enrollment. If you had read the paragraph, I quoted, you would note that football was the way Penn State brought national attention and prestige to Penn State.

Reading comprehension is one of the skills you should work on as you mature. If you are interested in why Penn State is the way it is today, I suggest you get the book and try to understand the history of Penn State. Until then keep blathering on about enrollment.

To sum:

When you asserted:

Do some research. When Paterno arrived on campus, Penn State was primarily a pa centric university with 9,500 students. On his death, Penn State had 45,000 students and is internationally renowned with students and faculty from around the world. Today there are 75,000 with the 20th ranked engineering undergrad program and a top 50 business program.
This was not the case before Paterno put Penn State on the map.

And referenced, therein, the enrollment numbers of 9,500 students, 45,000 students and 75,000 students (2 of which were inaccurate recitations, but I digress), you weren't focusing on enrollment numbers.

And when I challenged you, specifically, on his effect on enrollment ... that you explicitly and concretely asserted, I shouldn't have been focusing on enrollment, despite you specifically highlighting it, because ... uh, you're really, really old ... you read a picture book once and screw logic and reason?

Is that your stance and you're sticking to it?

 

[SR108]

The more we funded the schools the more the Dems running schools expanded and raised prices. How many campuses do you need in a state that is not growing?

Why is tuition up 500% in the last 25 years?

At some point, they will/maybe are pricing themselves out of the market. At what point does $100,000 or more in debt become unattractive?

 

[GSPMax]

To sum:

When you asserted:

Do some research. When Paterno arrived on campus, Penn State was primarily a pa centric university with 9,500 students. On his death, Penn State had 45,000 students and is internationally renowned with students and faculty from around the world. Today there are 75,000 with the 20th ranked engineering undergrad program and a top 50 business program.
This was not the case before Paterno put Penn State on the map.

And referenced, therein, the enrollment numbers of 9,500 students, 45,000 students and 75,000 students (2 of which were inaccurate recitations, but I digress), you weren't focusing on enrollment numbers.

And when I challenged you, specifically, on his effect on enrollment ... that you explicitly and concretely asserted, I shouldn't have been focusing on enrollment, despite you specifically highlighting it, because ... uh, you're really, really old ... you read a picture book once and screw logic and reason?

Is that your stance and you're sticking to it?

As I also quoted, buildings, faculty and football were thought by Walker to be necessary to building a great university. All of which are reflected in enrollment. Paterno's football program was part of the equation to put Penn Sate on the map.

Sorry this is so difficult for you to comprehend.

 

[PurposePitch]

As I also quoted, buildings, faculty and football were thought by Walker to be necessary to building a great university. All of which are reflected in enrollment. Paterno's football program was part of the equation to put Penn Sate on the map.

Sorry this is so difficult for you to comprehend.

Right ... so even though the enrollment boom started before the football program became successful, carried on during the football program's success, and even ground to a halt during the most successful period of the football program ... and even though the physical expansion and reputational growth can easily be explained by other internal and external factors ... we're going to focus on Paterno ... because he drove it all.

Unfortunately, as one ages, the synapses are lost ... and things like dementia can start to creep in.

Listen, no one doubts that athletic success can find its way out into the ethos via media coverage (which we now know is evil, amirite?) and provide a general marketing boost to a university simply by name recognition ... but your characterization of what transpired, and who was (solely? mostly?) responsible for it is ... to use a technical term ... bonkers.

I know you guys thrive off hero worship ... but goodness gracious.

 

[The Spin Meister]

As I also quoted, buildings, faculty and football were thought by Walker to be necessary to building a great university. All of which are reflected in enrollment. Paterno's football program was part of the equation to put Penn Sate on the map.

Sorry this is so difficult for you to comprehend.

It’s true. And not just because a team wins a lot of games. Paterno was very well known for stressing academics, making kids go to class, strict on grades, tutoring, and emphasizing graduation because football is a part find gig that should be a gateway to an education and career.


He was known for donating considerable funds to the library which was unheard of other colleges’ coaches. He would often quote Greek philosophers, operas and more exhibiting a level of sophistication that separated both him and the school from the pack.

All of this created an image that attracted not only top athletes but also top students, top professors, top administrators. They all wanted to be part of a university that knew what were the proper priorities.

Denying Joe’s impact is denying reality. Younger people ….. under 55….probably do not realize his impact because they didn’t live it. They were more of the later years after the school had expanded and had an established reputation.

The even younger….under 30-35 range….. have no idea because the school 💩 all over him to save their butts from being investigated and their corruption be exposed.

 

[bison13]

It’s true. And not just because a team wins a lot of games. Paterno was very well known for stressing academics, making kids go to class, strict on grades, tutoring, and emphasizing graduation because football is a part find gig that should be a gateway to an education and career.


He was known for donating considerable funds to the library which was unheard of other colleges’ coaches. He would often quote Greek philosophers, operas and more exhibiting a level of sophistication that separated both him and the school from the pack.

All of this created an image that attracted not only top athletes but also top students, top professors, top administrators. They all wanted to be part of a university that knew what were the proper priorities.

Denying Joe’s impact is denying reality. Younger people ….. under 55….probably do not realize his impact because they didn’t live it. They were more of the later years after the school had expanded and had an established reputation.

The even younger….under 30-35 range….. have no idea because the school 💩 all over him to save their butts from being investigated and their corruption be exposed.

I was a freshman at UP in fall 94. Taking English 15 as my first ever class and the prof asks each of us why we chose PSU. There were 30 kids in our class, all Engineering majors and multiple students in there said the reason they chose PSU was to watch the football team. One of the kids explained that if he was going to major in engineering, he at least wanted to be able to watch good sports when he took his study breaks, etc. One of those guys called the national championship that day too.

 

[LandoComando]

It’s true. And not just because a team wins a lot of games. Paterno was very well known for stressing academics, making kids go to class, strict on grades, tutoring, and emphasizing graduation because football is a part find gig that should be a gateway to an education and career.


He was known for donating considerable funds to the library which was unheard of other colleges’ coaches. He would often quote Greek philosophers, operas and more exhibiting a level of sophistication that separated both him and the school from the pack.

All of this created an image that attracted not only top athletes but also top students, top professors, top administrators. They all wanted to be part of a university that knew what were the proper priorities.

Denying Joe’s impact is denying reality. Younger people ….. under 55….probably do not realize his impact because they didn’t live it. They were more of the later years after the school had expanded and had an established reputation.

The even younger….under 30-35 range….. have no idea because the school 💩 all over him to save their butts from being investigated and their corruption be exposed.

Impact requires long term acknowledgement and understanding. If the argument is everyone under 55 doesn't understand it because they didn't live it then its not as impactful as you want to believe.

Compare the increase with other large state schools. Of course things have changed since the 60s. Paterno being given credit for that is just insincere. Still a great man that believed in education but people still are insistent on making it more than that.

 

[GSPMax]

It’s true. And not just because a team wins a lot of games. Paterno was very well known for stressing academics, making kids go to class, strict on grades, tutoring, and emphasizing graduation because football is a part find gig that should be a gateway to an education and career.


He was known for donating considerable funds to the library which was unheard of other colleges’ coaches. He would often quote Greek philosophers, operas and more exhibiting a level of sophistication that separated both him and the school from the pack.

All of this created an image that attracted not only top athletes but also top students, top professors, top administrators. They all wanted to be part of a university that knew what were the proper priorities.

Denying Joe’s impact is denying reality. Younger people ….. under 55….probably do not realize his impact because they didn’t live it. They were more of the later years after the school had expanded and had an established reputation.

The even younger….under 30-35 range….. have no idea because the school 💩 all over him to save their butts from being investigated and their corruption be exposed.

All very true and completely agree if you did not live it you are not likely to understand. It is not hero worship just recognizing the good work by a person who had some faults but nevertheless was a good person.

I might also add he lived in a very modest home close to campus. He used to occasionally walk thru our tailgate on his way home from a game. As a student waiting for a class in Life Sciences he would walk by on his way to a meeting I suspect. I was going home one day on west campus and he was walking to the golf course. He also almost t-boned me on East Park Avenue as he was apparently speeding to the airport in his BMW.

Outside of football I believe he lived a very uncomplex life. I also believe that he spent many hours in his basement working on football. The area he lived in was known for high radon levels which suspect contributed to his death.

 

[doctornick]

I was a freshman at UP in fall 94. Taking English 15 as my first ever class and the prof asks each of us why we chose PSU. There were 30 kids in our class, all Engineering majors and multiple students in there said the reason they chose PSU was to watch the football team. One of the kids explained that if he was going to major in engineering, he at least wanted to be able to watch good sports when he took his study breaks, etc. One of those guys called the national championship that day too.

I have high school aged children and am on a few social media groups about applying for/attending/paying for college. And there is definitely a substantial pull for kids to go to schools with prominent athletics especially football - they want that social experience and rah-rah atmosphere. It's particularly true for males, as colleges have been experiences much more difficulty getting male students - with the exception being large state institutions with prominent football.

I used to question the value of having athletics as it pertained to the "brand" of a college, but now I tend to think it actually does make a big difference. A lot of smaller schools are having enrollment problems and are even shutting down.

 

[The Spin Meister]

I was a freshman at UP in fall 94. Taking English 15 as my first ever class and the prof asks each of us why we chose PSU. There were 30 kids in our class, all Engineering majors and multiple students in there said the reason they chose PSU was to watch the football team. One of the kids explained that if he was going to major in engineering, he at least wanted to be able to watch good sports when he took his study breaks, etc. One of those guys called the national championship that day too.

They could have gone to suckeyes, cheaters, domers, bama, and others znd said the same thing. I don’t know which are good at engineering.

Maybe it was a combination of engineering, good sports, and in-state tuition? That combo would certainly limit options.

 

[The Spin Meister]

I have high school aged children and am on a few social media groups about applying for/attending/paying for college. And there is definitely a substantial pull for kids to go to schools with prominent athletics especially football - they want that social experience and rah-rah atmosphere. It's particularly true for males, as colleges have been experiences much more difficulty getting male students - with the exception being large state institutions with prominent football.

I used to question the value of having athletics as it pertained to the "brand" of a college, but now I tend to think it actually does make a big difference. A lot of smaller schools are having enrollment problems and are even shutting down.

Name recognition and brand are huge in all business. It’s one of the most crucial things and companies spend billions to build brand, image and name recognition.

For the rest of their post college lives as soon as they mention their school it’s sports will come up. Duke…basketball. Bama….football. Iowa…..wrestling. It opens the door, even just by wearing branded clothing. It’s the opening of the conversation and allows it to flow to the next step in a more relaxed setting.

Sports is the universal language of people, especially men. It’s a common bond for two strangers to immediately discuss without fear. Far safer than politics, religion, country of origin and pretty much anything.

In fact, it’s the one thing it’s more fun to disagree over and still be friends. Razz each other, laugh it off and move on. Even in job interviews or coworker relations it will be a common bond.

Go to a small school without that name recognition and you lose that instantaneous bond. That critical first 25 seconds. There are a ton of great small schools but it is a different dynamic.

 

[voltz99]

PA spends more than 40% of the entire budget on education. If you increase it for colleges and universities, where in the education budget are you going to take it from?

Philly HS grads get a free 250k k-12 education, free pre school, free breakfast , free lunch, free take home meals, free laptops, free internet, free transit, and they cant even make my fries hot.

 

[voltz99]

Penn State faculty fear the school will close campuses across the state; Officials won’t give them a straight answer

<p><em>This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for Talk of the Town, a weekly newsletter of local stories that dig deep, events, and more...

www.timesleader.com

Faculty only caring about money at the expense of the students.

 

[doctornick]

Every time they look into closing a PSU or Pitt branch campus or a PSSHE school the State reps and senators for who's districts that campus is in or adjacent to goes on a warpath threatening the funding for the system that is looking at closing down a campus.

That's why I think the ideal play for PSU (or Pitt) would be to try to sell or gift the campuses to the state or counties to become community colleges. In theory trying to keep an educational entity there and keeping those jobs, but not having to have PSU deal with the hassle and costs of running campuses that they really don't need to.

 

[bison13]

They could have gone to suckeyes, cheaters, domers, bama, and others znd said the same thing. I don’t know which are good at engineering.

Maybe it was a combination of engineering, good sports, and in-state tuition? That combo would certainly limit options.

the guy that called the championship was from NY, not sure where teh others were from but yes could be a combination. Either way, Joe was part of their reason

 

[doctornick]

the guy that called the championship was from NY, not sure where teh others were from but yes could be a combination. Either way, Joe was part of their reason

PSU in this regard has the benefit of being the only real prominent football power located in the (highly populated) Northeast. For kids looking for a certain “vibe” of football/parties/school spirit and not wanting to be too far from home, PSU has a very large area to draw from with little competition.

It’s interesting because I am seeing a lot of buzz for WVU in that regard as a school with similar though lesser “vibe” but is easier to get into plus can be more reasonably priced with its merit aid.

For kids willing to leave the area, SEC schools are becoming a much bigger draw - I know a lot of kids in local schools heading down to Bama, Ole Miss, Georgia, South Carolina, etc chasing football, sun and scholarships (a lot of them have automatic merit tables where they give you a certain amount of money based on your GPA and/or SAT or ACT scores).

 

[GSPMax]

PSU in this regard has the benefit of being the only real prominent football power located in the (highly populated) Northeast. For kids looking for a certain “vibe” of football/parties/school spirit and not wanting to be too far from home, PSU has a very large area to draw from with little competition.

The Penn State campus environment in the fall during football season is one of the best.

 

[Ian]

PSU receives over 100k applications year. UP is not worried about closing a few campuses. It’s called smart. 60k on main campus is coming fast… then 75k. It’s an internationally renowned school.

 

[bison13]

PSU in this regard has the benefit of being the only real prominent football power located in the (highly populated) Northeast. For kids looking for a certain “vibe” of football/parties/school spirit and not wanting to be too far from home, PSU has a very large area to draw from with little competition.

It’s interesting because I am seeing a lot of buzz for WVU in that regard as a school with similar though lesser “vibe” but is easier to get into plus can be more reasonably priced with its merit aid.

For kids willing to leave the area, SEC schools are becoming a much bigger draw - I know a lot of kids in local schools heading down to Bama, Ole Miss, Georgia, South Carolina, etc chasing football, sun and scholarships (a lot of them have automatic merit tables where they give you a certain amount of money based on your GPA and/or SAT or ACT scores).

Absolutely agree on those southern schools. It’s definitely part of the recruiting pitch not only for football but for basketball now as well. Getting a lot of good students from the mid Atlantic to head down that way for better weather better prices, improving academics, and a pretty fun college atmosphere.

 

[saturdaysarebetter2]

It’s true. And not just because a team wins a lot of games. Paterno was very well known for stressing academics, making kids go to class, strict on grades, tutoring, and emphasizing graduation because football is a part find gig that should be a gateway to an education and career.


He was known for donating considerable funds to the library which was unheard of other colleges’ coaches. He would often quote Greek philosophers, operas and more exhibiting a level of sophistication that separated both him and the school from the pack.

All of this created an image that attracted not only top athletes but also top students, top professors, top administrators. They all wanted to be part of a university that knew what were the proper priorities.

Denying Joe’s impact is denying reality. Younger people ….. under 55….probably do not realize his impact because they didn’t live it. They were more of the later years after the school had expanded and had an established reputation.

The even younger….under 30-35 range….. have no idea because the school 💩 all over him to save their butts from being investigated and their corruption be exposed.

When Joe was named Sports Illustrated's Man of the Year it stated that perhaps only Ben Franklin did more than Joe in benefitting Pennsylvania.

 

[saturdaysarebetter2]

I met my future ex-wife at a Penn State branch campus. I have forgiven Penn State for that and no longer hold that against Dear Old State ;-)

 

[The Spin Meister]

the guy that called the championship was from NY, not sure where teh others were from but yes could be a combination. Either way, Joe was part of their reason

My roommate was from Jersey. He said, way back then, that a degree from PSU was considered as good as an Ivy League degree.

Sadly, I don’t think that is true today.😞

 

[GregInPitt]

At some point, they will/maybe are pricing themselves out of the market. At what point does $100,000 or more in debt become unattractive?

When students and potential students realize that the government is 100% NOT going to bail them out of the loans they have to sign to repay in order to attend. And it seems like that should be happening pretty quickly going forward....

 

[SUPERTODD]

I

My roommate was from Jersey. He said, way back then, that a degree from PSU was considered as good as an Ivy League degree.

Sadly, I don’t think that is true today.😞

It is definitely not and it happened because the school has prioritized nonsense instead of producing citizens who can help the Commonwealth grow and be successful. PSU could cut out a third of the majors it offers and it would have no appreciable negative effect on the quality of the school. Firing a third of the bloated administrative staff would be addition by subtraction as well.

 

[diontechristmas]

My roommate was from Jersey. He said, way back then, that a degree from PSU was considered as good as an Ivy League degree.

Sadly, I don’t think that is true today.😞

Realistically that was never true, but I don’t think it really matters. Not every Ivy school has great programs in every discipline and Penn State and lots of other schools can provide an equal to better education in many majors. An elite school or any school for that matters signals that the individual has the intelligence, organization skills and drive to complete a series of difficult tasks. A bachelor’s degree is just the start of your knowledge in whatever field you study or work in. It shows you have the basic background knowledge and tools to succeed.


As long as young person goes to a school with a quality program and does well they’ll be fine. Not every young person applies to a dozen plus schools and goes to the most prestigious or selective that can possibly get into. Lots of kids go to a certain place because of cost, convenience, life circumstances and so on.

 

[Lion84]

When students and potential students realize that the government is 100% NOT going to bail them out of the loans they have to sign to repay in order to attend. And it seems like that should be happening pretty quickly going forward....

Watch out there is one ahole here that will call you a moron for even a hint of a political post or even responding to anothers post - guy is quite the genius himself no doubt.

 

[Lion84]

Name recognition and brand are huge in all business. It’s one of the most crucial things and companies spend billions to build brand, image and name recognition.

For the rest of their post college lives as soon as they mention their school it’s sports will come up. Duke…basketball. Bama….football. Iowa…..wrestling. It opens the door, even just by wearing branded clothing. It’s the opening of the conversation and allows it to flow to the next step in a more relaxed setting.

Sports is the universal language of people, especially men. It’s a common bond for two strangers to immediately discuss without fear. Far safer than politics, religion, country of origin and pretty much anything.

In fact, it’s the one thing it’s more fun to disagree over and still be friends. Razz each other, laugh it off and move on. Even in job interviews or coworker relations it will be a common bond.

Go to a small school without that name recognition and you lose that instantaneous bond. That critical first 25 seconds. There are a ton of great small schools but it is a different dynamic.

I have heard that applications are up for PSU this year and no doubt they playoff run helped - a friend works at Villanove in admissions and said after they won the tourney a few years ago applications doubled.

 

[LandoComando]

Realistically that was never true, but I don’t think it really matters. Not every Ivy school has great programs in every discipline and Penn State and lots of other schools can provide an equal to better education in many majors. An elite school or any school for that matters signals that the individual has the intelligence, organization skills and drive to complete a series of difficult tasks. A bachelor’s degree is just the start of your knowledge in whatever field you study or work in. It shows you have the basic background knowledge and tools to succeed.


As long as young person goes to a school with a quality program and does well they’ll be fine. Not every young person applies to a dozen plus schools and goes to the most prestigious or selective that can possibly get into. Lots of kids go to a certain place because of cost, convenience, life circumstances and so on.

Correct...that was never true

 

[voltz99]

With virtual learning as an option--do we need any branch campuses?

Do we need main campus?