CES revision plan worries private colleges

Some of Pennsylvania's private colleges and universities were dismayed at Secretary of Education Eugene Hickok's approval of the University's plan to restructure the Commonwealth Educational System last week.

But opponents of the expansion said the plan might not bode well for the independent schools.

Brian C. Mitchell, president of the Council of Independent Colleges and Universities, said the council will "welcome competition," but feels it is being "unfairly weighted towards private colleges." The council represents 82 of 93 private institutions in the state.

Mitchell has three core concerns on behalf of private colleges -- unnecessary duplication of programs, tax subsidies and competition.

Enrollment in business programs across the nation is down substantially, he said. He questioned why the University would provide more opportunities for enrollment, further depleting the already dwindling pool of business-oriented students.

However, Jack Royer, senior associate dean for the Commonwealth Educational System said that University expansion will not create unnecessary duplication. The main audience the expansion is intended to benefit are community college students and "area-bound" adult learners. Because of this, Royer said that new degrees will be "community-based."

"We're serving an under-served audience. We're going to be developing our degrees as a degree that serves local needs," he said.

Mark Staszkiewicz, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, also mentioned declining enrollment, not only in business programs, but also in nursing. Staszkiewicz said he has minor worries about extra competition in western Pennsylvania, but is confident in IUP's range of academic programs and offerings.

"We're not overly concerned at this point. Our enrollments have been rather robust," he said.

In a written statement, Edward A. Nicholson, president of Robert Morris College -- a private college in the Pittsburgh area -- said he is pleased that Hickok understands the potential ramifications for private and public institutions in allowing the University to expand.

However, Nicholson went on to write that he continues to be "concerned about the overall expansion of Penn State when there is sufficient capacity to serve students well in the Commonwealth."

But Royer said the University does not necessarily serve the same audience a private college such as Robert Morris does.

And Tim Daniels, president of the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments, agrees.

"I don't know a lot of people that can afford $20,000 for (Carnegie Mellon University). The Commonwealth Campuses are a lot more manageable for people that can't incur finances," Daniels said.

But University expansion calls for intense discussion on state financing, Mitchell said.

"When Penn State proposes a system-wide expansion of programs, it becomes an issue of state policy," he said.

He added that University President Graham Spanier personally told him no new state tax dollars would be used to fund state expansions. But he wonders about the $3,500 state tax subsidies that students receive. Believing there is enough money now to support current University students, Mitchell's concern lies in the surplus of University students that will come about due to expansion in the coming years.

"Over the long term, somebody has to pay," he said.

The University is not adding any appropriations from Harrisburg and any new program would be self-supporting through "tuition revenues and reallocation," Royer said.

There is still much contention about whether or not University expansion will spur too much competition.

"The only way you can survive is to provide programs students want to attend," Mitchell said.

But Royer sees this as a positive effect of University expansion.

"The Secretary of Education ought to foster competition because within competition, we find the incentive to improve," he said.