On second thought

Tuition changes make Geisinger merger seem less desirable

Looks can be deceiving.

Two weeks ago, University administrators announced the merger of the University's Hershey Medical Center with Geisinger Health System -- to be called the Penn State Geisinger Health System.

At first glance, this merger seems to be the solution to Hershey's failing economic condition.

But, if you look beyond the bureaucratic red tape and administrative jubilation, the underhandedness of some of the merger's details is reprehensible.

As with any merger, restructuring and job loss is an economic reality, and University President Graham Spanier did say job loss would be kept to a minimum.

Fine.

But what needs to be acknowledged is the fact that many Hershey Medical Center employees who depended on the 75 percent tuition break given to employees as part of their benefits package will now have to find another way to fund their children's college education.

With the announcement of the merger, the University failed to mention that Hershey Medical Center employees will be losing the 75 percent tuition break entitled to them by their contracts, as well as some retirement benefits.

Employees hired under the Hershey contract will be given the tuition break if they have been employed at the Medical Center for at least six years -- and if their children will reach college age within the next six years.

And what about those employees whose children won't reach college age within six years?

Well, some will get only a fraction of the benefits once promised to them. The rest will get nothing, except the University's reassurance that this merger is a good thing for Pennsylvania and for education.

It makes no sense that a university, an institution of higher learning, would take away the opportunity of a college education from children whose parents were once promised financial aid.

It's one thing to not extend the benefit to employees hired after the merger. It's quite another to let a merciless Nittany Lion ravage family pocketbooks.

We always thought it was the tin man who lacked a heart. Guess it was really our cowardly Nittany Lion.

If you have a heart and are angered by the University's decision to slash tuition benefits for current Hershey Medical Center employees, please send your thoughts via E-mail to University President Graham Spanier at gspanier@psu.edu or medical center Chief Executive Officer C. McCollister Evarts at cme2@psu.edu.