Grimm Krupa Slams Leaked Penn State Plan to Close Commonwealth Campuses

May 13, 2025

SMITHFIELD – Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa (R-Fayette) issued this statement following a report that Penn State University is proposing the closure of seven satellite campuses, including Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus:

“Yesterday, I was outraged to learn, via a news report from the Philadelphia Inquirer, that the Penn State Board of Trustees was presented with a specific plan to close seven Commonwealth Campuses, including the Fayette Eberly Campus.

“This proposed plan is outrageous, short-sighted and a direct betrayal of its mission as a land-grant university. The Eberly Campus has served as a lifeline for rural, working-class students in our region for decades.

“While the university’s data shows a $40 million to $50 million annual loss across Commonwealth campuses, that’s just 0.4% of its $10 billion budget. That’s not a reason to cut—it’s a reason to recommit to the people this institution was built to serve.

“Penn State leadership originally scheduled a voting meeting to take action on the proposed plan for this week, but that meeting is reportedly being changed to a private non-voting meeting due to questions raised by board members.

“I commend trustees Jay Paterno, Matt McGloin, Nick Rowland and Anthony Lubrano for calling out this sham process and standing up for transparency and fairness. They’re doing what the administration should have done from the start.

“Shutting down the Fayette campus isn’t about financial responsibility; it’s about walking away from the very students Penn State was created to serve. It’s a betrayal of the university’s land-grant mission and a slap in the face of rural communities. Abandoning this campus sends a clear message: if you’re not from a wealthy or urban area, Penn State doesn’t see you as worth the investment. That’s disgraceful, and I urge every trustee to vote no against these closures.”

Representative Charity Grimm Krupa
51st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Contact: 724-438-6100
RepGrimmKrupa.com / Facebook.com/RepGrimmKrupa