Fayette County needs a place for secondary education
By Scott Dunn
In recent weeks, several public statements have presented a misleading picture of what is happening with Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, and it is important that the community has the facts.
Local leaders have been fully engaged from the moment the Board of Trustees announced the possible closure. Since Penn State finalized its decision, county, education, and workforce partners have been working nonstop to ensure that higher education and training remain a permanent fixture in Fayette County. The stakes could not be higher: losing our only traditional degree-granting educational institution would be an economic death sentence for a county already fighting to overcome decades of disinvestment. Communities without access to local post-secondary education see lower earnings, higher poverty rates, and declining workforce participation. We cannot allow that future for Fayette.
State Sen. Pat Stefano has rightly highlighted the broader statewide context. While approximately $20 million would keep all seven closing campuses open, Penn State is simultaneously moving forward with $600 million in stadium upgrades, a costly coaching buyout, and substantial administrative salary increases, despite receiving $280 million annually in taxpayer support and maintaining one of the highest tuition rates of any public university in the nation. Sen. Stefano has been an essential member of the Eberly Campus Transition Team and maintains direct communication with Penn State’s transition leadership.
Both Penn State and local leaders agree that education should continue on the Eberly Campus. The data is clear: increased educational attainment dramatically reduces the likelihood of poverty. That connection is not abstract; Fayette County’s ability to grow, attract employers, and lift families out of generational hardship depends on restoring and expanding local educational pathways. That is why the long-term plan is to create a multi-institution educational hub offering degrees, certificates, and employer-driven workforce training in fields such as nursing, medical programs, tourism, manufacturing technology, computer science, and skilled trades. Educators, institutions, employers, and philanthropic partners have expressed strong support for this direction.
The path forward now hinges on resolving the status of the property. County commissioners raised this directly with Gov. Shapiro during his recent visit because, without control of the campus, no formal agreements with new educational partners can be executed. In preparation for a potential transfer, should the Board of Trustees authorize it, the county created the Fayette County Educational Authority to legally receive and manage the site.
Timing is critical. New educational partners require 18-24 months for accreditation, and once Penn State closes in May 2027, programs will phase in as approvals are completed and renovations move forward.
This is not just a local issue, state and federal leaders are fully engaged. Congressman Reschenthaler and Sens. McCormick and Fetterman have been briefed and will play key roles in securing necessary transition and renovation funding.
This summary reflects the actual work underway, work grounded in planning, partnership, and the firm belief that Fayette County must continue to offer strong post-secondary opportunities for its residents. For more information, please contact sdunn@fayettepa.org.
Scott Dunn is the chairman of the Fayette County board of commissioners.