As the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education finalizes the details of an historic consolidation, officials on the campuses of eight of its 14 universities are struggling to deal with another consequence of declining enrollments: entire wings and floors of dorms sitting empty.
That prompted system Chancellor Dan Greenstein to propose allocating $12.5 million this year to help pay the debt on the buildings. The schools, Greenstein told the board, “have debt on residence halls that is not easily repaid with the number of residents in those halls.”
The newer dorms — suite-style residence halls featuring private bathrooms and kitchenettes — replaced traditional residence halls where students typically lived two to a room and shared communal bathrooms.
They were part of a building boom financed with bond debt.
University leaders said the schools needed to upgrade facilities and that the stunning new “green” buildings would be a boon to enrollment.
At Indiana University of Pennsylvania, officials at the time proudly boasted of hosting the largest “residential revival” of any college in the nation.
