MANSFIELD, Pa. – After more than 18 months of work by nearly 1,000 individuals, the integration of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield universities under the banner of Commonwealth University officially took place on Friday, July 1.
“My sincere thanks go to the teams at each of our
universities who have dedicated themselves tirelessly to the integration
process and to creating opportunities for a new generation of students
to follow their dreams and pursue lives of meaning and success,” said
Bashar W. Hanna, who will serve as president of Commonwealth University.
“I’m confident that we have the right teams of people in place to
proceed courageously and compassionately, grounded in the mission of
supporting student success and changing lives through education. ”
This
spring, the integration process took several milestone steps to make
the transition a reality. On March 15, initial approval by the
institutional accrediting agency, Middle States Commission on Higher
Education, confirmed the path to integration. Accreditation by Middle
States is required by the U.S. Department of Education and assures
students, families, and communities that the University has completed a
rigorous review process and provides a high-quality education.
“Together,
Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield embody the power of three, which
will create a higher education experience, the likes of which is not
possible without integration,” Hanna said.
In March, the Board of
Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education voted to
approve the name Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania to represent
the integrated entity for Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield
universities.
The final piece of the puzzle came in late April
when the NCAA approved to proceed with the proposed plan to retain a
full complement of NCAA athletic programs on the campuses that currently
host them. Each campus will maintain its full complement of sports
offerings and will continue to use its respective location name,
existing logos, colors, mascots, and traditions.
The integration of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield
universities under the banner of Commonwealth University is a bold
investment in the communities and people of Pennsylvania. Our mission is
to expand high-quality, affordable academic opportunities to support
the needs of all learners. We’re building a powerful tomorrow by boldly
changing the trajectory of public higher education to position ourselves
for growth, increased access, and to meet economic and workforce
development needs. Together we’re honoring our history, investing in
today, and building a powerful tomorrow. That’s the power of three.