In this Nov. 9, 2017, photo people walk by Old Main on the Penn State University main campus in State College. AP file photo

While the Board of Trustees has yet to make a decision, seven Penn State campuses — DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York — are being recommended for closure after a two-year wind down.

According to the report regarding the future of the commonwealth campuses released publicly Tuesday evening, five additional campuses are recommended to remain open and receive focused investment to support their long term success — Beaver, Greater Allegheny, Hazleton, Schuylkill and Scranton.

Penn State Altoona was deemed safe several months ago.

President Neeli Bendapudi shared the document with the Board of Trustees late last month so members could review and discuss the recommendation in advance of a yet-to-be-scheduled public meeting to vote on the matter.

However, the university has recently learned that the document was leaked and chose to release the 143-page report to the public.

“I am truly sorry that our community is learning of the recommendation through media coverage, rather than hearing about it with additional context directly from me or the board,” Bendapudi said.

“I understand the concern this will cause on our campuses until the decision is finalized — during an already distressing time for those who may be affected,” she said. “I believe the recommendation balances our need to adapt to the changing needs of Pennsylvania with compassion for those these decisions affect, both within Penn State and across the commonwealth, in part because of the two-year period before any campus would close. As we work through the next steps, we will be taking steps to support every student in any needed transition and we will take every step to provide opportunities to faculty and staff to remain part of Penn State.”

Bendapudi said the recommendation to close some campuses and strengthen others was informed by work that has spanned multiple years, including data collection and analysis and engagement with faculty, students, staff, local employers, policymakers and members of the communities surrounding the Commonwealth Campuses.

The board discussed the recommendation in executive session on May 9.

On Thursday, the board will again meet in an executive session to allow for more deliberation before a public meeting is announced to vote on the recommendation.

“The Board of Trustees charged President Bendapudi and her team two years ago with conducting an analysis of the Commonwealth Campus ecosystem and the evolving needs of the commonwealth,” said Board of Trustees Chair David Kleppinger. “The result is a robust, data-informed review of the Commonwealth Campus ecosystem, enrollment trends, demographic projections, financial performance and other factors.”

“It’s disappointing that a trustee or trustees have prioritized their own self-interests above both the best interests of the University we serve and the people these decisions will affect,” Kleppinger said. “This has only heightened emotions and created anxiety and uncertainty among the students, faculty, staff, alumni and local communities we serve.”

Penn State will provide additional information and support once a decision has been made, but in a news release said every student who begins a degree at closing campus will have the opportunity to complete their degree at Penn State.

The university will also support Commonwealth Campus faculty and staff throughout this transition, honoring tenure and nontenure-line contracts. For impacted non-tenure-line and staff employees, the university will offer priority hiring consideration for those applying to open roles across all Penn State locations.

Declining enrollment and changing demographics have pushed Penn State to rethink its Commonwealth Campuses, according to previous reports.

The full recommendation report can be found at: https://psu-gatsby-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/newsdocuments/CWC_recommendation.pdf