Focus turns to future of Penn State Hazleton after chopping block fear
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE - The entrance to Penn State Hazleton is seen on May 17, 2025.
SUGARLOAF TWP. – A legislative roundtable Tuesday at Penn State Hazleton sought community outreach, more courses, and partnerships with local employers, among others, as ways to power the future of the local Commonwealth campus.
State Sens. Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill), and Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-Columbia), and Reps. Dane Watro (R-Schuylkill/Luzerne) and Jamie Walsh (R-Luzerne) organized the discussion.
“Just a few months ago, the Hazleton community united to save this campus,” said Argall. “But our work is not done – far from it. Today’s discussion helped build a roadmap for how Penn State Hazleton can thrive and benefit students and employers for decades to come.”
“Penn State Hazleton has been at the heart of ensuring quality, affordable higher education is accessible to anyone seeking it in our region for years,” said Watro. “This meeting was the beginning of what will be an ongoing conversation about finding ways to help this great institution continue to serve and enhance our communities, such as offering more educational options in high-demand fields, creating more opportunities for high school students to take college courses or facilitating relationships between employers and the university to address future regional employee needs.”
Dr. Brian Uplinger, the superintendent of schools for Hazleton Area School District, discussed how the district is one of the fastest growing in the state. He called for the creation of an early college academy, a dual enrollment program that would allow students to graduate with 30 college credits. He also shared the need for creating pathways to guide students towards degrees in teaching, cybersecurity, health sciences, engineering, and business.
Dr. Anthony Conston, the principal of Hazleton Area High School, emphasized the importance of community outreach to share details of scholarships and other financial aid options for families considering higher education.
Bob Curry, the founding president of the Hazleton Integration Project, discussed a plan to develop nursing degrees at Penn State Hazleton to address the healthcare shortages affecting communities across the region.
Mary Malone, the president of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, pointed to the need for Penn State Hazleton faculty and staff to engage in a deeper way with the wider community. She noted that 15,000 people come to work in the Hazleton area and that employers are always looking for future employees, creating opportunities for internships and other collaborations.
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