EDINBORO ― Two vacant Edinboro University residence halls may be on the market soon.
The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education on Wednesday unanimously authorizedthe university to proceed with the sale of buildings 7 and 8 in the Highlands housing complex on campus.
Consolidated university gets a name:Edinboro University to be known as Pennsylvania Western University at Edinboro
The residence halls just aren’t needed, according to the sale proposal presented to the PASSHE Board of Governors. Edinboro enrollment declined by half in the past decade, to 4,319 in 2020-21. Just 1,065 students live in university residence halls this academic year. With space for 1,843 students, residence hall occupancy is 57.8%.
And that’s taking a further toll on university finances.
“The low occupancy rates have created financial strain on the auxiliary operations, resulting in the housing program experiencing annual deficits,” according to the sale plan.
Edinboro University anticipates a $2.3 million budget deficit, a $6.8 million deficit in reserves and $125 million in construction debt on July 1. That’s the date that the university will consolidate with Clarion and California universities of Pennsylvania to become Pennsylvania Western University, in part to save money on facilities, staff and other expenses.
In July 2021:2022 consolidation approved for Edinboro, Clarion and California universities
“A sale of two of its buildings would provide proceeds to direct towards paying down the debt, eliminate certain ongoing operational and facility stewardship needs, and leave sufficient housing capacity for its anticipated future enrollment,” according to the sale proposal.
Selling the buildings additionally will save the university about $800,000 annually in maintenance, utility and other costs, according to…
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Wanda Beck
View More PostsWanda Beck is a technology reporter who covers the intersection of business and crypto. A native of Boston, Wanda spent almost five years at The Boston25News, where she wrote extensively about the media industry's struggle to adapt to the Internet.
