Penn State this week introduced plans to offer “priority hiring consideration” for jobs university-wide to eligible employees at the seven campuses slated for closure in the spring of 2027.
The process will begin July 1 for full-time staff and non-tenure-line faculty positions, according to a university news release.
Penn State’s Board of Trustees voted in May to close the DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York campuses, concluding a monthslong process that considered a total of 12 Commonwealth Campuses for shuttering. Collectively, the seven campuses to be closed have about 500 employees, representing 3.4% of Penn State’s faculty and 2.2% of its staff.
Since President Neeli Bendapudi revealed in February that her administration was evaluating campuses for closure, the university has said that tenure-line faculty will be offered “need-driven reassignments to remaining campuses,” and non-tenure-line and staff employees will be given “priority hiring consideration” if they apply for open roles across the university.
“Supporting our dedicated faculty and staff while prioritizing student success will remain our key focus over the next two years,” Renata Engel, interim vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor, said in a statement. “We are committed to engaging, listening and providing meaningful assistance to our impacted employees in the months and years ahead. The development and implementation of equitable, transparent priority hiring consideration processes is an important reflection of that commitment.”
Beginning in July, all job openings for full-time staff and full-time non-tenure-line faculty will begin with seven-day application periods exclusively for employees at closing campuses.
For full-time staff positions, the eligible applicant with the most seniority will be assured is assured of an interview if they apply through the university’s Workday system during the seven-calendar-day priority period. The applicant must be in good standing at one of the closing campuses “and meet the advertised minimum qualifications for the vacancy, as determined by the Talent Acquisition unit,” in order to qualify, according to the release.
If the most senior applicant is not hired, the eligible applicant with the second-most seniority will be interviewed. That process will continue until a staff member from a closing campus has been hired or all closing-campus candidates have been interviewed and no hire made, at which point other candidates can be considered.
Full-time non-tenure-line faculty from closing campuses who apply for teaching, research and clinical opportunities during the priority posting period “are assured of having their materials reviewed,” according to the university. Those who meet or exceed the job qualifications “will receive priority consideration for an interview for the academic opportunity.”
Applications from closing-campus non-tenure-line faculty priority applicants “will be reviewed and a decision will be made before any external or other Penn State applicants are considered,” the university wrote.
Penn State will look to balance hires for other jobs with the needs of the closing campuses, which currently enroll more than 3,100 students, over the next two years.
“While these processes will open opportunities for the NTL faculty and staff at closing campuses, we will continue to closely monitor employee and service levels, adjusting as needed to maintain educational experiences and support for students through the 2026-27 academic year,” Engel said.
Virtual information sessions will be held on Monday for non-tenure-line faculty and staff at closing campuses. The faculty session will be held from 11 a.m. to noon and the staff session from 1 to 2 p.m.
