PSU Altoona vision for 2030: enrollment, diversity and sports

ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) – Penn State Altoona leaders have a 2030 vision for the Commonwealth campus: increased enrollment, campus diversity and new sports programs including golf, track and field, cross-country, field hockey and lacrosse.

Dean Ron Darbeau, Chancellor for Penn State Altoona, shared several ongoing initiatives and other plans during the University’s Board of Trustees meeting on July 19.

“It’s a roadmap for where we want the campus to be by the end of the decade,” he said.

Enrollment

Currently, Penn State Altoona enrollment is approximately 2,500 students, spread across 21 bachelor’s degrees and five associate degrees.

The goal by 2030 is to increase enrollment up to 1,000 students by enhancing existing academic programs, adding master’s degrees, and growing international enrollment.

Darbeau explained that students tend to gravitate toward business, education, engineering and nursing degree programs.

“Our intention is to take some of those programs and amplify them,” he said. “My role is to resource them and get out of the way.”

He specifically cited the new Rain Transportation Engineering program, 3-year-old Mechanical Engineering program, and the Nursing program, which will receive new infrastructure to support increased numbers of nursing students.

Darbeau also explained that he plans to keep tuition costs down and wants to increase funding opportunities for students.

“I grew up in a country where college was free. I know full well I would not have gotten a college degree because my parents couldn’t afford it,” he said. “And the notion we keep someone from getting a college degree because of something as trivial as money to me is almost sinful.”

University President Neeli Bendapudi also recently emphasized the importance to keep undergraduate tuition at the Commonwealth campuses at the same rate, while University Park tuition increased, along with graduate student and out-of-state tuition.

This follows a recent announcement from the Penn State System of Higher Education to freeze tuition across the 10 public colleges and universities.

Campus Diversity

Darbeau also noted that he wants Penn State Altoona to be an inviting home for underrepresented minority students and diverse faculty. He described plans to invite doctoral students at the “All But Dissertation” stage to spend a semester on campus and serve as adjunct instructors.

“We want to enrich the pool of applicants for positions,” he said.

This comes after the University reduced 10% of their staff at Commonwealth campuses through a Voluntary Separation Incentive program. The program offered tenured faculty the opportunity to voluntarily leave and receive as 12-month salary payment.

Throughout the campuses, 21% of those eligible opted to leave . The voluntary separation program was an attempt to reduce a $49 million deficit by Summer 2025.

Athletics

Leadership teams also intend to increase enrollment by introducing new athletic programs.

Darbeau described long-term goals to bring in men’s and women’s golf teams, as well as cross-country, track and field, lacrosse and field hockey. He noted that these programs would not require as much infrastructure and resources compared to other ones.

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