Dear President Bendapudi and University Leadership,

On behalf of the Penn State Mont Alto Alumni Society Board of Directors, we are writing to express our concern regarding the recent announcement that Penn State is evaluating the potential closure of some Commonwealth Campuses, including the possibility of closing Mont Alto. We appreciate the gravity of the University’s current financial and enrollment challenges, and we understand the importance of thoughtful, data-driven decision making. However, we urge you to fully consider the vital role that Mont Alto plays in advancing Penn State’s land-grant mission, serving underserved students, and contributing to both the University’s legacy and its future.

Mont Alto embodies Penn State’s land-grant commitment. It was founded as the Pennsylvania State Forest Academy in 1903; and since its adoption into the Penn State’s Commonwealth Campus system in 1929, Mont Alto has maintained a unique and irreplaceable role. The campus has long served as a regional hub for students seeking affordable, high-quality education close to home—many of whom would be unable to relocate to University Park or other campuses. Additionally, the campus’s long-standing ties to forestry and environmental science reflect a direct connection to Pennsylvania’s land-grant values, offering programs that are essential to the future of the green industry workforce. These programs cannot be easily replicated or relocated without jeopardizing the critical research, fieldwork, and community partnerships that have taken generations to build.

Access, affordability, and opportunity for underserved populations. Mont Alto serves a population that includes first-generation college students, adult learners, and students balancing work and family responsibilities while pursuing their degrees. Removing this access point to Penn State’s educational opportunities would significantly limit the ability of these students to pursue higher education, especially those for whom relocating is simply not an option. For many in south-central Pennsylvania, Mont Alto is the gateway to achieving personal and professional advancement, helping them contribute meaningfully to their local communities and the broader commonwealth economy.

An opportunity to meet evolving workforce and educational needs. At a time when the value of higher education is being questioned and families are increasingly encouraging recent high school graduates to enter the workforce directly for affordability reasons, Mont Alto is well-positioned to meet these changing needs. In addition to four-year bachelor’s degrees, the campus already offers a range of associate degree programs that provide students with clear, affordable, and workforce-aligned pathways to employment in high-demand fields, including healthcare and human services — industries where workforce shortages are well-documented and growing across Pennsylvania and the nation. With recent investments in state-of-the-art facilities and programs designed to meet these critical workforce gaps, Mont Alto could serve as a model for how Penn State can respond to the shifting perceptions of higher education’s value — demonstrating that students can earn a respected Penn State degree, develop valuable skills, and enter their chosen professions quickly and affordably, all while addressing real workforce needs in the commonwealth.

A proven model for personalized education and student success. The Mont Alto experience is defined by its small class sizes, close student-faculty relationships, and hands-on learning opportunities. This personalized approach provides a strong foundation for student success, not only at Mont Alto but also for those who transition to University Park or other campuses to complete their degrees. The impact of these connections is profound, influencing students’ career paths, personal growth, and lifelong connection to Penn State. Closing Mont Alto would not only disrupt these successful pathways but would also erode an important element of the University’s commitment to educational excellence across the state.

Mont Alto’s alumni community stands ready to advocate for our campus. As alumni, we are not only the product of Penn State Mont Alto’s educational excellence—we are also its greatest ambassadors. Mont Alto alumni remain engaged with the campus, supporting current students through mentoring, scholarships, endowments, campus activities, and partnerships with local businesses and industries. The loss of Mont Alto would not only sever these important connections but would also diminish Penn State’s ability to serve alumni across this vital region of Pennsylvania.

We respectfully ask that as the University continues its evaluation process, you fully consider Mont Alto’s historic contributions, its present-day value, and its future potential. We also ask that the University engage the Mont Alto Advisory Board, alumni, faculty, students, and community stakeholders in a meaningful dialogue before any final decisions are made.

Penn State’s strength has always come from the breadth and diversity of its campus system, which extends the University’s reach and impact into every corner of the commonwealth. Mont Alto is not simply a campus—it is a cornerstone of that mission, and we stand united in our desire to see it preserved for future generations of Penn Staters.

Thank you for your consideration, and for your continued leadership during these challenging times.

Sincerely,

The Penn State Mont Alto Alumni Society Board of Directors