They are new, but consist of 6 universities that were previously part of the 14 state owned colleges and universities that made up the Pa. State Athletic Conference. On the western side…California, Clarion and Edinboro have merged into what will be Pennsylvania Western University, while Lock Haven, Mansfield and Bloomsburg will form Commonwealth University in the northern tier of Pennsylvania. The move was necessitated because of rising costs, affects from covid, and the rapidly declining enrollment in the 14 state schools over the past several years. These schools are also waiting on word about the state budget to determine how much funding they will receive.
