the Pennsylvania State Higher Education System estimates he can save millions of dollars in merge six of its 14 universities into two new institutions, according to more than 400 pages of planning documents released Monday, two days before a vote on the plan, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

A vote by the Board of Governors on whether to proceed with the plan is expected Wednesday and begins a 60-day public comment period. A final vote would be expected in July, with implementation in 2022.

The system has been working on the plans since October under the leadership of Chancellor Dan Greenstein, who has warned that some of the schools in the system are not viable without a drastic change in the face of declining enrollment, rising student debt. and a late commitment of public taxes.

According to plans, Bloomsburg, Mansfield and Lock Haven universities in northern Pennsylvania would merge into one institution and California, Clarion and Edinboro in western Pennsylvania would merge into one another. All six campuses would remain open, with integrated faculty, program and enrollment strategies.

The plan would save $ 18.4 million after five years through reductions in executive, management and support staff.

“This is the start of the journey, and one, through the experience of building the work included here, that we are confident it will be successful,” Greenstein wrote.

The statewide faculty union said in a statement Monday that it “carefully reads the plans – through a lens that keeps student concerns first” and makes sure the plans are in line. to state law. He’s planning a virtual rally on Wednesday afternoon.

The plan envisions reducing the cost of a degree for students by 25% through “greater availability of programs, dual high school enrollments, lower tuition fees, additional fundraising achievements.” and other measures.

Enrollment has fallen by more than 20% since 2010 to less than 100,000, due to the sharp drop in the number of students from families with annual incomes of less than $ 110,000, according to the system.

The system council voted to freeze tuition fees for the third year in a row next year, even though it receives less state aid than in the 2006-07 school year.

Each of the six campuses would retain its name in one form or another, while the two new institutions would each take a different name.

The system wants each of the six campuses to keep their sports teams. An application is pending approval from the National Collegiate Athletic Association.