In the near future, I will be introducing a resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the feasibility of establishing a senior military college at the soon-to-close Penn State Fayette Eberly Campus in Lemont Furnace, Fayette County.
 
Penn State University has announced its intention to close the Eberly Campus, which has served as a cornerstone of higher education and economic activity in our region for decades. The loss of this institution will have a profound impact on students, employees, and the surrounding community. However, with this challenge comes a unique opportunity to preserve the site for educational use while creating a statewide asset that does not currently exist in Pennsylvania.
 
A senior military college combines rigorous academic degree programs with structured military discipline and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) participation. These institutions prepare graduates for both military service and civilian leadership, and often produce top-tier professionals in fields critical to our economy and national security.
 
The Eberly Campus, with its modern classrooms, laboratories, athletic facilities, student housing, and existing infrastructure, is well-suited to become the home of such an institution. Potential academic offerings could include nursing, engineering, business, cybersecurity, and other high-demand disciplines, alongside athletics and leadership training.
 
This study will examine:
 

• The suitability of the campus for conversion to a senior military college;
• Potential partnerships with the Pennsylvania National Guard, Department of Defense, and other higher education institutions;
• Program demand and projected enrollment;
• Funding opportunities, including federal, state, and private investment;
• Economic impacts on Fayette County and the Commonwealth; and
• Any legal, accreditation, and regulatory considerations.

 
 
Pennsylvania has the chance to create a unique, nationally recognized educational institution while preserving jobs, preventing property decay, and strengthening our contribution to the nation’s defense and leadership workforce. 

Please join me in co-sponsoring this resolution to explore this opportunity and chart a viable path forward.