UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Beginning July 1, Penn State will implement two new priority hiring consideration processes to support employees affected by the upcoming closures of seven Commonwealth Campuses following the spring semester of the 2026-27 academic year. These processes will apply to eligible full-time staff and non-tenure-line (NTL) faculty at the DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York campuses, reinforcing the University’s commitment to supporting faculty and staff during this multi-year transition.
“Supporting our dedicated faculty and staff while prioritizing student success will remain our key focus over the next two years,” said Renata Engel, interim vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor. “We are committed to engaging, listening and providing meaningful assistance to our impacted employees in the months and years ahead. The development and implementation of equitable, transparent priority hiring consideration processes is an important reflection of that commitment.”
At all Penn State locations, job postings for full-time staff opportunities and full-time NTL teaching, research and clinical faculty opportunities will follow the new priority hiring consideration processes. When enacted on July 1, all postings for full-time staff and full-time NTL faculty opportunities will begin with seven-calendar-day application periods available exclusively to impacted campus employees.
“While these processes will open opportunities for the NTL faculty and staff at closing campuses, we will continue to closely monitor employee and service levels, adjusting as needed to maintain educational experiences and support for students through the 2026-27 academic year,” Engel said.
Staff priority hiring consideration process
The eligible applicant with the most seniority, based on the most recent full-time hire date, is assured of an interview if they apply via Workday during the seven-calendar-day priority posting period. To qualify, the applicant from one of the closing campuses must be in good standing and meet the advertised minimum qualifications for the vacancy, as determined by the Talent Acquisition unit.
If the applicant is not hired, the next most senior qualified applicant will be interviewed. This process will continue until a closing-campus applicant is selected or all eligible closing-campus applicants have been interviewed and not selected. Only then may other candidates be considered.
Non-tenure-line faculty priority hiring consideration process
Eligible full-time non-tenure-line faculty in good standing who apply via Workday during the seven-calendar-day priority posting period are assured of having their materials reviewed. If they meet or exceed the stated qualifications, they will receive priority consideration for an interview for the academic opportunity. Applications from priority NTL faculty applicants from closing campuses will be reviewed and a decision will be made before any external or other Penn State applicants are considered.
“Across Penn State, this is an opportunity to develop and leverage new processes to support as many impacted Commonwealth Campus employees as possible, while continuing to meet the University’s diverse hiring needs,” said Jennifer Wilkes, vice president for Human Resources and chief human resources officer. “As we move forward, the Penn State HR talent acquisition team will be actively engaged to help hiring units conduct efficient, effective and, ultimately, successful searches, benefiting both impacted employees and our overall operations.”
In a pair of virtual information sessions hosted by HR talent acquisition on June 30, staff and NTL faculty at closing campuses can learn more about the priority hiring consideration processes and ask questions. The sessions will be recorded for later viewing.
Virtual Information Session: NTL Faculty at Closing Campuses
June 30, 2025
11 a.m. to noon
Meeting link for NTL faculty session
Virtual Information Session: Staff at Closing Campuses
June 30, 2025
1 to 2 p.m.
Meeting link for staff session
For job seekers at closing campuses, an HR job aid provides instructions for setting up Workday alerts to be notified immediately about opportunities of interest. Another aid outlines the application process for internal candidates.
The development of these new priority hiring consideration processes was shaped by broad input from across the University. Contributors included the Employee Transition Workstream, leadership from Human Resources and the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses, the Office of Faculty Affairs, chancellors at closing campuses, members of the Talent Acquisition unit, the University Faculty Senate, and the University Staff Advisory Council.
“We will continue to collaborate across all initiatives related to campus closures, including being prepared to adjust and respond to anticipated employee transitions,” Engel said. “Throughout this period of change, our focus remains on thoughtful planning, transparent communication, and sustaining a strong student experience during this time of change.”
More information, including answers to frequently asked questions about the priority hiring consideration processes, is available on Penn State’s Road Map website. FAQ’s applicable to union-represented employees will be provided once the University’s conversations with those unions on this matter have concluded.