Letter to Mr. Keller from R. C. Reed

Mr. J. O. Keller

Assistant to the President in charge of Extension

Pennslyvania State College

State College, Pennslyvania

Subject: Request for consideration of an Erie Undergraduate Center

Dear Mr. Keller

Some preliminary consideration has been given, we believe, to the advisability of establishing an undergraduate center of Pennsylvania State College at Erie, Pennsylvania. Since the matter was first discussed, a number of developments have taken place which indicate the desirability of concisely restating our reasons for presenting our request, and to provide you with a statement of all the facts which will be of value in giving it your earnest consideration.

Evidence of Need:

It is realized that evidence of the need of primary importance. Erie is not only growing rapidly in population at present, but it is also expected to continue to grow for several years.

One principle reason for this conviction is due to the fact that the Goneral Electric Company, which is the largest local employer, has greatly expanded its facilities to employ many more people on a regular basis. Before World War II, it noramlly employed about 6000. This employment increased to a peak of 11,000 during the war. It numbers about 18,000 at present, which is three times as large as before the war, and this employment is expected to settle dowm to a figure of around 16,000. Conserva- tive estimates indicate that this increase will bring about a growth of around 50,000 in population in the next few years, over and above the presently esti- mated mumber of 125,000. This will include the families of these employees, the butchers, bakers, store clerks, professional people and others which go to comprise all community services.

Being very largely an industrial commanity, with over 100 diversified in- dustries, aurrounded by rich farm lands, it Is self-evident that educational facilities leading to degrees in sciences, engineering and agriculture are of considerable importance.

To further check the ovidance of definite need, a quostionnaire ma pro- pared a yoar ago, with the counsel and assisteace of dr. David Be Pugh, of Pennsylvanta State Collogo, to determine, the number of high school undergraduates who would be interested in availing themselves of the first two years of college courses if an Undergraduate Centor of Pennsylvania State College were to be establiched here. All were requested to diseven the questions asked with their parents, and turn in their replies.

These were the questions: 1.) Do you plan to go to college! (res or no): 8.) have you applied for enrollment in any collage? (Yes or no): S.) lave you.been accepted? (Yes or no); 4.) Nould you oomeider entering a college to be established in Brio and operated by the Pennsylvania State College? (res 20). Hame and address were optional,

their report of the results indicated- 1. 173 atudents plan to go to college but were not interested in a Pennsylvania State college branch in Erte. 2. 245 do not plan to go to college but would be interested if there were a Pennsylvania State College branch in Brie. 3. 477 are going to oollege and are interestod in a Penneylvanie State College branch in Erie.

The above would indicate that thero are a very substantial number of poten- tial enrollees who would be directly benefitted through the establishment of an Undergraduate Center here. In addition, many employees of local industries will definitely be intereated in accredited courses offered. Here these figures to be discounted 50% at the present time, it would still be conolusive aridence of definite interest and support of such a projeot. Since school enrollmente are increasing, it can be safely assumed that future interest will be even greater than indicated at present

While discussing nod in Brie, it should also be pointed out that there is definite nood for ooedueational facilities which would permit women to enroll in preparation for the steadily inorensing number of technical fields nor open to

Facilities to house an Undergraduate Center:

Since from a practical standpoint, it would seem wiser to locate and rent existing Pacilities until the success of the center ere assured, the desirabili- ty of eatablishing such a Center in Brie was presented to the rombers of the Spie Sohool Board at their noting held January 15, 1940, and suggesting that school building not presently needed for clessroom work be made avallable, on a tomporary basis. Funds for necessary rearrangerent of, and imgrovenent in, the building were assured, so as to cause the Board no expence. At their rest regular monthly meeting, the proposal was violently opposed by representatives of Gannon College of Erie, who incorrently stated that atx ares colleges objected. These were listed ast- Cannon College, Wereyhorst Colloge, Villa lacie Colloge, Pollen Alliance College, Bainboro State Teacher College, and Allegheny College.

Loither Edinboro nor Allegheny were authorized to comment officially, and have since repudiated the misleading statements made concerning their attitude towards the proposal. It is indeed unfortunate that data secured sone tine ago for an entirely difforent purpose was used to give the impression that there is no present need for high caliber instruction faoilities in the frie Community, in addition to the already excellent Ilberal arts courses botug offored.

The request for a school butlding was donied, on the basis that the School Board required the use of the building for storage purposes; it would entell great exponse to move the furniture; and that the Board 1s only interested in aduoational matters affecting grade school and high school pupile. This posai- bility is thorofore definitely ruled out in the city of Erie for the present.

however, mny, civic groups, such as the Business and Professional Monon' Club, the League of Women Voterd, the Brie City Counoil of P.T-A., as well as many groups of interested citizens have evidenced a growing conviotion of the need, in writing, and have insisted that the projeet be actively purgued in spite of the objections raised by those interosted in preserving a monopoly of existing facilities.

Therefore, as the result of further investigation, we now have the assurance of unanimous cooperation from the School Board of a tounship adjacent to Erie, who have offered the free use of an area of several acres alongside a large High School the use of their auditorium, gymmusium, and procurement facilities; and in case of tenporary need while construetion is being completed, the use of classroom facilities after 3:30 P.l.

It is confidently known that the Brie Community will be able to raise the funds necessary to construet a modest building to accommodate approximately 400 students, laboratory failities, library, and offices. This building would be crected on the site offered, and would be considered a decided ascet to the community.

Summary:

1. The need for the facilities offered by a coeducational indergraduate Center such as now provided in other communities of the Stato by the Pennsylvania State College, has definitely been established in the Erie Community.

2. 'Adequate fallitien will be provided in a receptive community adjacent to Erie, and reached by City bus service.

3. Barly consideration on the part of those in charge of Extonaion-- Ponnsylvanie State College--la mort earnestly requested towards the establishment of an Undergraduate Center in the Brie Community,

Active work ia desiguing the failities, or raising nocessary funde is held In abeyance pending word from Pennsylvania State college. It is our sincore hope that favorable consideration will be given and that advice to proceed may be recoived in time to complete the project ready for enrollments in September 1948.

Respectfully, R. C. Reed R. C. Reed, hcting Chairman Supervisor of Personnel, ceneral Electric Co.