Penn State Update: Stadium Renovations, Tuition Hike, Campus Closures, Football News, Arts Fest, Global Research, and Fulbright Honor

Good morning, Penn State! It's Monday, July 21, 2025, and here's what's happening around campus. Construction on Beaver Stadium's $700 million renovation is progressing steadily. The west side of the stadium is undergoing significant changes, including the demolition of the press box and upper sections to make way for a new structure featuring suites and club seating. The project is on track for completion before the 2027 football season. The Penn State Board of Trustees has approved a 2% tuition increase for in-state undergraduate students at University Park for the 2026-27 academic year. This decision comes amid financial challenges and declining enrollments. Additionally, the university plans to close seven Commonwealth Campuses—DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, and York—after the spring of 2027. These closures aim to optimize resources and focus investments on campuses with stronger growth prospects. ([inquirer.com](https://www.inquirer.com/education/penn-state-tuition-2026-27-tim-piazza-fraternity-house-20250717.html?utm_source=openai), [pennstatermag.com](https://pennstatermag.com/campus-life/changes-ahead?utm_source=openai)) Head coach James Franklin, along with senior quarterback Drew Allar, redshirt senior offensive lineman Nick Dawkins, and redshirt senior safety Zakee Wheatley, are set to represent Penn State at the 2025 Big Ten Football Media Days. The event will take place at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas on July 23. Fans can look forward to insights and updates as the team prepares for the upcoming season. The 2025 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, held from July 9 to July 13, was a resounding success. The festival featured hundreds of independent vendors and performances throughout Downtown State College and the University Park campus, celebrating the vibrant arts community. - : In early June, Bogotá, Colombia, became the center of global páramo research as faculty and students from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences joined forces with international partners to host the landmark Páramos 2025 Symposium. - : Sarah Chekan, a master’s student in mechanical engineering, has been selected for the 2025-26 U.S. Fulbright Student Research/Study Program. She will conduct research on integrating renewable energy into existing power grids in Chile. That's all for today's update. Stay tuned for more news and events happening around Penn State.