About 81 years ago, Pennsylvania State College reached out to fill a need.

In September 1934, the college came to Hazleton, Pottsville, Uniontown and Sayre because the sons and daughters of coal miners and railroad workers sought ways to make their lives better.

In rented spaces in school buildings or other commercial sites, often with enrollments of fewer than 50, students came to earn college-level credits in basic subjects like mathematics, literature and history.

A course catalog from that initial year of classes said the college “comes to the student only because the student cannot come to the college or cannot go to any other college.”

And thus began a relationship that helped educate and shape the lives of countless young people.

It’s a relationship that grew as the numbers of those young people grew. The campuses adapted as the needs of the communities they served changed.

Some 10 years after their opening, enrollment at the “Extension Undergraduate Centers” began to swell as World War II soldiers returned from duty and began taking their GI Bill benefits.

The sites expanded and continued to evolve, peaking systemwide in 2014 as they continued to respond to their communities’ needs.

Then, the numbers began slipping, decreasing by about 26% and prompting the powers-that-be in University Park to reassess the need for the facilities.

An aging population, technology and new requirements for students’ experience and success brought a study that recommended closing 12 of the sites originally — a number that was cut to seven earlier this year.

Originally planned for closure, the Hazleton and Schuylkill locations were among five that got a reprieve earlier this month, along with similar facilities at Scranton, Beaver and Greater Allegheny.

In a report on the proposed closings earlier this month, Penn State officials said the reasons for changing their minds on the local campuses were their close ties to what else?

The communities they served.

An outpouring of support from business, industry and individuals flooded PSU’s decision makers.

Local lawmakers jumped into the fray, rallying the communities they serve during roundtable discussions.

In Schuylkill, local campus officials touted the programs and offerings available to students there. Community leaders and county commissioners pointed to its mission as a community hub.

Business leaders praised the $33.9 million that the campus generated for the state’s economy.

Educators pointed to its unique programs, such as a co-op program which creates direct talent pipelines for local employers.

University leadership agreed, changing their outlook on the future of the campus and deciding to keep it operating.

They cited its recent enrollment growth and stability adding that the campus “has leaned into its strengths in first-generation student support and community engagement — both of which contribute to robust retention and completion rates.”

To the north, the Hazleton area got a similar endorsement when University Park leaders shifted gears on closing the campus there.

Evaluators pointed to strong strategic investments that led to renovations and new construction, as well as its convenient location to the interstate highway system.

Also, a scholars program endowed by the estate of a local attorney that includes a full scholarship plus success-focused mentoring to 16 Hazleton area students is a major asset. It’s a good bet the program may be expanded.

The campus is within the boundaries of the state’s ninth largest school district, with a population of more than 13,000 students and growing at an 8% annual rate. The local population is expected to increase by about 3.5% moving forward.

Partnerships with Hazleton Area School District and other community organizations help serve students from underrepresented populations.

In fact, the campus enrolls the highest percentage of students from minority backgrounds across the Commonwealth Campus system.

Its diversity, a strong operational foundation and institutional readiness make it a worthwhile investment in the future, evaluators noted.

On Thursday, Penn State’s Board of Trustees voted 25-8 to continue their investment at both Hazleton and Schuylkill. The board hopes work can begin with communities involved to reimagine and repurpose the campuses that will close in 2027.

During the current review process, Elizabeth Wright, the university’s regional chancellor, said she relied on communities to think on their own about what they say and what they believe the campuses contribute to the areas they serve.

It was “absolutely extraordinary” to see them work together to share what they think, she said.

Her words might be taken as wise advice looking forward.

After all, isn’t that how the whole thing started?

ED SOCHA | tneditor@tnonline.com