KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Keene State College leaders and officials from the University System of New Hampshire met Tuesday with a newly formed community group seeking to play a supportive role as the college confronts significant financial and enrollment pressures tied to state budget cuts.

Mayor Jay Kahn convened the meeting after hearing increasing concern from residents, alumni and campus supporters about Keene State’s direction following layoffs, leadership changes and uncertainty surrounding public higher education statewide.

“For 117 years, Keene State has been absolutely integral to this community,” Kahn said in an interview. “When you hear anxiety from people who care deeply about the college, it makes sense to bring everyone into the same room and start talking.”

The meeting, held at Keene State’s Alumni Center, brought together senior campus administrators, system leaders and 18 members of the community group, which includes alumni, donors, local leaders and students. Kahn said his primary goal was to create a space for open dialogue without disrupting decisions administrators are already in the process of making.

“The college leaders need to continue the processes they’ve undertaken over the last six weeks,” Kahn said. “We don’t want to interfere with that. But the outcomes of that process are of great interest to our community, and the question going forward is how we align community support with the direction the college plans to take.”

Keene State is working to close a $4 million campus-level deficit following reductions in state funding that cut roughly $18 million from the University System of New Hampshire’s 2025 budget. Those reductions led to the elimination of 25 staff positions at Keene State, including eight vacant roles, and voluntary separation packages for 12 faculty members.

Kahn said he came away reassured by what he heard from university system officials, particularly regarding Keene State’s standing within the system.

“I was reassured to hear a clear commitment that Keene State will remain an independent institution,” he said. “That’s incredibly important to this community.”

According to information shared at the meeting, the system’s board of trustees supports each of its three institutions — Keene State College, Plymouth State University and the University of New Hampshire — maintaining separate accreditations and financial structures.

The meeting included a presentation from campus and system leaders followed by a question-and-answer session. Community members raised concerns about the recent resignation of former President Melinda Treadwell, the appointment of interim leadership and the broader challenges facing higher education, including declining numbers of traditional college-aged students.

Kahn also pointed to Keene State’s origins as a reminder of the community’s long-standing investment in the institution. Founded in 1909 as Keene Normal School, the college was created after years of local advocacy to bring a state teacher-training school to the city, an effort led in part by civic leaders and residents who believed higher education was essential to Keene’s future. Kahn said that history matters today, noting that the school exists because people in Keene organized, argued its value to the state and ultimately succeeded. “This college is here because the community fought for it,” he said. “That same spirit of advocacy and partnership is part of Keene State’s DNA, and it’s something we can draw on again as the college faces new challenges.”

Treadwell left Keene State in October to become president of SUNY Geneseo, and Plymouth State President Donald Birx was appointed interim president at Keene State. Kahn acknowledged that the interim arrangement has caused confusion and unease among some residents.

“When you have one president overseeing two campuses, people naturally have questions,” he said. “Add that to the demographic cliff and the fiscal challenges facing higher education, and it’s understandable that people want clarity.”

Birx and other administrators emphasized during the meeting that liberal arts education remains central to Keene State’s identity, even as the college evaluates programs and operations to remain sustainable.

Keene State remains a major economic force in the region, employing about 600 faculty and staff as of fall 2024 and contributing significantly to Keene’s workforce and cultural life. Kahn said that economic and civic role makes community involvement essential.

“This isn’t just about a campus,” he said. “It’s about the vitality of Keene and the Monadnock region. The college and the community have always grown together.”

Kahn said additional meetings are expected but emphasized that the community group must first determine how it wants to engage, whether through legislative advocacy, outreach to prospective students or broader public education about the value of higher education.

“We need to be thoughtful and strategic,” he said. “There are conversations to be had with legislators, with future students and their families, and with employers. This was the first step.”

University system leaders also characterized the meeting as a constructive starting point and indicated they welcome continued collaboration with community members as Keene State adapts to challenging conditions across higher education.

“This was the beginning of a conversation,” Kahn said. “And it’s one we need to keep going.”