A report via PennLive through the Altoona Mirror states after several years of declining enrollments, and the consolidation of 6 state schools into 2 new colleges, the state system of higher education reports that enrollment of first year students has risen for the first time since 2009. Freshman enrollment is up 7%. Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and and Mansfield formed a new eastern college called Commonwealth, while California, Clarion, and Edinboro joined to form Penn West University. The overall system received an increase in state funding of $75 million. The news was not good, as total new enrollment decreased anywhere between 4.5 and 5.5%