On July 14, 2021, the Pennsylvania State Universities Board of Governors collectively approved a proposal to merge six Pennsylvania state universities. The three institutions in the West were California, Clarion, and Edinboro. Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield were consolidated in the Northeast. The board then hosted a publicly available online platform for employees, students, alumni, and community members to share qualitative input on this restructuring. In this critical text analysis, I explore how faculty reacted in the early stages of the merger using these data. Conservation of resources and social identity provide the theoretical framework for this investigation (Hobfoll, 2001; Tajfel & Turner, 1986). Given the paucity of scholarship on this topic in higher education, the hope is findings will help university leaders alleviate employee concerns during the merger process (Segal, Guthrie, & Dumay, 2021; Tajfel & Turner 1986; Van Knippenberg, Van Knippenberg, Monden, & de Lima, 2002). [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]