College Town Pittsburgh Part 2

Editor’s note: We thank the top leaders of this region’s universities for penning a response to the following question: Given continuing enrollment declines and our civic need to attract and keep young people, is it desirable to significantly build on fledgling programs to get students off campus and engage them in this region’s amenities, thus building our College Town dynamic as well as a stronger long-term connection with our area? If so, in what ways could you envision contributing to such a project?
Previously in this series: College Town Pittsburgh

Mary Finger, Seton Hill University
Attracting students to the Pittsburgh region — and encouraging them to stay after graduation — is a win-win proposition for institutions of higher education and for southwestern Pennsylvania as a whole. At Seton Hill University, we continue to look for ways to engage our students in the community outside of our campus. Service is a significant component of a Seton Hill education, and our students gain more insight into the Pittsburgh area and its people through giving back to a variety of nonprofits throughout the region. Cultural and recreational activities abound in this area, and our students regularly participate in events and activities through partnerships we have developed. Finally, Seton Hill students are engaged in internships, giving them much-needed real-world experience and providing local businesses with a network of emerging professionals. Building new partnerships and expanding existing partnerships between colleges and universities in the areas of service, cultural experiences and internships would go a long way toward integrating students into the region and showing them that Pittsburgh is a vibrant place to live. Seton Hill certainly would be interested in working with other colleges and universities, along with business and industry, cultural groups, economic development entities, government officials and nonprofits, in an effort to bring us all to the table to discuss ways to work together toward this goal.

Ken Gormley, Duquesne University
Colleges and universities absolutely must give their students abundant opportunities to serve and participate in the life of the communities that surround their campuses. Not only does it benefit students as they learn by doing, it also ensures they’re learning about our city and region and what it means to contribute meaningfully as citizens and to have responsibilities to one’s neighbors.

For Duquesne, that sort of mindset is embedded right in our mission: We serve God by serving students so that they, in turn, can serve others. Duquesne students already are very aware of the community surrounding the university because we stress the importance of participation in a wide range of exciting activities that bring this community to life. But we’re always looking for new opportunities to light that spark.

We’ve recently expanded transportation options to help our students get around the city better; we’ve created partnerships to promote students taking advantage of cultural opportunities and resources; and we’ve created incentives to stay and study during the summer. Our location on the Bluff at Duquesne places students just blocks from everything the Cultural District, the North Shore and the South Side have to offer — and we cheer on our students as they immerse themselves in the arts, history, museums, sports and even, yes, shopping. In the end, the whole region benefits if our impressive colleges and universities work together to make Pittsburgh a destination for ambitious and energetic college students that is the envy of the nation. We will continue to collaborate with fellow campus leaders in this region to get there.

Chris Brussalis, Point Park University
Point Park University’s foundation is built on its location in Downtown Pittsburgh, and we pride ourselves on being woven into the fabric of this neighborhood. Our students would not have a fully developed life experience if we did not create ways for them to familiarize themselves with Downtown and the greater region and take advantage of everything the Pittsburgh area has to offer. From an educational standpoint, we have longstanding relationships with Fortune 500 companies, national sports organizations and respected companies in various industries throughout the area who employ our students both during and after their time at Point Park. Outside the classroom, we provide transportation to students so they can explore various parts of the region beyond Downtown. And we are examining how different initiatives, such as the Institute of Community Engagement, can broaden the impact our students can make while giving them ways to deepen their connection to the region. As part of Pioneer Vision 2030, our current strategic plan, we are committed to an inclusive effort to ensure our students are active members of the community. The ultimate goal is to see many of our graduates stay here and be significant contributors to the Pittsburgh region.