Point Park has record number of new students for fall 2009

Point Park is delighted to welcome its largest group of incoming students in University history for the fall term 2009, giving campus a busier and more energetic academic atmosphere than ever.  The 1,491 new students push the University's total enrollment to 3,986.

 "We're thrilled that so many students at all levels - traditional students coming directly from high school, graduate students and  adult students  - are finding the academic programs they're looking for at Point Park," said Point Park President Paul Hennigan. "Our growing enrollment demonstrates that our vision to become one of the most dynamic private, urban universities in America is becoming a reality in Downtown Pittsburgh."

At the undergraduate level, Point Park has 836 incoming full-time students. About 74 percent of those students are Pennsylvania residents, with the remainder coming to Pittsburgh from 36 states and seven foreign countries -  Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, the Republic of Korea and Sweden.

The new undergraduate students are spread among Point Park's four schools, with about a third studying in the School of Arts and Sciences, a third in the Conservatory of Performing Arts, and the balance in the School of Communication or the School of Business.

At the graduate level, the University welcomes 289 new students this fall. Most are from Pennsylvania, along with students from five other states and eight foreign countries - Canada, Indonesia, India, Kenya, Rwanda, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey and Zambia.

Of the new graduate students a majority are enrolled in the University's M.B.A. program, which this fall includes two new off-site employer groups.  Currently, 19 U.S. Steel employees are taking M.B.A. coursework at the U.S. Steel Training Facility in Duquesne and 14 executives from GAI Consultants, Inc. are completing the program at the GAI office in Homestead. 

Another group of Point Park's new graduate students are enrolled in the School of Arts and Sciences, including three new graduate programs approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.  New programs are a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Studies; a Master of Education Program leading to Secondary Certification and a Master of Education Degree in Teaching and Leadership. 

Along with these programs, Point Park's School of Business and School of Communication are collaborating to offer an M.B.A./M.A. Joint Degree Program.  In this program, students will earn both an M.B.A. and an M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication.  The focus is on public relations and advertising management. 

Also new on campus this fall are 366 adults beginning undergraduate coursework in part-time or accelerated programs.  Most of those students are studying in either the School of Arts and Sciences or the School of Business.

Point Park is excited to have all new students join our vibrant academic community and we are determined to help each student achieve his or her academic goals.

Photo by Christopher Rolinson