Top priorities announced

Henderson's speech covers most points

Published 10/1/98

President Katherine Henderson's State of the College address on Friday, Sept. 25, illustrated how Point Park College has improved in recent years. It also shows where the downtown institution needs to be heading.

The most important topic of the speech, and rightfully so, was the improving financial state of the college. A 13 percent increase in total revenues from $18.4 million to $20.7 million is a strong indication of what direction the college is headed.

Approximately one-fifth of Point Park's revenue, Henderson said, is being used as scholarships for need- and merit-based students, the second-largest item in the college's budget.

One might assume that if Point Park eliminated this expense, tuition will go down. Henderson disagreed with this thinking after she pointed out that another school is trying this procedure. Thiel College announced that it is reducing tuition by $4,000 starting next year, and Henderson said this was being done by Thiel in order to get publicity.

"The $4,000 that Thiel is cutting will probably be given back to the college by students who will find their aid dramatically cut," she said.

Getting Point Park better known within the community is another goal of Henderson. With programs ranging from promoting summer workshops and visiting high schools to community outreach and partnerships, this is one goal Point park is capitalizing on. The college is also planning on a new image-building campaign, which will make the college known for more than just the Playhouse and an occasional, underexposed athletic team.

The Globe conducted an informal poll of 25 students and none of them said they attended the speech. Before reaching out to western Pennsylvania, perhaps Point Park should better communicate its goals to students.

Diversity is a theme that the administration is committed to, Henderson said, noting that the college has one of the highest percentages of African-American students of any Pittsburgh college. Tactics that Henderson said the college was going to implement in the name of diversity included appointing an additional African-American Board of Trustees member and hiring an African-American in a full-time faculty position.

Although different points of view improve any situation, the word "diversity" shouldn't mean appealing to only one minority group. That kind of thinking lends itself to criticism and allegations of hypocrisy from pundits and potential employees.

Overall, Henderson's speech should be appreciated less for what was said and more for Point Park's ability to have a speech like this in the first place. Several years ago, the college was in financial dire straits and almost formed an alliance with Duquesne University. Now the college is beginning to stand on its own two feet: One speech at a time.

Cartoon by Jamie Jones.

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