harrisburg was one of few state capitals without a four-year university within its city limits. growing up, i'd thought that was really bizarre, and once i left, i found out just how bizarre that actually since [as most states have their either their flagship or similarly major universities within their boundaries.]
i'm glad that a university has finally rocked up there.
Harrisburg University is overkill in a higher education saturated state. It is window dressing on a city in a severe economic state.
In 2009, Harrisburg University had a 12% - 4 year graduation rate. The class that started with 112 in 2005 had only 12 graduate. Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire is being well served by this institution? The elite employees who draw a salary and generous benefits, with no accountability for student success.
Students who do not graduate are still saddled with crushing debt and now - no diploma to serve as an entry ticket to a better job that could increase their earnings. That college debt will cost them dearly for years: in higher credit rates, higher car insurance rates and the inability to qualify for a home loan. Seems to me that this is exploiting people far more than it benefits the students or the city.
For comparison:
Haverford College: 91.92% (Haverford, PA) Penn State: 60% (University Park, PA) Central Penn College: 61% (Summerdale, PA) Pitt University: 57% (Pittsburgh, PA)
I looked up HU's four-year retention rate for full-time undergraduate students. It is 76 percent. Higher than all but one of the schools you noted.
Edstem's comments reflect a lack of understanding to the difference between-based urban institutions of higher education. He made the giant mistake of assuming that HU is built to cater to undergraduate students like a traditional university--like a Messiah or Susquehanna or a Bucknell. While all fine schools in their own right, they primarily exist to draw tradtional-age undergraduate students. HU--by its own web page-is not like those institutions.
The incoming class in 2005 at HU included dual enrolled students, master's level students, students getting certificates, two-year transfer students, students who needed to pick a college credit, some that wanted professional development, others who attended for ACT 48 programs, and only a handful of traditional undergraduate students. The University graduated people in 2006 (first graduate), 2007, 2008, 2009. It had 12 people graduate in 2009 who completed degree programs (m.s. or b.s.). Universities and colleges only allow those folks to particpate in graduation ceremonies. the University I graduated would have an incoming class of 205 undergraduates but only 165 of those students who stay for four years.
As far as crush debt? Average out of pocket (found on the website) for HU is $3900 per YEAR. Families can borrow a supplemental loan or try to get a scholarship for another source like rotary. Wonder what the debt load is for those other schools that he noted. i'll have to check into that too.
As far as who is best served by HU, half its students are ethnic minorities and half are women. So i'd say the traditionally underrepresented groups are well served by HU. I think students who want a career are well served by HU. And since it puts $16 million a year into the local economy, awarded $63 million in local contracts with the building of its academic center, I'd say Harrisburg is well served by having HU in the downtown. Also, with a little digging, I was able to find that 80 percent of its students are from PA and 60 percent are from dauphin and cumberland counties. So clearly the east and west shore feel they are well served by having a private, independent university in the heart of downtown.
And of course, there is always the millions in federal earmarks that Rep. Holden and Sen. Specter have brought to HU.
It seems as I read Penn Live "edstem" has an answer to everything--and usually a worthless comment to make--as you can see above.
All I know is that across from office sat an empty parking lot and now stands the nicest building in the City. The students are a breath of fresh air and I don't think "edstem" has his facts right about the graduation rate.
Anyway--great piece by the Patriot, and I look forward to seeing more students--they are the only think keeping Strawberry Square alive!
You are so right! I remember when this used to be an empty retail store! That's how old i am! We were glad to see that get turn down for a parking lot. Hard to believe that a parking lot is considered an improvement. I love that this University is here. the other day I walked from inside the hilton, through strawberry square into the University and crossed the street to get to the train station. (nice to stay dry the entire time.)
While HU might be a good addition to the area, trying to get credits transferred in from other schools or get courses waived for life experience is a bear.
While the people I dealt with when applying there were very nice and helpful, it seemed they were more interested in getting you to take their classes than they were seeing how they could meet your needs.
If you're a new student, I'm certain the admission process is simple and class selection goes smoothly. If you're a returning student, be prepared to slug it out with the admissions process.
Life experience should never be a substitute for the academic setting. They are both valuable, but not interchangeable.
I am amazed that some of you actually recognize edstem for what he really is. Good job people!!!
Who is being well served by this institution? The elite employees who draw a salary and generous benefits, with no accountability for student success.
Its college not high school.
Something's fishy here. I walk by HU almost every day, and in the past 3 months I've maybe seen 3 people walk in or out, and one was the mailman. They have a huge lobby on the corner, and only once have I seen anyone (a middle-aged guy) in there. I smell a boondoggle.
Very few students use the main entrance because only a handful walk to school. Most commute and use the parking garage.