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Tuition increaseGigi Hoffman?Tuition increases starting this fall at Point Park Point Park has caused widespread complaints, but President Paul Hennigan says it is needed to fund financial aid and variety of new initiatives on the campus.Hennigan made those observations in an interview last week, he explained why tuition is increasing by 3.9%, which is $27,000 for regular undergraduates, while in the conservatory of performing arts will see a 4.9% increase, to $34,400.?Most students do not know where this raise in tuition is going, but in an interview with President Hennigan last Wednesday this concern was addressed and plans for this money were stated.?“The number one cost driver of the university’s new budget is financial aid,” said Hennigan March 25 on the 7th floor of Academic Hall. “Almost every single student receives financial aid who attends Point Park.”?Along with financial aid, the increases will go towards the new core curriculum and staffing for the 43 new courses, the pathways program, that guarantees freshman to stay on the path of graduating on time that started with this years freshman, the Wi-Fi throughout the entire campus and the safety upgrades including new pressurized stairwells in the residence halls in case of fires and many more sprinklers. Lastly, the raise will also go to enhancing career services by hiring full time professionals to work with students in their major, meaning hiring of more staff for classes, according to Hennigan.?Hennigan also explains why the conservatory has a higher increase.?“The cost of providing the conservatory is significantly greater than the other schools offered at our university,” Hennigan said.?With all of this talk from students, there have been rumors of where this money is going, which Hennigan put to rest.?“There is not a dime of tuition money towards Village Park,” said Hennigan. “Village Park was all community fundraised just like how the Pittsburgh Playhouse Project will be completely fundraised, and lastly the bison in the lobby of Academic Hall was a gift from an anonymous donor.”?When the raises in tuition were announced many students were concerned.?Freshman political science major, Davion Heron, had faith that the raises were going to the right place.?“I chose this school,” said Heron. “I love it here too much to just leave because of tuition raise, I can only assume the money will be used towards important things like the campus itself and the staff.”?Alexa Yinyannin, Freshman public relations major, understand the necessity of raising tuition, but wants more transparency from the University.?“Tuition increases are evident, we all knew it was coming…I just wish wear my money is going” said Yinyannin.?Senior Biology major and president of Point Park’s student government Julian Singleton also spoke to the inevitability of tuition increases.?“Tuition is raised every year since I have gone to school here,” said Singleton. “It’s a necessary evil of life.”?The Student Solidary Organization (SSO) at Point Park is fighting to know more about why tuition is being raised. As an organization, it sees the raise as completely unnecessary.??Hana Valle a Junior Psychology and Global Cultural Studies major and head of the student’s rights campaign for SSO speaks for the organization on the raise.?“Many students, even those receiving scholarships and financial aid, are racking up student debt in the form of loans at alarming rates,” said Valle. “We're drowning in our debt and with this tuition increase Point Park is simply adding to this problem.”?One of SSO’s main concerns is tuition transparency, letting students know where their tuition money is going and why.?“Students are essentially investing in both the university and our future,” Valle said. “Any smart investor would not give tens of thousands of dollars for years without a clear understanding of how that money was being used or without some indication that the investment would pay off.”?SSO is not the only organization that feels strongly about the raise in tuition. The student government agrees tuition transparency is necessary to sooth student concerns over where their money is going.?“They want tuition transparency, which is completely reasonable to ask for, I think that is the first proper step to solving the students’ concerns,” Singleton said.?The tuition has now been set, and although there are different opinions on the hike, Hennigan offers his final words for the students.?“We understand, I am well aware how difficult it is to pay for college,” said Hennigan. “I also know that college is an enormously valuable pay off and investment, students need to look at their education as an investment of their future.” ................
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