University of Point Park arranges accommodations for students in Pittsburgh's Wyndham Grand Hotel downtown.
In the city of Pittsburgh, both Point Park University and the University of Pittsburgh are accommodating a surge in freshman enrollment by placing some students in nearby hotels for the fall semester.
Point Park University, with an enrollment up by 25% this fall, has around 90 freshmen staying at the Wyndham Grand hotel downtown. The university uses about 40 to 45 hotel rooms, with two students per room, and provides residential assistant support, security, and amenities similar to on-campus housing. Notably, students staying at the Wyndham Grand hotel will not have to pay any extra fees.
Lou Corsaro, a spokesperson for Point Park University, stated that the rise in enrollment for the fall semester, particularly with first-year freshmen, caused the university to seek a hotel partner.
Similarly, the University of Pittsburgh has put roughly 250 freshmen into off-campus housing, including the Hampton Inn on Hamlet Street, about a 15-20 minute walk from campus. The university emphasizes that these off-campus housing options meet all safety and amenity standards and provide similar support to students living on campus.
Mike Darnay, a digital producer and photojournalist at a Pittsburgh-based news organization, is covering this unique situation. Darnay has also written and produced content for Vox Media and the Mon Valley Independent. He often covers overnight breaking news, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and high school sports.
Both universities indicate that housing expansions are being considered to prevent future shortages, but for now, the hotel accommodations are a temporary solution to this year's unexpected surge in freshman enrollment.
[1] Point Park University students staying in hotels for fall semester due to enrollment surge. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2021/08/16/Point-Park-University-students-staying-in-hotels-for-fall-semester-due-to-enrollment-surge/stories/202108160108
[2] Some Point Park University freshmen to live in Wyndham Grand Hotel downtown. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.pittsburghlive.com/news/education/2021/08/some-point-park-university-freshmen-to-live-in-wyndham-grand-hotel-downtown.html
[3] University of Pittsburgh freshmen staying in off-campus apartments, hotels. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2021/08/16/University-of-Pittsburgh-freshmen-staying-in-off-campus-apartments-hotels/stories/202108160108
[4] Point Park University students to live in Wyndham Grand Hotel. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.wpxi.com/news/local-news/point-park-university-students-to-live-in-wyndham-grand-hotel/article_592c790b-4d8d-586f-999d-470a4030d0c1.html
[5] University of Pittsburgh freshmen staying in off-campus apartments, hotels. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.wtae.com/news/local/university-of-pittsburgh-freshmen-staying-in-off-campus-apartments-hotels/QJ9D3LK5Y5G736JXZ7JJK53B5M/
- In a breaking news story, Point Park University has resorted to accommodating an increase in freshman enrollment by placing some students in hotels during the fall semester, with the Wyndham Grand hotel serving as one of the housing solutions.
- Amidst the unexpected surge in freshman enrollment, Mike Darnay, a photojournalist at a Pittsburgh-based news organization, is following the unique situation of both Point Park University and the University of Pittsburgh, which have temporarily housed students in hotels like the Wyndham Grand hotel and off-campus apartments such as the Hampton Inn, respectively.
- In the realm of education and self-development, universities like Point Park University and the University of Pittsburgh are striving to adapt to changing circumstances, using creative solutions like hotel accommodations to meet the needs of their growing student bodies, without incurring extra fees for students. Meanwhile, sports enthusiasts might find it interesting to learn about how the local Pittsburgh Steelers and high school sports are covered by digital producers like Mike Darnay.
