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Yankees bring up RailRiders rookie catcher Gary Sanchez

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Wilkes-Barre Area CTC program receives grant

<p>Sitting in my office on a recent spring morning, I began to think about the impact institutions of higher education like Misericordia University have on their host communities. As a stained-glass window framed the sunshine on the campus&#8217; quadrangle, a lot of my thoughts focused on the trepidation and excitement our soon-to-be graduates are feeling as their finals and commencement draw near.</p><p>While it is indeed an exciting time of year for them, these feelings never seem to fade on our inclusive campus. For you see, Misericordia University is more than an institution of higher learning. It is also a regional resource where all are welcome to enjoy sporting activities, cultural and community events, and academic and athletic camps.</p><p>Whether you are interested in the historic photographs of Ansel Adams or the classic rock sounds of Kansas, it is easy to see how these activities and more enrich the quality of life in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Take the recent Back Mountain Business and Community Expo that we hosted last month, as an example. It brought our campus community, area residents and representatives of nonprofit agencies, for-profit businesses, and community-based organizations together in one place.</p><p>Besides these academic lessons and on-campus activities, Misericordia University also contributes to the common good by its overall economic impact. A recent study by the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) notes Misericordia employs 485 Pennsylvania residents, while an additional 408 jobs in the area are attributed to the university&#8217;s economic activity. Our combined state and local government payroll taxes put more than $1.1 million back into the economy annually.</p><p>We also attract spending to the area thanks to our student population. AICUP estimates that student spending amounts to about $4.1 million each year, in addition to the more than $32 million spent directly by Misericordia. Visitors to campus also aid the local economy as they spend more than $500,000 annually at local businesses.</p><p>Misericordia&#8217;s total economic impact is more than $88 million, according to AICUP. As you can imagine, our students and employees support local grocers, restauranteurs, entrepreneurs and so much more.</p><p>We are fortunate to have high-quality, private colleges and universities in the greater Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metro area. Overall, the regional economic impact of these institutions is about $923 million &#8211; making higher education the fourth-largest sector of industry after corporate offices, hospitals and physician offices, according to AICUP. Each institution also participates in a variety of collaborations that extend beyond our direct activities. Many of us serve as volunteers and on boards of the chambers of commerce, nonprofit service organizations and cooperative businesses.</p><p>Private higher education also creates the workforce and responsible citizens of tomorrow. In Pennsylvania, private colleges and universities receive about 11 percent of total state funds devoted to higher education, yet they enroll 42 percent of all students and generate 49 percent of all college degrees.</p><p>Some neighbors build fences and others politely wave as their garage doors close quickly. In our region, we welcome others to be not just distant neighbors, but good neighbors. Please join us at a future cultural event or community program to experience the Misericordia Way firsthand.</p><p>After all, all are welcome.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Thomas J. Botzman</p><p>Guest Columnist</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Thomas J. Botzman, Ph.D., is president of Misericordia University in Dallas.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Botzman: Bringing business and higher education together for the common good