SRU gives county boost
Slippery Rock University is celebrating its 125th anniversary throughout 2014. Here is a look at SRU's impact on Butler County. SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University is an essential Butler County institution, officials say.“We're very fortunate to have Slippery Rock in Butler County,” said Bill McCarrier, chairman of the county commissioners.McCarrier, who also is on SRU's council of trustees, said it offers county students a good education that is close to home and affordable.SRU President Cheryl Norton said the Slippery Rock area is richer for having SRU, and SRU is richer for being in Slippery Rock.“There is a lot that we have contributed ... to the community that we live in,” Norton said.She said that SRU is the fourth-largest employer in the county, with a little more than 1,000 employees. She said SRU's payroll contributes $93 million in added income to the local economy.For every $1 that the state gives to SRU, she said the university contributes $18.60 back to the state.Additionally, she said SRU helps prevent “brain drain.”Norton said 90 percent of SRU students come from the state, and 93 percent of its graduates choose to stay in Pennsylvania. More locally, 14.5 percent of SRU students come from Butler County and 16.4 percent of graduates choose to stay in the county.Last year, there were 311,000 local and nonlocal visitors to SRU, for university sporting events, commencement ceremonies and conferences at campus facilities.Norton said that the nonlocal visitors added $13.8 million to the economy here by eating at restaurants and staying in hotels.In addition to its economic impact, SRU provides services.SRU gives free tax return assistance to families meeting certain income requirements.The College of Business, Information and Social Science has the Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator, which offers support and services for small businesses. Last year, it had 25 clients.Then it has the Government Contracting Assistance Center, which provides help to companies in Butler and Beaver counties trying to land government contracts. Since 1989, Norton said the center has helped 15,200 contractors, contributing $1.3 billion to the two counties.“So, it's been a very successful venture,” Norton said.In Cranberry Township, the Regional Learning Alliance, which was the brainchild of former SRU President Robert Smith, has 11 colleges offering classes and 30 different degrees.Nick Neupauer, president of Butler County Community College, said that the county is one of only two in the state to have both a State System of Higher Education university and a community college.He said that BC3 and SRU have a great relationship with several partnerships and agreements. He noted that 60 percent of BC3 students who transfer from the college go to SRU.“I'd hate to think of the county without either institution,” Neupauer said.Ken Harris, a Slippery Rock councilman and the mayor from 2002 to 2013, said SRU's impact on the borough is huge.“A word I would use ... is incalculable,” Harris said.He said that the university adds a high energy to what would otherwise be a fairly quiet borough.“There's a life and a vigor here,” Harris said, noting that he took a ride around the borough on New Year's Eve, when students and staff were on break, and found little activity.He said that SRU students and employees often get involved with groups while they are in town.Of the 41 members in the Slippery Rock Rotary Club, he said 17 are or were affiliated with SRU, including Norton and Harris, who is a retired theater professor.“These people get involved,” Harris said.However, SRU also leads to an uptick in nuisance crimes, such as disorderly conduct, noise, running of red lights and illegal parking. It also brings in heavy traffic at times.“That goes away when the students and staff are gone,” Harris said.Norton said that traffic is unavoidable due to the many students and staff.“You're going to have traffic,” said Norton, who noted that heavy events are limited to two or three times per day.As far as crime, she noted that SRU is regularly listed as one of the safest campuses in the U.S.John Hines, a Slippery Rock Township supervisor, said the large number of students and staff, as well as the promise of jobs, led to the construction not only of apartment complexes but single-family homes.“There's a substantial amount of construction that is here due to the university,” Hines said.He said a majority of development in the township is due to SRU.Since 2000, there has been $250 million in construction and renovations on campus, including $110 million in new dormitories.Despite enrollment that has gone down slightly, the economy is growing slowly and there is a saturation of student housing in the area. However, companies are still building and looking to build new student apartment complexes.“It's confusing to us,” Hines said.Bill Sonntag, president of Slippery Rock Development, said SRU is the largest employer in the Slippery Rock area, and many SRU students take part-time jobs.“There's no doubt about it. It is the economic engine that drives the economy here in Slippery Rock,” Sonntag said. “It's the big elephant in the room.”He said SRU also is a good neighbor.The university, through the Slippery Rock University Foundation, was a big supporter of Slippery Rock Development's downtown revitalization in the 2000s. The revitalization was necessary to improve the community image. The effort dealt with utility wires, crumbling sidewalks and empty storefronts.“It was a negative as far as recruiting new students to the university,” Sonntag said.The $5.3 million rehabilitation of South Main Street was completed first and the $1.6 million rehabilitation of Franklin Street was second.The SRU Foundation gave the group $400,000 for the project.“The foundation was one of the major donors,” Sonntag said.Jack Cohen, executive director of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said SRU's impact can be felt through business at hotels, restaurants, stores and gas stations. In 2011, the Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites opened in Slippery Rock, and the SRU Foundation was one of the groups that helped bring it to the borough.“It's that far-reaching,” Cohen said.He said SRU probably has one of the largest economic impacts on the county. The only thing that comes close is the Butler Health System, he said.Cohen noted that SRU's campus has grown, and with it, the university's reputation, bringing more people to the county.He pointed out the bureau had an intern from SRU eight years ago, and eventually hired her full time. He said she is now one of the bureau's senior employees.“That's what you call quality people,” Cohen said.
Address: 1 Morrow Way, Slippery Rock, PA 16057Phone: 724-738-9000Website: www.sru.eduEnrollment: 8,400Employees: 1,000Campus: 650 acresBuildings: 51Budget: $114.5 millionPresident: Cheryl Norton
