In June 2011, Andres Lasalle and his son Matthew graduated from college together. They spoke at their commencement and both said that the motivation they provided one another was a major factor in their achievement.
Fathers and sons engage in a wide variety of activities together, but graduating from college usually isn’t one of them. However, the Lasalles achieved this goal and they did it at a college that exemplifies family values and victory in the face of adversity.
They did it at Plaza College.
A nearly 100-year-old institution in Jackson Heights, Plaza College is a fourth generation, family founded college and as such, is known to practice a great deal of caring when dealing with students. While the student is ultimately responsible for classroom performance, there is a level of family support, faculty support, college counseling support, as well as the support of peers that encourage adult students to become graduates.
Provost Charles E. Callahan III said that the philosophy of the Callahan family is to provide the resources necessary for all of the students to reach their highest level of success. Whether it is an academic, technical or financial resource, the Callahan family remains very approachable, willing to hear new ideas and is always extending a hand to meet the needs of each student.
The college is committed to maintaining its status as a private independent family institution through hard work and dedication on the part of many. From the moment a student walks in the door of admissions to the time they are scheduled to graduate, Plaza College provides that specialized and individualized attention to each student, making students an extension of the Plaza College family.
Although the general public never really focuses on colleges as family founded, there are a number of well known family colleges and universities in the metro area. Pace University (founded by Nicholas & Joseph Pace); NYIT (founded by the Shure family); Monroe College (founded by the Jerome family); School of Visual Arts (founded by the Rhodes family); L.I.M, (founded by the Marcuse family), as well as many others.
And its reputation as a family institution will surely carry on to the next generation, with Charles E. Callahan IV, currently the director of strategic initiatives.
Plaza has a modest student population, with 750 individuals making up the student body. This enables the college to offer much more specialized attention than a larger college or university – a true personal touch.
And with its personal touch, Plaza College prepares its students for the real world. A degree from this fully accredited institution goes a long way in helping students obtain employment in a myriad of fields. The extensive education program and comprehensive training provided prepares students for careers in business management, accounting, information technology, marketing, sales managing, medical assisting and business ownership. No matter the focus, Plaza College offers career placement with a 95 percent success rate.
Many students also choose to advance their education by pursuing Master’s degrees, dependent on their area of interest and expertise.
“Alumni of Plaza College continue to advance and succeed in the workforce,” said Callahan III. “Many of our medical assisting students pursue nursing degrees or healthcare related degree programs offering advancement. We had one particular student who was accepted to NYU’s pre-med program.”
Some notable employment opportunities attained by graduates in recent semesters include: Elmhurst Hospital (Medical), Morgan Stanley (Accounting), Queens Public Library (Human Resources), NYC Dept of Design and Construction (Accounting), SUNY Downstate (Medical), NJ Transit (Admin), Cantor Fitzgerald (Administrative), Salvation Army (Administrative), Macy’s (Sales& Retail Management), North Shore LIJ Health System (Medical), Mount Sinai Medical Center (Medical).
Plaza graduates have also been placed in numerous nonprofit organizations, local businesses and professional offices in many different capacities.
According to the August 2011 (Labor Market Information Service) Real-Time Jobs Report, Plaza College provides opportunities to graduates in the top five industries with the largest proportion of job postings (computer and mathematical occupations, management occupations, sales and related occupations, office and administrative support occupations and business and financial operations occupations).
Overall, students who become alumni of Plaza College have the dedication, commitment, motivation and ambition that supports their advancement and professional development for a lifetime.
It is common knowledge that a college degree is a must to maintain success in any competitive job market, especially the New York City job market. In addition to providing the foundation of knowledge and certain skills that can only be obtained with a college education, a degree provides the “skills for life.”
On average, graduates that obtain a Bachelor’s degree, make $1 million more in a lifetime than an individual with no degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Also according to the BLS, the higher the education level, the lower the unemployment rate.
In other words, a college degree means a job, which means more money.
As the father and son team that graduated from Plaza demonstrated, the school is ideal for students of all ages. But Plaza College takes special care to make sure adult students get the education they seek.
According to officials, Plaza College is geared to what they classify as the adult student learner. Plaza fits school into students’ lives with flexible schedules by offering morning, afternoon, evening and weekend classes, in order to make it more convenient for students that have busy lives outside of school. With many students who choose to return to school later in life, it is certainly not uncommon to have men and women in their 40s, 50s and 60s.
And students of all ages come from varying financial backgrounds. That is why Plaza College offers financial aid to those that are qualified. There are many ways to afford an education at Plaza, from state funding to federal grants, as well as subsidized or unsubsidized loans.
According to a recent article published by the United States Department of Education, Plaza is one of the most affordable four-year proprietary colleges in the country.
Plaza also caters to the needs of its students by offering special “hybrid” classes, which integrate online components into coursework – this includes case studies, case analysis and projects developed and communicated using online procedures.
Besides building leaders in business and technology, Plaza also offers students numerous opportunities to become leaders in the community through honor societies, student affairs and ambassador programs. These opportunities allow them to connect to humanitarian efforts that mean something to them personally – from breast cancer awareness to relief efforts in Haiti and Japan.
“Our students are kind, generous, and very blessed, and they know it, and they want to give back,” said Jonathan Howle, professor and director of alumni relations. “We give them the opportunity to do so and as a result, they become leaders as well.”
Plaza College has been a member of the Queens Chamber of Commerce since its founding in 1916 and has recently been honored as one of the longest standing members. Their membership, professional expertise and understanding of the infrastructure of the Queens community has served as a benefit to the many constituents they serve. The Chamber is the largest business advocacy organization in the county. Therefore, as a member, Plaza has had many opportunities to take part in networking events, have exposure to legislative advocacy, and through its ongoing affiliation, participate in seminars that encompass diverse industries, including but not limited to, education and workforce services. Plaza College has worked on many initiatives with the Chamber and looks forward to future endeavors in order to support a prosperous and economically stable community. Plaza College remains invigorated as the Chamber continues to grow and develop the business community in the city of New York and the county of Queens.
Additionally, Plaza College maintains a close alliance with the Queens Library, and the Queens Theatre in the Park, to support cultural and educational initiatives of local communities in Queens.
Throughout its long history, Plaza College has established itself as a doorway to success for each and every student willing to put in the necessary work. Nearly a century in academics brings a sense of stability – Plaza College’s stability and success is well established and will continue far into the future.
“Plaza College wants to continue to provide the best education possible to all the students served,” said Callahan. “In the future, we can only see positive outcomes such as campus expansions, addition of degree programs and continued implementation of new resources to support success of all our graduates.”
For more information on Plaza College, visit www.plazacollege.edu or call 718-779-1430.
