The University of Scranton is proud to be part of the City of Scranton, with its campus located just adjacent to Courthouse Square. The Office of Community Relations seeks to help support the continued renaissance of the downtown and the vitality of the wider region of Northeastern Pennsylvania by sharing resources and information and by encouraging interaction between students, faculty, and staff and area businesses. 

University-Downtown Engagement Initiative
Student Spending
Discounts for Students
Foursquare Social Media
Royal Card Merchant Program
Share your News: Business Update & Ads in Student Newspaper 
Community Relations’ University Calendar
Local Purchasing
Downtown Map

The University-Downtown Engagement Initiative is now in its second year.  These efforts included special events and promotions designed to raise the awareness of students, faculty, staff and parents with downtown Scranton offerings.  The initiative is undertaken in cooperation with community and campus partners -University’s Small Business Development Center, Center for Student Engagement, Office of Residence Life Scranton Tomorrow and the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.  

So far in the summer and fall of 2012, the University has conducted "FAM" tours familiarizing 85 Resident Assistants and 40 Faculty and Staff with downtown businesses, in cooperation with Scranton Tomorrow.  The second Downtown Scavenger Hunt was conducted on August 31, 2012, drawing over 200 students. New this fall, The University worked with Lackawanna County on a College Battle of the Bands on Sept. 15 at Courthouse Square, attended by over 100 students from area colleges.  During Family Weekend, Sept. 28-30, over 15 downtown restaurants participated in the Family Table discount program.  On Oct. 5, 250 students participated in the second "Electric City Downtown Nite," highlighting First Friday and including 11 restaurants, Marquee Cinemas, the Scranton Cultural Center.  The "Shop Scranton, Shop Local" promotion concluded the fall semester's events.  

Thirty downtown businesses and organizations gathered with University representatives to discuss “University-Downtown Engagement” on Friday, May 11, 2012.  This meeting was a follow-up to one that had taken place a year earlier, when the Office of Community Relations first launched efforts to increase connections with downtown businesses and cultural venues.   Download the May 2012 University-Downtown Engagement Initiative presentation that summarizes these efforts.  Click here to view the Scranton Times Tribune article on the meeting.   

Below find several additional links highlighting this initiative.  

• Downtown Scavenger Hunt 2011 Highlights; 2012 Scavenger Hunt Information
• Residence Assistants Downtown Tour & Dinner 2011 in cooperation with Scranton Tomorrow; 2012 Tour coverage: Ryan Leckey and the Times-Tribune
• Family Weekend Royal Welcome & Family Table Program
• Monthly Downtown Business Update
• Downtown Scranton Information Page for Visitors and Parents
• Shop Scranton, Shop Local Promotion 
• Electric City Downtown Movie Nite
• Show it Save it Map of Downtown Discounts

Downtown businesses interested in participating in these types of initiatives can contact community@scranton.edu or call 941-4419.  

For the past several years, the University of Scranton, together with the other colleges in Lackawanna County, have surveyed their students on their weekly spending. In 2011, University of Scranton students reported spending more than $1.4 million each month in a number of categories (e.g. shopping, dining, entertainment, rent, utilities, groceries, etc.).  The full results of the 2011 student spending survey can be viewed here.

Downtown businesses can provide 10% discounts to University of Scranton students (and students at the other eight colleges in Lackawanna County) through the “Show It, Save It” program, coordinated by Scranton Tomorrow.  Students receive the discount by simply showing their college ID and businesses can post a decal in their window to indicate their participation in the program. 

View a special Show it, Save it Map listing the current businesses in the program. Contact Scranton Tomorrow to be added to this list at 570-963-1575 or leslie@scrantontomorrow.org. 

Foursquare is one of the fastest growing location-based social networks on campuses across the country.  It allows smartphone users to "check in" at their current locations, earn "badges" based on those check-ins, locate friends, and get tips and specials for area businesses and venues. The University of Scranton has recently launched an official brand page on Foursquare: http://foursquare.com/univofscranton.  By joining Foursquare and “claiming” your location, businesses can offer special promotions and get to know their customers.   To get started on Foursquare, see this step-by-step guide for businesses and the Foursquare blog for special tips.  Interested businesses can also contact the Office of Community Relations at community@scranton.edu or 570-941-4419. 

Through a cooperative test project organized by Scranton Tomorrow, the City of Scranton and the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, University students, faculty and staff can use their Royal Cards at six merchants in the downtown and greater Scranton area.  For more information visit the Royal Card Merchant program page.   

Business Update: The University of Scranton shared business news, special discounts and events  through a special monthly "Downtown Scranton Business Update" that resides on the Community Relations website and is included in “Royal News,” an email newsletter sent to faculty, staff, students and alumni.  To be included in the business update, please send an email to community@scranton.edu with the subject line, “Business Update”.  All submissions are subject to University approval and should be submitted by the last Thursday of each month for inclusion in the first Royal News of the month.  

Advertising in the Student Newspaper: The Aquinas is a great way to spread the word among University students.  Advertising is not free; prices vary.  Contact the Advertising Manager at AquinasAdvertising@gmail.com for information on rates and available ad space.  

There are multiple University events throughout the year that bring in parents, alumni and other visitors from out of town and provide special business marketing opportunities.  The University welcomes efforts to help increase the connection between campus and downtown life.   

View the Calendar as HTML page

View the Calendar in PDF Format

The University of Scranton makes 42% of its purchasing through local merchants and vendors in Northeastern Pennsylvania and always considers purchasing locally where possible.   

If you are a local or area business interested in working with the University of Scranton, please send information about your firm, identify the products and services you provide, list a contact person, and provide references to purchasing@scranton.edu or call the University’s Purchasing Department at (570) 941-6214.

The University makes available a special downtown Scranton map to students (current and prospective), faculty, staff and visitors to campus.  The map was created in collaboration with Scranton Tomorrow and includes downtown businesses, restaurants, places of worship and entertainment opportunities.  If you are a downtown business or venue not listed on the map, and would like to be added, please contact community@scranton.edu or call 941-4419.