Point Park University will create a school of communication to accommodate growth in its programs in journalism, broadcasting and communication.

The new school is expected to be open for the 2009-10 academic year, Point Park President Paul Hennigan said in an internal communication yesterday.

Point Park, with an enrollment of 3,600, already has the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business and Conservatory of Performing Arts,

Helen Fallon, the chairwoman of Point Park's journalism and mass communication department, will be interim dean as the school's structure is developed and a national search for a permanent dean gets under way.

The journalism and mass communication department has 10 undergraduate degree programs and one graduate degree program. A total of 500 undergraduates and 100 graduate students are enrolled.