The University Of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a public research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The university is made up of 17 undergraduate and graduate schools and colleges in its urban campus and has around 28,000 students. The 132-acre Pittsburgh campus includes many historic buildings that form the Schenley Farms Historic District, most notably its 42-story Gothic revival Cathedral of Learning. Pitt is a member of the Association of American Universities and is classified as a “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity”. It is also the second-largest non-government employer in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
The University of Pittsburgh is nestled next to the main medical buildings of its associated UPMC and its hospital, UPMC Presbyterian. In addition, it is also nearby the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Schenley Park, and Carnegie Mellon University. It also runs four campus branches in different parts of Western Pennsylvania, including Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown, and Titusville.
At the University of Pittsburgh, the NCAA Division I Pittsburgh Panthers compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Pitt’s impressive record includes five Olympic medals and numerous alumni, faculty and staff that have achieved distinction, such as eight Rhodes Scholars, 10 Marshall Scholars, 297 Fulbright Scholars, six Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, three Academy Award winners, American Academy of Arts and Sciences members, seven United States senators, three United States cabinet officials and five U.S. state governors.
Pitt’s Beginning
The University of Pittsburgh was established in 1787, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. It has a long and proud history, with its roots tracing back to the mid-18th century. The establishment of the University of Pittsburgh provided a significant milestone in the development of higher education in the region.
In 1787, Hugh Henry Brackenridge founded the Pittsburgh Academy, which is now known as the University of Pittsburgh and is the oldest continuously chartered academic institution in the United States west of the Allegheny Mountains. It is believed that the school began in a log cabin as early as 1770 in Western Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania granted a charter for the school in February 1787, just before the start of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. A two-story brick building with a gable was then constructed in 1790 on the south side of Third Street and Cherry Alley. The building held three rooms, one on the bottom floor and two on the top.
Western University of Pennsylvantia
In response to the need for advanced education in the area, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania amended the school’s 1787 charter in 1819 to grant it university status. It was given the name Western University of Pennsylvania or WUP, and was meant to be the western sister institution to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. By 1830, the university had relocated to a new three-story stone building with Ionic columns and a cupola, located near its original buildings on the south side of Third Street, between Smithfield Street and Cherry Alley in downtown Pittsburgh. During this time, however, the university was under intense financial strain as a result of the state legislature’s demand for more vocational training, rather than the liberal education the university had been providing. This nearly caused the university to close, yet it managed to survive in spite of the lack of support from the city and state. It was also in this era that Thomas Mellon (Class of 1837), the founder of Mellon Bank, graduated and later taught at WUP.
In 1845, the Great Fire of Pittsburgh destroyed the university’s buildings and most of its records and files. Classes were moved to Trinity Church until a new building was erected on Duquesne Way. However, four years later this building was also destroyed by a fire. This caused a suspension of operations for several years, allowing the university to recover and rebuild. Eventually, a building was constructed on Ross and Diamond streets, and classes resumed in 1855. During this period, Samuel Pierpont Langley, astronomer, inventor, and aviation pioneer, was appointed director of the Allegheny Observatory, which had been donated to WUP in 1865. Langley served as professor of astronomy and physics until 1891, when he was replaced by James Keeler. When the university outgrew its downtown facilities, it moved its campus to Allegheny City, which is now known as the North Side.
The University of Pittsburgh ultimately settled on a 10-acre area on the North Side’s Observatory Hill, at the location of the Allegheny Observatory. Two new structures, Science Hall and Main Hall, had been completed and were in use by 1889 and 1890 respectively. This was also the period when the first collegiate football team was formed. The Western Pennsylvania Medical College was amalgamated into the university in 1892, and that same year, the first African American, William Hunter Dammond, graduated from Pitt. The School of Law was established in 1895, and Andrew Carnegie, George Westinghouse, and Andrew Mellon, who had been elected to the board of trustees in 1894, joined the university. The Pittsburgh College of Pharmacy and Pittsburgh Dental School were also welcomed in 1896. The first female graduates, sisters Margaret and Stella Stein, were awarded their degrees in 1898. During this era, the university’s engineering professor, Reginald Fessenden, was doing pioneering work in radio broadcasting. By 1904, the university had an undefeated football team that played at Exposition Park.
Western University Becomes University of Pittsburgh
In the summer of 1908, the Western University of Pennsylvania was changed to the University of Pittsburgh by an act from the state legislature. This was to prevent any confusion, and to return to its original roots as a city-based university. The university was expanding and the North Side of Pittsburgh was not enough to contain its departments, so 43 acres of land was purchased in the Oakland neighborhood and all of the components were relocated there by 1909. The winner of the national architectural contest, Henry Hornbostel, proposed a Greek Acropolis design with 30 buildings, but only four of them were constructed, and only Thaw Hall remains. This was also when the university adopted the panther as its mascot. Chancellor Samuel McCormick led the university to a new level of national recognition, and kept its commitment to liberal education rather than a more technical-based training.
In the 1920s, John Gabbert Bowman, the new university chancellor, envisioned a “tall building” as the centerpiece of the campus. Consequently, the Frick Acres property of 14 acres was purchased in Oakland and plans for the university were shifted to a neo-Gothic Revival style. This plan eventually resulted in the construction of the Cathedral of Learning, Heinz Memorial Chapel, Stephen Foster Memorial, and Clapp Hall buildings. In 1925, Bowman chose Charles Klauder’s design for the “tall building”: a 535-foot tower symbolizing the “character that ought to be in an educated man.” The cathedral’s height with open spaces around it was meant to represent courage and fearlessness. It was financed through donations, as well as a school children campaign to collect dimes. Despite the Great Depression, the Cathedral of Learning was completed in 1937. It stands as the second tallest university building in the world, featuring an interior highlighted by a 22,000-square-foot Gothic hall Commons Room with 52-foot arches surrounded by 31 Nationality Rooms.
Pitt and the Polio Vaccine
In the early 1900s, industrialized countries were hit by an epidemic of polio. The fear of the disease spread and public facilities were closed. Dr. Jonas Salk of the University of Pittsburgh’s Virus Research Lab, located in what is now Salk Hall, began immunization experiments on monkeys using dead polio virus. He went on to experiment with paralyzed polio patients and eventually conducted the largest controlled field trials in medical history in 1954. By 1962, the vaccine developed by Salk and his team had reduced the incidence of polio in the United States by 95%. This achievement is widely considered to be one of the most important scientific and medical breakthroughs in history.
University of Pittsburgh Designation as a State School
In 1966, Pennsylvania designated Pitt as a state-related university, granting it public funds and reduced tuition for Pennsylvania residents. Due to the subsidies, the school experienced a rapid expansion, and Pitt’s football team returned to excellence in the 1970s and 1980s. During this time, Thomas Starzl made significant medical advances in organ transplantation, placing Pitt as the world leader in the field. By the end of chancellor Wesley Posvar’s 24-year tenure in 1991, the university’s debt was eliminated, its operating budget had grown sevenfold, and its endowment had tripled.
During Mark Nordenberg’s 19-year chancellorship of the University of Pittsburgh (1995-2014), a plethora of progress was achieved, including a $2 billion capital-raising campaign that is three-quarters of the way to its goal, and a $1 billion 12-year facilities plan. Substantial initiatives and events that occurred during his tenure included construction of the Petersen Events Center, a major expansion of on-campus housing, growth of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as well as restructuring of its relationship with the university, and a series of disruptive bomb threats in 2012.
On August 1, 2014, Patrick D. Gallagher began his tenure as the eighteenth chancellor of the university.
The Campus At the University of Pittsburgh
Located in the historic Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh’s primary campus encompasses approximately 132 acres. It is home to the 42-story Cathedral of Learning as well as a mixture of architectural styles, including Greek revival, Neogothic, Italian Renaissance, and contemporary. The site has earned multiple Green Star Awards from the Professional Grounds Management Society and been referred to as “a theme park of replica buildings, representing the architecture of the past speaking to the present.”
The University of Pittsburgh is comprised of four main sections: upper (which includes sports complexes and residence halls), mid (containing Benedum, Chevron, Allen, and Thaw Halls), lower (with the Cathedral of Learning, Union, and Posvar Hall) and the west end medical center complex. Darragh Street/McKee Place and Bellefield Avenue/Dithridge Street are the two borders of the campus while Forbes and Fifth avenues extend across it. For ease of movement, the university also runs a bus and shuttle service between the various campus locations and the bordering neighborhoods.
The main campus of the university is located within walking distance of numerous recreational, cultural, and educational institutions around the Oakland area. Just west of the campus is Carlow University and the university’s medical centre complexes. On the east end of the main quad lies Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, Central Catholic High School, Carnegie Mellon University and Schenley Park, as well as the Carnegie Public Library and the Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art and the Carnegie Music Hall. This area is also adjacent to Schenley Plaza, which is found in Junction Hollow.
The University of Pittsburgh has a variety of buildings which are historic in nature. These structures are a testament to the institution’s past.The National Register of Historic Places includes two buildings from the University of Pittsburgh: the Allegheny Observatory located in Riverview Park in the Northside area of Pittsburgh and the Cathedral of Learning. Additionally, the Schenley Farms-Oakland Civic Center Historic District—which includes 21 of Pitt’s buildings, such as the five residence halls that make up the Schenley Quadrangle—has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district.
In Pennsylvania, there are a number of historical markers located around the University of Pittsburgh, such as outside the Allegheny Observatory, Posvar Hall, Salk Hall, the Stephen Foster Memorial, and the William Pitt Union. Additionally, a marker has been placed near the Cathedral of Learning to commemorate the university itself. A marker has also been erected to honor Pitt’s work with the Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Avella, Pennsylvania.
The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation has identified the following University of Pittsburgh buildings as Pittsburgh Historic Landmarks: Allegheny Observatory, Allen Hall, Alumni Hall, Bellefield Hall, Chancellor’s Residence, Cathedral of Learning, Cathedral of Learning interior rooms, Gardner Steel Conference Center, Heinz Memorial Chapel, Thaw Hall, Salk Hall, Schenley Quadrangle residence halls, Stephen Foster Memorial, University Child Development Center, and William Pitt Union. [49][50]
The Schenley Farms Historic District includes sixteen Pitt-owned contributory properties, including Clapp Hall, O’Hara Student Center, Ruskin Hall, Thackeray Hall, Frick Fine Arts Building, Music Building, and the University Club. These buildings have not been designated as individual landmarks.
There are many historic structures near the University of Pittsburgh campus that are not part of the university itself but are still integral to its events and activities. These include the Carnegie Museum buildings, the Frick School, the remnants of Forbes Field, the Magee Estate iron fence, the Schenley Fountain, the Mellon Institute, the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, St. Paul’s Cathedral, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Schenley High School, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall where scenes of The Silence of the Lambs were filmed in 1990, and the Stephen Foster sculpture.
The majority of the University of Pittsburgh’s facilities are situated in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh which includes the Schenley Farms Historic District. However, some of the university’s buildings are located in other places, including Shadyside. Pitt also has campuses in Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown, and Titusville, plus a Computer Center in RIDC Park in Blawnox, the Plum Boro Science Center in Plum, the University of Pittsburgh Applied Research Center (U-PARC) in Harmarville, and the Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology in Linesville. Additionally, the university has a major archeological research site, the Allen L. Cook Spring Creek Preserve, in Spring Creek, Wyoming.
The University of Pittsburgh Panthers have a number of athletic facilities located in Oakland on their upper campus. These include the Charles L Cost Sports Center, Fitzgerald Field House, Petersen Events Center, Trees Hall and Trees Field. Recently, there has been an approximately $30 million upgrade to on-campus sports facilities, beginning with the Petersen Sports Complex, which includes new soccer, baseball and softball fields. Additionally, the Acrisure Stadium and UPMC Sports Performance Complex both located off of the Oakland campus.
On-campus housing includes Litchfield Towers, Schenley Quadrangle, Nordenberg Hall, Bouquet Gardens, and Ruskin Hall located on the lower campus. Lothrop Hall and Forbes Hall are on the medical campus. Pennsylvania, Panther, and Sutherland halls are located on the upper campus.
UPMC
The University of Pittsburgh has an affiliate medical center, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. This medical center is closely associated with the university.
UPMC is well-known for its high regard in U.S. News & World Report’s “Honor Roll” of America’s top hospitals. In Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood, UPMC includes: UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, UPMC Montefiore Hospital, Magee-Women’s Hospital of UPMC, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Thomas Detre Hall, Eye and Ear Institute, Forbes Tower (containing the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences), Iroquois Building, Kaufman Medical Building, Medical Arts Building, 230 McKee Place, and UPMC University Center. UPMC also has academic hospitals and facilities located in other Pittsburgh neighborhoods, including the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh campus in Lawrenceville, the UPMC Sports Performance Complex on the South Side, UPMC Shadyside, and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute in the Hillman Cancer Center in the Shadyside neighborhood next to Oakland.
University of Pittsburgh Regional Campuses
In Western Pennsylvania, four regional campuses offer students the opportunity to pursue master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degrees. Students can take preliminary courses at any of the campuses and then transfer to either another regional campus or the Oakland campus to finish their degree. Certificates and a variety of degrees are available.
There are currently 4 regional campuses for the University of Pittsburgh.
The University of Pittsburgh has been recognized for both its community engagement and its influence on the financial state of the city and the Western Pennsylvania area. In 2009, Pitt was rated second overall, and the leading publicly funded university in the nation, as a “Best Neighbor” for its constructive effect on its urban setting, including both business and residential activities such as renewal, cultural growth, economics, and services and development according to the “Saviors of Our Cities” listing. Pitt was also mentioned as a “best neighbor” in the prior ranking released in 2006. These ratings exhibit the facts that each year Pitt invests more than $1.7 billion into the area and offers employment to nearly 33,800 people in Allegheny County. The school is the Pittsburgh area’s second largest non-government employer behind its associated University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Pitt’s research program exclusively imports more than $822 million into the area each year (more than $3.60 for each $1 of state appropriations), and sustains some 23,100 local jobs.Moreover, Pitt students spend more than $213 million on goods, services, and rental payments in the local economy.According to the Association of University Technology Managers, Pitt is sixth in the number of startups birthed from technologies developed by its researchers.
In 1926, the University of Pittsburgh began programs in ecology and created biological field stations. In 1990, the institution was included in the original 22 signatories of the Talloires Declaration. Ten years later, the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation was founded. In 2013, Pitt published its first sustainability report and dedicated the following year to launching the Student Office of Sustainability. In 2018, the university created its first Pitt Sustainability Plan and the Office of Sustainability, which was headed by its first director. In 2020, Pitt declared its goal for carbon neutrality by 2037 and released its first climate action plan two years later.
In 2021, the University of Pittsburgh was given a Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE STARS) and has been featured on The Princeton Review’s “Green Colleges” list since 2018. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) included Pitt on their Green Powered Universities list in 2018, and the school has won multiple Sustainable Pittsburgh Challenges. There are also other third-party recognitions of Pitt’s sustainability efforts.
In 2018, the university declared its plan to acquire all of the electricity from a run-of-the-river hydro power facility to be constructed by Rye Development at Allegheny Lock and Dam No. 2 on the Allegheny River in 2023. Two years later, the university announced an additional local renewable energy buying arrangement, for solar power to be developed on the border of Beaver and Allegheny counties close to Pittsburgh International Airport.
Established in 1787, the university was a privately-run institution until 1966, when it joined the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, obtaining “state-related” status. This status comes with an annual financial contribution from the Commonwealth, representing 7.7% of the operating budget. Nevertheless, the university keeps its private status, with the Board of Trustees managing the institution and its assets. This enables the university to maintain its independence and autonomy in terms of admissions, awarding of degrees, faculty qualifications, teaching, and staff hiring.
The Board of Trustees of the university holds ultimate legal authority, governance, and responsibility for the institution, particularly when it comes to appointing the chancellor, approving major policies, and defining the mission and goals. It is composed of 36 voting members, including the chancellor, 17 trustees selected by the board, 6 alumni trustees nominated by the Alumni Association Board of Directors, and 12 Commonwealth trustees appointed by the Pennsylvania governor, president pro tempore of the state Senate, and House of Representatives speaker. In addition, there are 14 special trustees and additional emeritus trustees, as well as non-voting ex-officio members like the Pennsylvania governor, secretary of the Commonwealth, Allegheny County chief executive, and the mayor of Pittsburgh. The Board of Trustees holds at least three meetings each year.
The Board of Trustees at the university elects the chancellor, who is the head of the academic and executive divisions, and also holds voting rights on the board. The chancellor is responsible for the university’s entire administrative, academic, and management tasks. Below the chancellor are the provost, the senior vice chancellor, the deans of the schools, the presidents of the local campuses, department chairs, and the directors of university centers and institutes. Additionally, the university is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
The academics at the University of Pittsburgh are renowned for their excellence. Students can take on various learning opportunities such as courses and degrees. They have the chance to pursue their educational goals with the university’s commitment to educational excellence.
Throughout its history, the University of Pittsburgh has consistently maintained a commitment to a liberal arts education, focusing on the arts, sciences, and humanities. Furthermore, students can pursue undergraduate degrees in the form of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Philosophy, as well as master’s, professional, and doctoral degrees. The University has also established an Outside the Classroom Curriculum (OCC) that provides students with extracurricular activities to supplement their academic studies and advance their personal and professional skills. After completing the OCC requirements, students are awarded an OCC transcript and a green cord of distinction to be worn at commencement. Additionally, the University offers free workshops and certification programs such as a pedagogy certification badge and a semester-long public education mentorship program. Lastly, the University’s David C. Frederick Honors College offers distinguished undergraduate programs.
The Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the Swanson School of Engineering, and the School of Nursing are all part of the freshman-level entry schools.
For the Class of 2026, the number of applications received by the University of Pittsburgh, as ranked by U.S. News& World Report in 2022, was 53,062. Of those applications, 26,077 were accepted, which is a 49.1% acceptance rate. Out of the accepted students, 4,399 chose to enroll, resulting in a yield rate of 16.8%. Additionally, the freshman retention rate of the university is 93.4%, with 84.3% of those students graduating within six years.
The University of Pittsburgh was a co-sponsor of the National Merit Scholarship Program in 2020, awarding three Merit Scholarships. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 10 incoming freshmen were recognized as National Merit Scholars.
The University of Pittsburgh offers a wide range of international studies programs for its students. These studies span the entire globe, allowing students to explore different cultures and gain a greater understanding of the world.
The University of Pittsburgh has a longstanding focus on international studies and this is demonstrated by the 31 Nationality Rooms on the first and third floors of the Cathedral of Learning. Additionally, Pitt is one of the nation’s top schools for producing Fulbright scholars and Peace Corps volunteers. It also holds the distinction of being one of fewer than 20 American institutions that have been awarded five or more National Resource Centers by the U.S. Department of Education.
At the University of Pittsburgh, National Resource Centers for Asian, European, Latin American, Russian and East European, and Global studies can be found, as well as an International Business Center. Additionally, it has been given Confucius Institute status by the Chinese Ministry of Education.To top it off, Pitt also has one of just ten European Union Centers of Excellence in the country, fully funded by the European Commission.
The University of Pittsburgh Center for International Studies (UCIS) is the coordinating body of international education curricula, topical specializations in international studies, and National Resource Centers. It does not grant degrees; however, it does issue certificates of completion to degree candidates in the university’s schools along with certificates in African Studies (undergraduate) and Global Studies (undergraduate & graduate). Other activities administered by UCIS include the Study Abroad Office, Nationality Rooms, and Intercultural Exchange Programs.
Pitt facilitates student study abroad in over one hundred countries, managing the Panther Programs, two-way exchange agreements with foreign universities, and third-party exchange programs. The university also offers study abroad scholarships through the Nationality Rooms program. Subsequently, due to various academic, administrative, and safety concerns, the university ended a 24-year sponsorship of the Semester at Sea program and created the PittMAP, allowing for faculty-accompanied multi-continent comparative study. Additionally, the Swanson School of Engineering has a joint institute and program with Sichuan University in Chengdu, while the School of Medicine has an exchange program with Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
The University Of Pittsburgh Ranks Nationally
According to the 2022 rankings from U.S. News & World Report, the University of Pittsburgh was tied for 20th among public universities and 59th among all national universities in the United States. The Princeton Review listed Pitt as one of the “Best Value Public Colleges” and Kiplinger rated it as the best value in Pennsylvania and 36th best in the nation for out-of-state students. The 2017 Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education college rankings of American universities rated Pitt 75th overall and first among public colleges in the Northeast.
According to a Newsweek evaluation of universities, Pitt was placed 37th on the “The Top 100 Global Universities” list.[ The 2017 Center for World University Rankings also placed Pitt 43rd in the world. The 2018 Academic Ranking of World Universities gave Pitt a 90th place ranking (42nd in the U.S.). The 2017/18 QS World University Rankings ranked Pitt 100th in the world. The 2016 Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities, issued by the Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT), placed Pitt 25th in the world for the impact and performance of its scientific publications. In addition, the SCImago Institutions Rankings’ 2016 World Report declared Pitt the 42nd best higher education research institution in the world.
Scholars and Scholarships
At the University of Pittsburgh, several students and faculty have been honored with prestigious awards, such as the Rhodes Scholarship, Marshall Scholarship, Truman Scholarship, Udall Scholarship, Churchill Scholarship, Gates Cambridge Scholarship, Goldwater Scholarship, Boren Scholarship, and Mellon Humanities Fellowship. For instance, in 2007, Pitt became the only public university to be awarded both Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships. Additionally, since 1995, Pitt undergraduates have won five Truman Scholarships, seven Udall Scholarships, a Churchill Scholarship, a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, forty-three Goldwater Scholarships, twenty-three Boren Scholarships, and three Mellon Humanities Fellowships.
Pitt ranks among the top 20 universities nationwide in the total number of student Fulbright scholars produced
Alumni from the University of Pittsburgh have been honored with multiple awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel Prize in Medicine, the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the Shaw Prize in Medicine, the Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine, the John Fritz Medal in engineering, the Templeton Prize, and the Grainger Challenge Prize for sustainability.
Research at the University of Pittsburgh
Research is a key part of the University of Pittsburgh’s mission. The school is committed to advancing knowledge through numerous research endeavors, including those conducted by faculty members, students, and staff. The institution also supports interdisciplinary research initiatives and encourages collaboration between universities, organizations, and industries.
The University of Pittsburgh is included in the Association of American Universities and in 2011 had $1.0 billion in research and development expenses, placing it 14th among all U.S. universities. In terms of the impact and performance of its scientific publications, Pitt was rated in the top 25 universities across the world, with a ranking of tenth for clinical medicine, as per the Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities by the Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan. Furthermore, in accordance with the Research Center for Chinese Science Evaluation of Wuhan University, the university is ranked 29th in the world on Essential Science Indicators. Pitt accentuates the importance of undergraduate research and has made such research a necessary part of the undergraduate experience.
In 2013, the NIH awarded the University of Pittsburgh sixth place in the nation for competitive peer-reviewed funding allocations, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center was ranked tenth among hospitals by USNews. Pitt is well known as a major center of biomedical research.
The University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University share many academic and research collaborations, such as the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, the Immune Modeling Center, the Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. The two schools also offer dual and joint degree programs, like the Medical Scientist Training Program and the Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology Graduate Program. Professors at each university may hold joint professorships and students may take classes at either school with the necessary approvals. Additionally, Pitt students and faculty have access to the CMU library system and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Lastly, the two universities host conferences together, like the 2012 Second Language Research Forum.
Housing for Students at Pitt
Housing for undergraduates includes both traditional dorms and apartments. The three cylindrical towers of the Litchfield Towers complex on the lower campus host the most students and has the main dining hall. The Schenley Quadrangle, which was once a high-end apartment building, has five residence halls: Amos, Brackenridge, Bruce, Holland, and McCormick. Bruce Hall is home to many Honors College and Living and Learning Community members, Holland Hall used to be exclusively for women, and Amos Hall is the main house for the university’s sororities. Ruskin Hall is close to Clapp Hall and the biological complex. The most recent residence hall, Nordenberg Hall, was constructed in 2013 and is for freshmen. Forbes Hall, located on Forbes Avenue, mainly holds freshmen taking part in Living Learning Communities. Lothrop Hall, originally built for nursing students, is situated on the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Upperclassmen mostly reside in Bouquet Gardens, and the Forbes Craig Apartments are for Honors College students.
At the upper campus of the University, Sutherland Hall can be found, providing residence to a number of Living Learning Communities. Additionally, Panther Hall and Irvis Hall, which offer housing mainly for upperclassmen, are located in the same region. A number of fraternity houses, as well as the Darragh Street Apartments (for medical students near Scaife Hall) are also part of the upper campus.
Upperclassmen in particular often elect to inhabit off-campus locations such as South Oakland within both university-run and independently owned apartments.
Traditions at Pitt
At Pitt, several customs have become ingrained in the lives of students. The oldest of these is “Lantern Night”, which serves as a formal initiation for freshman women into university life. It is tradition for students to step or slide on the former home plate of Forbes Field in the floor of Posvar Hall in the hope of bringing good luck. Another custom, which originated from students wishing for good luck on exams, is to rub the nose of the Millennium Panther outside the William Pitt Union before tests. This tradition has become wider and is used by the university community when seeking fortune, especially before football games or other sports competitions; it was featured in a 2012 Hyundai Tucson national television commercial. The romantic legend says that if lovers kiss on the steps of Heinz Memorial Chapel, they will be married there. The most prestigious custom involves the Omicron Delta Kappa Walk, which is a stone path with the names of Pitt’s Omicron Delta Kappa Senior of the Year award winners between the Cathedral of Learning and Heinz Chapel.
Each year, the Pitt Program Council hosts two traditional festivals, “Fall Fest” and “Bigelow Bash”, which involve activities, bands, and novelties in the area between the William Pitt Union and the Cathedral of Learning. In addition, Honors Convocation is held to recognize students, faculty, alumni, and staff of the university. The Panther Sendoff, a free event open to the public, is also held in Alumni Hall to congratulate the outgoing graduating class. Furthermore, the Nationality Rooms Open House is an annual event that takes place in early December, during which visitors can observe the rooms decorated in traditional holiday styles, as well as enjoy day-long performances of dance and song by various ethnic groups and food and crafts from many of the nationality room’s committees.
The University of Pittsburgh celebrates athletic accomplishments in a variety of ways, such as the “Victory Lights” where the Cathedral of Learning is illuminated after a football victory. The Annual Bonfire and Pep Rally, hosted by the Pitt Program Council, is held before a home football game on the Cathedral of Learning’s lawn and often involves the band, cheerleaders, football team, and giveaways. Homecoming, which takes place annually around a football game, includes a fireworks show and laser-light display between the William Pitt Union and the Cathedral of Learning. Additionally, the Varsity Walk, a path between the Cathedral of Learning and Heinz Memorial Chapel, has the names of former Pitt athletes who have promoted the university through their athletic or academic achievements since 1950 (the Panther and Blue-Gold Awards).
Throughout the academic year, Greek organizations on campus raise money for charitable causes through events such as the Pitt Dance Marathon and Greek Sing. Year-round, these organizations support organizations like the Ronald McDonald House, Make a Wish Foundation, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, and the Pittsburgh Food Bank. Additionally, the Engineer Student Council hosts “E-Week”–a week of activities and competitions designed to display engineering skills and foster friendly competition. Events include Monopoly, Ingenuity, Jeopardy, Assassins, a talent show, relay race, mini-Olympics, and a blood drive. On Friday, there is a parade. On Saturday, a soapbox derby and the “e-ball finale” are held. Each year is designated a unique theme, with each engineering department vying for top honors. Some smaller departments join forces.
Pitt and the Arts
The University of Pittsburgh offers a wide variety of art-related courses and activities through their Pitt Arts program. With a plethora of opportunities for students to explore and create, the university is a great place for those looking to foster their creative side.
In 1997, the University of Pittsburgh created the Pitt Arts program to facilitate student access to the art and culture of the City of Pittsburgh. Through three different initiatives, Art Encounters provides undergraduates with free tickets, transportation, and a catered reception to attend art events with international artists and thinkers. Furthermore, Pitt Arts grants all undergrad and graduate students free admission to the Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Senator John Heinz History Center, Phipps Conservatory, Mattress Factory, and the Andy Warhol Museum by simply presenting their Pitt ID.
The University of Pittsburgh has a student theater program that provides students with opportunities to explore and express their creativity in the performing arts. They are able to engage in a variety of theatrical experiences to develop their skills in this area.
At the University of Pittsburgh, there are a variety of theater groups that come together. One of these is the University of Pittsburgh Stages, the production company of the Department of Theatre Arts. They put on performances of classic plays, contemporary works, and student-directed labs. Moreover, they run the Shakespeare-in-the-Schools program which tours classic theater to K-12 students in the Pittsburgh area. In addition, Friday Nite Improvs, the longest-running theatre show in Pittsburgh, began in 1989 by graduate theatre students and takes place weekly in the Cathedral of Learning’s studio theatre. The Redeye Theatre Project, a festival of one-act plays which are cast, written, and rehearsed in 24 hours, is another group. Lastly, the Pitt Musical Theater Club, founded in 2009, provides undergraduates the opportunity to perform in student-directed musicals and variety shows.
At the University of Pittsburgh, music is an important part of student life. The university provides musical opportunities for its students, such as participating in the many musical groups or taking classes in the music department. It is a great way for students to explore their musical interests and share them with their peers.
The University of Pittsburgh has three choirs that are recognized by the University, listed in founding order:
Established in 1890, the Pitt Men’s Glee Club is the oldest extracurricular organization at the University. It consists of both undergraduates and graduates. The club often performs at university events like graduations, receptions, alumni meetings, and sporting events. Additionally, they participate in several national and international events such as collegiate choirs and musical festivals in the US and Europe.
Established in 1927, the University of Pittsburgh’s Women’s Choral Ensemble is open to all female students, faculty, and staff. During the fall, they lead the lamplighter processional and have a diverse repertoire that includes classical and international folk songs, popular music, and show tunes.[205]
The Heinz Chapel Choir, with a reputation for excellence that has spread world-wide, is an all-student a cappella ensemble that has been providing music for over 70 years.
Vocal Groups from the University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh is the home to a number of a cappella groups. These singing ensembles have come together to form an impressive collection of vocal talent. From traditional collegiate to contemporary chart-topping songs, these groups are sure to impress. Whether you’re looking for a lively performance or an intimate acoustic session, these groups have something for everyone.
Since its founding in 1996, Pitt Pendulums has been the oldest a cappella group on campus. Other co-ed groups include C Flat Run and Pitches and Tones, while Pittch Please and Sounds Like Treble are all-male and all-female respectively. All of the groups participate in on and off-campus events and have competed in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA). Most recently, The Songburghs won first place at the ICCA Central Quarterfinal on February 2, 2019, and placed third at the ICCA Central Semifinal at the University at Buffalo on March 30.
In addition, the Carpathian Ensemble was established in the Department of Music in 1786 and performs Gypsy, Klezmer, Armenian, Moldavian, Ukrainian, and Macedonian music. The University Gamelan, established in 1995, is the largest Sundanese gamelan program in the US and has had an artist-in-residency program every year since 1998.
The University of Pittsburgh Orchestra, formed of both music students and those from the university’s wider community, faculty, staff and members of the public, put on multiple concerts that include not only classic art music pieces but also new works from student composers. Founded in 1969 by saxophonist Dr. Nathan Davis, the Pitt Jazz Ensemble has gone on to perform internationally.Established in 1983 by the Ghanaian ethnomusicologist Dr. Willie O. Anku, the Pitt African Music and Dance Ensemble focuses on African music and dance, as well as drama and visual arts.The Pitt Band, created in 1911, is the University’s varsity marching band and performs at University events and athletic occasions.
Media at the University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh has various student media outlets to keep their students informed and involved. These outlets provide students with a platform to express their creativity and opinions.
WPTS-FM, owned by the University of Pittsburgh, is a non-commercial radio station which provides a variety of student-driven programming. It is broadcasted on 92.1 MHz with a transmission power of 16 watts and is licensed to Pittsburgh.
JURIST, a law-based, research and news service, is administered by Bernard Hibbitts from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. JURIST is the only law school-based network of its kind and is managed by a group of volunteer law student reporters, editors, and web developers.
The Pitt News is a student-run, student-managed newspaper which services the university’s main Oakland campus. It has been published since 1908 and issues are released five days a week during the school year and Wednesday during the summer with a circulation of 14,000 copies each time.
The University of Pittsburgh provides an array of student organizations for its students to take advantage of. These organizations are available for editing on the website.
At the University of Pittsburgh, there are more than 350 student clubs and organizations. Examples of such organizations include:
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- Black Action Society, the student organization for black students at the university, is comprised of nine committees, such as the publication of the student-run BlackLine and community outreach, political action, and programing. Several prominent figures like Cornel West, Spike Lee, and Carol Moseley Braun have given lectures sponsored by BAS.
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- Blue and Gold Society, established in 1991, is a group of student leaders who work to connect the student body and the Pitt Alumni Association.
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- Catholic Newman Club, founded in 1915, is the third oldest student organization at the university. It works in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Oratory of Saint Philip Neri, which offers religious services, and the Fellowship of Catholic University Students to provide students with a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith. Additionally, students can participate in service projects with charitable organizations.
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- Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG), the student government representing all graduate and professional students, serves as the umbrella organization for all of the graduate/professional school student governments. GPSG provides services such as travel grants, legal and financial consulting, and social functions, while also advocating for the needs of these students.
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- Hillel, a pluralistic Jewish community, caters to Pitt undergraduates. On campus and at the Hillel Jewish University Center at 4607 Forbes Avenue, it organizes holiday, interfaith, Jewish education, social action, arts and cultural programming, and weekly Shabbat services and dinner every Friday night.
Oakland Zoo, the university’s student cheering section, is an officially recognized club with more than two thousand members. The group works with the Athletic Department and Pitt Student Government Board in setting student ticket policy and organizing student events.
Pitt Program Council is a campus programming organization that plans and sponsors various activities, including Fall Fest, Bigelow Bash, Homecoming Laser and Fireworks Show, and trips to places like New York City and Cedar Point. It also offers art gallery exhibits, films, horseback riding, sports tournaments, lectures, fitness and dance classes, and a Black and White Ball.
The Student Government Board (SGB) is responsible for representing the needs, interests, and concerns of undergraduates to the university administration. It allocates part of the student activities fee to over five hundred student organizations at Pitt.
Quo Vadis is a student organization that conducts guided tours of the Cathedral of Learning’s 31 Nationality Rooms. ]
Rainbow Alliance is a student advocacy group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and allied students. It hosts an annual drag show to raise money for Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force.
University of Pittsburgh Mock Trial is an extracurricular activity open to Pitt undergraduates that provides a chance to practice litigation through mock trial competitions. Pitt Mock Trial has qualified for the American Mock Trial Association post-season tournaments for the past six years.
At the University of Pittsburgh, Greek life is an important part of the student experience. Joining a fraternity or a sorority can be a great way to make new friends and connections, as well as to become more involved in the campus community.
Athletics at Pitt
The Pittsburgh Panthers, representing the University of Pittsburgh, feature 19 varsity teams that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). This is the highest level of collegiate athletics in the United States.
University-sponsored men’s varsity sports consist of baseball, basketball, cross country, football, soccer, swimming and diving, indoor and outdoor track and field, and wrestling. Women’s varsity sports sponsored by the university are basketball, cross country, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball. All varsity sports teams participate in the Atlantic Coast Conference since 2013, with the exception of gymnastics, which will begin competing in the ACC in 2023. Additionally, the university is a member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference.
In 2012, out of the around 450 athletes from Pitt’s varsity team, 350 had GPA’s higher than 3.0, including 16 with a 4.0, and 174 were named Big East Academic All-Stars or were named to the Big East football team’s all-academic squad.
In addition, there are around 28 teams that partake in non-varsity club sports competitions. [259]
In the autumn of 1909, the University of Pittsburgh became the first college or university to select the puma (Puma concolor) as its mascot. There are ten photographs of Panthers scattered around Pitt’s campus, and additionally, ten fiberglass panther models painted by the Pitt Student Government to illustrate their interests. The oldest depictions are four panthers that situate each corner of the Panther Hollow bridge. Other Oakland locations include inside and outside the William Pitt Union, the Petersen Events Center, a carousel in Schenley Plaza with “Pitt the Panther,” a panther head fountain on the front of the Cathedral of Learning, and a Pitt Panther sculpture outside Acrisure Stadium on the North Side of Pittsburgh.
Pitt Football
At the University of Pittsburgh, football has been a mainstay since 1890. It has been a leader in the sport, from introducing the use of numbers on jerseys to desegregating the Sugar Bowl with Bobby Grier. Legendary coaches and players, like Pop Warner, Jock Sutherland, Marshall Goldberg, Mike Ditka, Tony Dorsett, Hugh Green, Mark May, Dan Marino, Bill Fralic, Curtis Martin, and many more, have all played for the Pitt teams. The teams have nine National Championships and 88 first-team All-Americans to their name. Since 2015, Pat Narduzzi has been the head coach of the football team.
Pitt Basketball
Pitt initiated varsity men’s basketball in 1905 and soon rose to the top, winning two Helms Foundation National Championships in the 1927-28 and 1929-30 seasons. Coach “Doc” Carlson, an inductee of the Naismith Hall of Fame, and National Player of the Year and Hall of Famer Charlie Hyatt led the team. Pitt achieved another Final Four showing in 1941, and appeared in several NCAA tournaments from the 1950s to the 1970s, including an Elite Eight performance in 1974 with All-American Billy Knight. After joining the Big East Conference in 1982, the Panthers went on to gain two Big East regular season titles, with Charles Smith and Jerome Lane as All-Americans. Under Jamie Dixon, Pitt has progressed to a decade of national and conference success, including a number one ranking in multiple polls. Since 2002, Pitt has been in eleven NCAA tournaments, reaching five Sweet Sixteens and one Elite Eight. Pitt has also won three Big East regular season championships, two Big East Tournament Championships, and advanced to six Big East Tournament Championship games prior to joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013.
The Pittsburgh Panthers women’s basketball varsity program began in the 1914-1915 academic year and continued until 1927 before ceasing operations until 1970. Since then, the team has made numerous NCAA, NWIT, and EAIAW tournament appearances. Under the guidance of head coach Agnus Berenato, the Panthers have been a part of post-season tournaments for the past five years – including three NCAA Tournament showings, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen in 2008 and 2009. The current head coach of the men’s basketball team is Jeff Capel.
Other Pitt Athletics
Pitt has a longstanding history of success in intercollegiate athletics, such as John Woodruff’s 800m Olympic gold medal, Roger Kingdom’s two 110m hurdle Olympic golds, and Trecia-Kaye Smith’s seven NCAA and 2005 World Championships in triple jump. The wrestling program is particularly renowned, with 16 individual national champions. The women’s volleyball team has also made a name for itself, winning 11 conference titles and 11 NCAA tournaments since 1974. Swimming and diving has produced several Olympians and won 19 men’s and 9 women’s Big East Championships. Women’s gymnastics is a regular at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship. Baseball, Pitt’s oldest sport, has produced many major league players and been in the national 25, including in 2013. Other Pitt varsity sports – cross country, soccer, softball, and tennis – have also competed at national and conference championships.
Notable Pitt People
University personnel have been prominent in numerous fields, from virology (Jonas Salk), astronomy (John Brashear), aviation (Samuel Pierpont Langley), and psychology (Benjamin Spock). Moreover, the university has been credited for the achievements of many of the “fathers” of various fields such as the “father of radio broadcasting” (Reginald Fessenden), the “father of project management” (David I. Cleland), the “father of CPR” (Peter Safar), and the “father of organ transplantation” (Thomas Starzl).
The university is renowned for its philosophy department, which is named after the Pittsburgh School founded by Wilfrid Sellars, a major proponent of analytic philosophy. Among its faculty members are John McDowell, Robert Brandom, and Nicholas Rescher, all of whom are well-known in their respective fields.
The University of Pittsburgh has seen 31 leaders since the academy days, when the head of school was referred to as Principal; this title was amended to Chancellor in 1872 with a change to the university’s charter. The title of Chancellor has remained, except for a brief modification during Wesley Posvar’s term, when it was changed to President. 287
The University of Pittsburgh has a long list of alumni who have accomplished great things. It is these individuals who have gone on to contribute to their communities and the world at large.
The Pitt Alumni Association, which was established in 1866, and its network of over 50 Pitt Clubs around the world provide support to the University of Pittsburgh’s approximately 330,000 living alumni as of 2019.
Among the University of Pittsburgh’s alumni, three have won the Nobel Prize: Paul Lauterbur ’62 for contributions to magnetic resonance imaging, Philip Hench ’20 for the discovery of cortisone, and Wangari Maathai ’66 for establishing the Green Belt Movement. Other graduates have excelled in their respective fields, such as John Wistar Simpson ’41, a leader in nuclear energy, and Vladimir Zworykin ’26, nicknamed the “father of television”. National Medal of Science recipients include Bert W. O’Malley ’59 & ’63 for his work in steroid hormones, and Herbert Boyer ’63, a founder of Genentech and biotech pioneer. Leonard Baker ’52 and Michael Chabon ’84 have both earned Pulitzer Prizes.
Notable Pitt alumni to have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame include Dan Marino (’83), Mike Ditka (’61) and Tony Dorsett (’77). Clifford Carlson (’18 & ’20) was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and John Woodruff (’39) and Roger Kingdom (’02) have won Olympic gold.
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