University of Pittsburgh
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Image:CathedralLawn1.jpg
A view of the Cathedral of Learning on Pitt's campus.
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is an independent, state-related, doctoral/research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1787, Pitt is a renowned leader in academic fields as diverse as philosophy and medicine, and is well known for pioneering work in the development of the first Polio vaccine, among other achievements. Pitt is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt evolved into the Western University of Pennsylvania with an alteration to its charter in 1819. Upon relocating to its current campus in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, the school received its current moniker, the University of Pittsburgh, with a 1908 charter alteration. For most of its history, Pitt was a private institution until it became part of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education in 1966.[3] Pitt has grown from its humble beginnings to a renowned leader in multiple academic disciplines. Along the way, Pitt's ability to withstand pressures to abandon its commitment to liberal education[4][5] has resulted in strong reputations in a myriad of disciplines including philosophy, physics, astronomy, history of science, creative writing, chemistry, business, biological sciences, jazz, engineering, education, international studies, and a variety of medical and health sciences.[6] In 2006 Pitt was placed in the top cluster of 7 leading U.S. public research universities and among the clusters comprising the overall top 26 research universities[7], was ranked in U.S. News & World Reports's top 20 public universities,[8] and has also been recognized as one of the top universities in the world by multiple studies.[9][10][11] Pitt regularly produces internationally recognized scholarship and fellowship award winners.[12] One of 62 elected members of the Association of American Universities, Pitt is among the top universities in total research expenditures and is a top 10 school in National Institute of Health research allocations, bringing in over $430 million a year for biomedical and health science research alone.[13] Pitt and its medical school are also closely affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a leading academic medical center and the most active organ transplant center in the United States. These resources have propelled Pitt to a leadership role in, among other fields, stem cell science, bioterrorism defense, and tissue engineering. Pitt is popularly recognized for its National Landmark centerpiece building, the Cathedral of Learning (at 535 feet (163 m), the second tallest educational building in the world); for its central role in developing the first polio vaccine;[14] and for fielding nationally competitive NCAA Division 1 athletic programs.
History of the UniversityImage:Brackenridge.jpg
Hugh Henry Brackenridge, founder of Pittsburgh Academy in 1787, was a fiery revolutionary, an early supporter of the U.S. Constitution, and is considered America's first novelist.
The FoundingFounded by Hugh Henry Brackenridge as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787, the University of Pittsburgh is among a select group of universities and colleges established in the 18th century in the United States. It is the oldest continuously chartered institution of learning in the U.S., west of the Allegheny Mountains[1]. The school began its life as a preparatory school, presumably in a log cabin, as early as 1770 in Western Pennsylvania, then a frontier. Hugh Henry Brackenridge sought and obtained a charter for the school from the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that was passed by the assembly on February 28, 1787, just ten weeks before the opening of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.[2] [3] A brick building was erected in 1790 on the south side of Third Street and Cherry Alley for the Pittsburgh Academy.[4][5][6] The small two-story brick building, with a gable facing the alley, contained three rooms: one below and two above.[7] The Western UniversityWithin a short period, more advanced education in the area was needed, so in 1819 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania amended the school's 1787 charter to confer university status. The school took the name the Western University of Pennsylvania, or WUP, and was intended to be the western sister institution to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. By 1830, WUP had moved into a new three-story, freestone-fronted building, with Ionic columns and a cupola, near its original buildings fronting the south side of Third Street, between Smithfield Street and Cherry Alley in downtown Pittsburgh. It was in this era that founder of Mellon Bank, Thomas Mellon (Class of 1837), graduated and later taught at WUP. [8][9][10] FiresImage:Pitt1833.jpg
Western University of Pennsylvania, the previous name of Pitt, is depicted in this 1833 oil painting at its location on 3rd Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh.
The University's buildings, along with most of its records and files, were destroyed in the Great Fire of 1845 that wiped out 20 square blocks of Pittsburgh. Classes were temporarily held in Trinity Church until a new building was constructed on Duquesne Way (on what was the site of the former Horne's department store). Only four years later, in 1849, this building also was destroyed by fire. Due to the catastrophic nature of these fires, operations were suspended for a few years to allow the University time to regroup and rebuild. By 1854, WUP had erected a new building on the corner of Ross and Diamond (now Forbes Avenue) streets (site of the present day City-County building) and classes resumed in 1855. It is during this era, in 1867, that Samuel Pierpoint Langley, inventor and aviation pioneer for which Langley Air Force Base is named, was chosen as director of the Allegheny Observatory that was gifted to WUP in 1865. Langley was professor of astronomy and physics and remained at WUP until 1891, when he was succeeded by another prominent astronomer, James Keeler. Growing quickly during this period, WUP outgrew its downtown facilities and the university moved its campus to Allegheny City (present-day North Side).[11][12][13] A move northImage:Pitt1890to1909.jpg
Western University of Pennsylvania's campus on Observatory Hill on Pittsburgh's North Side from 1890 to 1909.
The University eventually found itself on a ten-acre site on the North Side's Observatory Hill at the location of its Allegheny Observatory. There, it constructed two new buildings, Science Hall and Main Hall, that were occupied by 1889 and 1890 respectively. During this era, the first collegiate football team was formed at Pitt in 1889. In 1892, the Western Pennsylvania Medical College was amalgamated into the University. By 1893, the University had graduated its first African-American, William Dammond.[14] In 1895, WUP established its School of Law and Andrew Carnegie and George Westinghouse were elected to the Board of Trustees where they joined Andrew Mellon who was elected in 1894. The Pittsburgh College of Pharmacy and Pittsburgh Dental School also joined the University in 1896. In 1898, the first women, sisters Margaret and Stella Stein, graduated from the University.[15]. During this period, University engineering professor Reginald Fessenden was conducting pioneering work in radio broadcasting. By 1904, playing at Exposition Park, the University had its first undefeated football team.[16][17][18][19] A new name and homeCiting a need to avoid confusion, distinguish itself from the University of Pennsylvania, and return to its roots by identifying itself with the city, the Western University of Pennsylvania, by act of the state legislature, was renamed the University of Pittsburgh in the summer of 1908. During this time, Pitt had also outgrown its accommodations on the North Side of Pittsburgh and its departments had been scattered throughout the city for years. To consolidate all of its components on one campus, WUP bought 43 acres of land in December 1907 in what is now the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh and began relocating departments there by 1909.[20] The initial campus plan for the University centered on the winning submission from a national architectural contest that incorporated a Greek Acropolis design by Henry Hornbostel for 30 buildings.[15] However, due to financial and other constraints, only four of the buildings were constructed in this style, of which only Thaw Hall remains today. A national landmarkIn the 1920s, new university chancellor John Gabbert Bowman declared that he had a vision for a centerpiece "tall building" for the university. The 14 acre Frick Acres property in Oakland was soon purchased and plans for the campus shifted focus from the hillside to a neo Gothic Revival plan that today comprises the Cathedral of Learning, Heinz Memorial Chapel, and the Stephen Foster Memorial buildings. By 1925, Bowman had settled on a design by Charles Klauder for the "tall building": an attention-getting 535-foot (163 m) tower whose great height, with open spaces all around, would suggest the "character that ought to be in an educated man." The building's "parallel lines going up and up...would express courage [and] fearlessness" and it would "unify Pittsburgh into a community conscious of its character." The Cathedral is "cut off" flat at the top to suggest that its lines, like education, have no ending. The building was financed by donors as well as a campaign to collect dimes from local school children. Bowman was a persuasive leader and although the Great Depression intervened, the Cathedral of Learning, on which construction was begun in 1926, was finally finished in 1937. Today, it remains the second-tallest education building in the world and contains an equally-impressive interior highlighted by 26 Nationality Rooms. Image:SalkatPitt.jpg
Jonas Salk developed the first polio vaccine at the University of Pittsburgh.
The Pitt shotIn the early 20th century, epidemics of polio began to hit the United States and other industrialized countries. As hospital wards filled with patients in iron lungs, and tens of thousands were left crippled, fear of contracting polio grew rampant and led to the closing of many public facilities. Meanwhile, Dr. Jonas Salk had set up the University of Pittsburgh's Virus Research Lab in the basement of what is now Salk Hall. By 1951, Salk and his team had begun immunization experiments in monkeys using dead polio virus. Soon, however, Salk began to test inoculations in paralyzed polio patients and by 1953 human trials among the general population were initiated. By the spring of the following year, the largest controlled field trials in medical history were underway and by 1955 the vaccine developed by Jonas Salk and his team of Pitt researchers was declared effective and by 1962 had reduced the incidence of polio in the United States by 95 percent. The breakthroughs in immunology and vaccine development at Pitt by Salk and his team are considered one of the most significant scientific and medical achievements in history.[21][22] State relationsIn 1966, Pitt was designated by Pennsylvania as a state-related university. As such, Pitt receives public funds (currently more than $200 million per annum) and offers reduced tuition to Pennsylvania residents, but is under independent control. It is typically categorized as a public university. Upon affiliation with the state, subsidized tuition led to a massive influx of new students and rapid expansion of Pitt's size and scope. In the 1970s, Pitt's football team returned to greatness with a national championship season in 1976 led by Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett and continued success in the 1980s with players such as Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. In the 1980s, significant medical research in the field of organ transplantation was conducted by Thomas Starzl, establishing Pitt as the world leader in the field of organ transplantation. In 1991, long-time chancellor Wesley Posvar retired after 24 years in office. His administration is best known for elimination of the university's debt from its 1960s financial crisis and growing the school's prestige and endowment. Under Posvar, Pitt's operating budget grew sevenfold to $630 million and its endowment tripled to $257 million. [16] Mark Nordenberg has been chancellor of the University since 1995 and is leading Pitt through a period of substantial progress, including a $2-billion capital-raising campaign that is over half-way toward achieving it goal[23] and a $1-billion 12-year facilities plan.[17] Pitt's endowment in 2007 reached $2.254 billion, a 25 percent increase from 2006. It ranks 28th among all college endowments and 8th nationally among public universities.[18] Location and campusThe University of Pittsburgh campus is in the historic Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, adjacent to Schenley Plaza, the main branch of the Carnegie Public Library, the Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art, and the Carnegie Music Hall. Carlow University is just west of campus, adjacent to the University's medical center complexes. Carnegie Mellon University, Central Catholic High School and historic Schenley Park, site of the Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, lie across Junction Hollow on the east end. Some Pitt professors also hold adjunct professorships at Carnegie Mellon and vice-versa. Pitt's main campus is 132 acres (0.53 km²) and is generally bordered by Darragh Street/McKee Place to the west and Bellefield Avenue/Dithridge Street to the east; Forbes and Fifth avenues traverse the campus from west to east. The campus comprises four general parts: upper (sports complexes, residence halls); mid (Benedum, Chevron, Allen and Thaw Halls); lower (Cathedral of Learning, Union, Posvar Hall); and on the west end of campus, the medical center complex. The focal point of the main campus is the 42-story Cathedral of Learning. This and other University buildings are in the Oakland Civic Center/Schenley Farms Historic District (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) of Pittsburgh.[24] The University of Pittsburgh campus contains an eclectic mix of architecture that includes Greek revival, Neogothic, Italian Renaissance, and modern. It has been termed "a theme park of replica buildings, representing the architecture of the past speaking to the present."[25] Historic BuildingsThere are two University buildings listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places: Allegheny Observatory (in Pittsburgh's Riverview Park on the Northside) and the Cathedral of Learning.[26] Twenty-one of Pitt's buildings (including the 5 residence halls that make up Schenley Quadrangle, see below) are contributing properties to the Schenley Farms-Oakland Civic Center Historic District that has been designated a National Historic District.[27] Due to the historical nature of various sites in or around Pitt's buildings, the state of Pennsylvania has placed historical markers outside the Allegheny Observatory[28], Cathedral of Learning [29], Posvar Hall[30], Salk Hall[31], Stephen Foster Memorial[32], and the William Pitt Union[33]. The significance of Pitt's involvement in the archaeological excavation at the Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Avella, Pennsylvania has been marked[34]. In addition, the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation has designated the following Pitt buildings as Pittsburgh Historic Landmarks: Allegheny Observatory, Allen Hall, Alumni Hall, Bellefield Hall, the Chancellor's residence, Cathedral of Learning, the Cathedral of Learning interior rooms, Gardner Steel Conference Center, Heinz Memorial Chapel, Thaw Hall, Salk Hall, Schenley Quadrangle residence halls, Stephen Foster Memorial, the University Child Development Center, and the William Pitt Union.[19][20] Other Pitt buildings not designated individually as landmarks, but listed among the 17 Pitt-owned contributing properties to the Schenley Farms Historic District, include Clapp Hall, Ruskin Hall, Thackeray Hall, Frick Fine Arts Building, Music Building, University Club, and the University Place Office Building.[35] Buildings not belonging to Pitt, but historic structures within, near, or adjacent to Pitt's campus, include the Carnegie Museum buildings, Frick School, Forbes Field wall remnant, Magee Estate iron fence, the Schenley Fountain, Mellon Institute, Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Schenley High School, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, and the Stephen Foster sculpture. Many of these buildings and their facilities are integrated into the events and activities of the university. Pitt BuildingsThe following major structures are located on Pitt's Oakland campus:
The University's student residence structures consist of the following:
University of Pittsburgh Panthers athletic facilities include:
A major upgrade of on-campus facilities, including a new soccer, baseball, softball, track and field, and band complex, was announced in 2007.
A number of University facilities are located in other locations:
University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterThe University of Pittsburgh Medical Center consists of the following hospitals and facilities in the Oakland area, many of which have shared use with various university departments: UPMC Presbyterian Hospital], UPMC Montefiore Hospital, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Magee-Women's Hospital of UPMC, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Thomas Detre Hall, Eye and Ear Institute, Forbes Tower (home to the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences), Iroquois Building, Kaufman Medical Building, Medical Arts Building, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC's Rangos Research Center, 230 McKee Place, and UPMC University Center. PanthersIn the fall of 1909, the University of Pittsburgh was the first college or university to adopt the panther (Puma concolor) as its mascot.[40] Popular as photo sites, there are ten representations of Panthers in and about Pitt's campus, and ten more painted fiberglass panthers due to be placed over the next year by the Pitt Student Government. The oldest representations are four panthers that guard each corner of the Panther Hollow bridge. Other Oakland locations include both inside and in front of the William Pitt Union, outside the Petersen Events Center, "Pitt the Panther" on the carousel in Schenley Plaza, the Panther head fountain on the front of the Cathedral of Learning, and the Pitt Panther statue outside Heinz Field on Pittsburgh's North Side. EducationThroughout its history, Pitt has been committed to a liberal arts education with a well-rounded curriculum in the arts, sciences, and humanities.[21] Pitt has an increasing emphasis on undergraduate research experience and for providing real-world opportunities such as co-ops and internships.[41] Undergraduate degrees can be earned as Bachelor's of Arts, Bachelor's of Science, and Bachelor's of Philosophy. Along with providing certificate programs, graduate level masters, professional, and doctoral degrees are also awarded. Image:Cathedral of Learning Pittsburgh by Jennifer Yang.jpg
Commons Room in the Cathedral of Learning
SchoolsBachelor's, master's, doctoral and professional programs are offered through the following academic units:
International StudiesPitt’s history of commitment to international education is illustrated by its unique collection of 26 Nationality Rooms on the first and third floors of the Cathedral of Learning. As a demonstration of this commitment, Pitt is one of the country’s leading producers of both Fulbright scholars and Peace Corps volunteers[42][43] and one of only 17 American universities to claim four or more area studies programs that have been competitively designated National Resource Centers by the U.S. Department of Education.[44]
RankingsImage:CathedralLawfromMellon2.jpg
The lawn of the Cathedral of Learning.
The Center for Measuring University Performance[51] has ranked Pitt, along with only six other schools, in the top tier of U.S. public research universities and in the 6th tier (or top 26) among all universities according to its 2006 annual report.[52] In 2007, U.S. News & World Report ranked Pitt 19th among public universities in the United States and #57 among all national universities.[8] Newsweek ranks Pitt 37th in its "The Top 100 Global Universities."[22] Pitt is ranked 48th worldwide in the Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Academic Ranking of World Universities.[53] Pitt ranked 77th out of the top 200 institutions in the world, 28th out of all U.S. institutions, and 9th out out of all public U.S. institutions according to the “Times Higher-QS World University Rankings 2007,” by The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) and Quacquarelli Symonds.[54] Pitt's Department of Philosophy has long been renowned in the U.S. and worldwide, and is especially strong in the areas of mathematical and philosophical logic, metaphysics, history and philosophy of science, philosophy of language, philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of mind and psychology, and semantics.[55][56] The University also is a leader in the field of business studies. The Joseph M. Katz School of Business MBA program is ranked first in the U.S. in "Value for Money," 51st overall in the nation, and its faculty research is ranked 47th in the world by the 2007 Financial Times ranking.[23] The Joseph Katz Graduate School consistently ranks among the top ten public business schools in the U.S. according to The Wall Street Journal. Pitt's law school faculty has been ranked 21st in the nation based upon standard objective measures of scholarly impact.[57] Pitt is home to the Gertrude E. and John M. Petersen Institute of NanoScience and Engineering, which was ranked second in the nation in 2006 for microscale and nanoscale research by the leading global trade publication, Small Times. Pitt also is a global leader in Radio-frequency identification device (RFID) technology, with its research program rated among the top three in the world along with MIT and the University of Cambridge in England.[24] ScholarsIn addition to the three national military academies, Pitt is one of only nine universities, and the only public university, to claim both Rhodes and Marshall Scholars in 2007. Since 1995, Pitt undergraduates have won two Rhodes Scholarships, six Marshall Scholarships, four Truman Scholarships, four Udall Scholarships, a Churchill Scholarship, 29 Goldwater Scholarships, and three Mellon Humanities Fellowships. Pitt alumni have won awards such as the Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel Prize in medicine, the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, the Shaw Prize in medicine, the Albany Prize in medicine, the Fritz Medal in engineering, the Templeton Prize, and the Grainger Challenge Prize for sustainability.[58][59] Pitt is also a leading producer of Fulbright scholars.[60][61] ResearchPitt, one of 62 elected members of the Association of American Universities, has a strong research presence, ranking among the top 25 universities in the country in terms of total research expenditures, [62][63] and 13th in the U.S. in Federal Research expenditures [64][65], and 11th in total federal obligations for science and engineering research and development.[66] Pitt places much emphasis on undergraduate research.[67] Pitt is a major center of biomedical research; in FY 2004, it ranked seventh in the nation in competitive peer-reviewed NIH funding allocations[68] and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center ranked 13th among hospitals nationwide by USNews in 2006.[25] CommunityPitt was one of just seven AAU-member research universities included in a list of "best neighbor" urban colleges and universities released by the president of the New England Board of Higher Education in 2006, which cited these schools as "dramatically strengthening the economy and quality of life in their neighboring communities." [69] Each year, Pitt spends more than $1.5 billion in the community and supports more than 32,000 jobs in Allegheny County. Pitt's research program alone imports more than $600 million into the region each year and supports more than 17,000 local jobs. Pitt students also spend more than $213 million on goods, services, and rental payments within the local economy.[70] Pitt ranked sixth in the number of startups spawned by technologies developed by its researchers according to Association of University Technology Managers.[71] Pitt and its medical school are closely affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. With over 40,000 employees and more than $5 billion in annual revenue, the Medical Center is the largest employer in western Pennsylvania.[72] Through the Pitt Volunteer Pool, faculty and staff members donate more than 10,000 hours annually to community service projects for agencies such as the Salvation Army, Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, and Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Pitt also is a leading producer of Peace Corps volunteers.[73][74] According to the Peace Corps' 2008 ranking of colleges and universities, only 14 schools in the nation produced more Peace Corp volunteers.[75] Pitt's graduate school also ranked 10th for most alumni Peace Corps volunteers.[76] AthleticsImage:PittPanthers.png
The primary logo of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers.
Pittsburgh's sports teams, the "Pitt Panthers," participate in NCAA Division I (Division I-A for football) and in the Big East Conference. In intercollegiate athletics, Pitt’s highest-profile programs, football and men’s basketball, are consistently competitive. Recently, ESPN.com used the Sagarin system to rate universities based on the strength of their performance in football and men’s basketball over the course of the preceding five years. Pitt was tied for 10th as one of the nation’s top dual-sport schools. In a recent all-sports ranking done by Sports Illustrated on Campus, Pitt was ranked 17th among all U.S. universities in terms of the overall strength of its athletic program. Scholar AthletesDuring 2006, of approximately 450 Pitt student athletes, 311 had term grade point averages exceeding 3.0, 23 had a perfect average of 4.0, and 124 were named Big East Academic All-Stars. FootballThe Pitt football team lays claim to nine NCAA National Championships, in 1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937 and 1976. [77] The Panthers have twice won the AP national championship by topping the media polls in 1937 and 1976.[78] Image:Pitt-Script.svg
The "script Pitt" logo served as the primary logo from the early 1970s until 1997.
Pitt Football has a rich history. Pop Warner, Jock Sutherland, Tony Dorsett, Mike Ditka, Joe Schmidt, Marshall Goldberg, Dan Marino, Hugh Green, Mark May, Russ Grimm, Jimbo Covert, Bill Fralic, Rickey Jackson, Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, Chris Doleman, Tony Siragusa, Mark May, Johnny Majors, Jackie Sherrill, Curtis Martin, Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt are just some of the alumni, coaches, and staff that have achieved prominence. Current NFL stars with Pitt Panther ties include Kevan Barlow (Pittsburgh Steelers), Darrelle Revis (Jets), Shawntae Spencer (San Francisco 49ers), Antonio Bryant (49ers), Andy Lee (49ers), Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals), Greg Lee (Cardinals), Gerald Hayes (Cardinals), Nick Goings (Carolina Panthers), Darnell Dinkins (Cleveland Browns), Brandon Miree (Green Bay Packers), Ramon Walker (Houston Texans), Kris Wilson (Kansas City Chiefs), Hank Poteat (New England Patriots), Torrie Cox (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Matt Morgan (St. Louis Rams), Rob Petitti (New Orleans Saints), Lousaka Polite (Cowboys), Ruben Brown (Chicago Bears), H. B. Blades (Redskins) Clint Session (Colts), Tyler Palko (Saints), former Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden. The football team moved into Heinz Field in 2001 from its long-time home at Pitt Stadium, which was built in the 1920s. The upper section of the Cathedral of Learning is still illuminated with blue and gold lights after each football victory. Former NFL head coach and Pitt alum Dave Wannstedt was hired in late 2004 as head football coach. Although Pitt had a lot of success the previous five years under former head coach Walt Harris, many fans hoped Wannstedt's pedigree and record as a coach in both the pro and college game would be a catalyst to rekindle the glory days of the football program during the 1970s and early 1980s. Although Wannstedt's team compiled a record of only five wins against six losses in his first year, the team narrowly missed a sixth-straight bowl bid and the coaching staff was able to put together one of the best incoming high school recruiting classes in the country. BasketballMain articles: Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball and Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball Pitt's men's basketball team has won national championships in 1928 and 1930. From 2001–2007, the Panthers (under first Ben Howland and then Jamie Dixon) have been one of the most successful programs in major college basketball, winning three straight Big East regular season titles, and the Big East Tournament in 2003. They also have had success in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to three straight "Sweet 16" appearances from 2002–2004. Pitt basketball compiled one of the nation's three best winning percentages (0.846 with an 88-16 record) from 2001 through 2004. The Ben Howland/Jamie Dixon era has produced many memorable players at Pitt, although only two, Chris Taft of the Golden State Warriors and Aaron Gray of the Chicago Bulls, played so much as one game in the NBA (Brandin Knight was briefly on the Houston Rockets' roster but did not play). Current Pitt graduates that are still playing in the NBA include Gray, and Marc Blount (Miami Heat), who did not graduate from Pitt, but played during the 1996-97 season. During the 2006–2007, Pitt reached a ranking as high as No. 2 and was invited to its sixth-straight NCAA tournament appearance, reaching the "Sweet 16" for the fourth time in six years. Women's basketball at Pitt has reached new heights under head coach Agnus Benerato, reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2006–2007 before falling to eventual national champion Tennessee. Olympic SportsImage:PittSecondaryPantherHead.jpg
The secondary logo of Pitt athletics is a stylized panther head, modified in 2007 from an early 1997 version.
Pitt has had a long history of success in other intercollegiate athletic events. In Track and Field, Pitt has produced several Olympic and NCAA champions such as 800m Olympic gold medalist John Woodruff, two-time 110m hurdle Olympic gold medalist Roger Kingdom, and seven-time NCAA champion and 2005 World Champion triple jumper Trecia-Kaye Smith.[79] The wrestling program has a rich history and is among the leaders in producing individual national champions with 15.[80] Pitt's women's volleyball team is the 12th winningest program in the nation[81] and has won 11 Big East championships and appeared in 11 NCAA tournaments since the program began in 1974.[82] Pitt's swimming and diving teams have produced several Olympians and won 19 men's and nine women's Big East Championships since joining the conference in 1983. Pitt women's gymnastics has qualified for the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship in all but two years in the past ten seasons.[83] Baseball, Pitt's oldest sport, has produced many major league players and has become a regular participant in the Big East post-season championship.[84] Other sports have also found success to varying degrees. Support GroupsThe history-rich Pitt Band was founded in 1911 and performs at athletic and other events. The Pitt cheerleaders have won multiple cheerleading national championships, including three straight from 1992–1994. The Pitt dance team also has been competitive in national competitions.[85][86] Pitt PeopleHeads of the UniversityThe University of Pittsburgh has had many individual lead it throughout its history. During the academy days, the title of Principal was worn by the head of the school. Due to fires, early records are incomplete. When Pittsburgh Academy transitioned into the Western University, the title was changed to Chancellor. This title has lasted except for a brief change during Wesley Posvar's administration when it was transiently switched to President. Samuel McCormick oversaw the name change from the Western University of Pennsylvania to the University of Pittsburgh in 1908 and is therefore listed with the chancellors of the University of Pittsburgh. Acting chancellors are also included in the list below. For more information on past heads of the University, and for photos, please see Pitt History: Heads of the University. Image:HollandPitt.jpg
William Jacob Holland served as Chancellor from 1891-1901, and was also a world renowned entomologist.
Pitt Alumni and FacultyPitt alumni have won a wide range of awards and prizes that include the Academy Award, the Super Bowl, the Nobel, and the Pulitzer. Others include awards from the National Medal of Arts, the National Medal of Science, and the National Medal of Technology.[87][88][89]
Student lifeTraditionsAnnual Bonfire and Pep Rally hosted by the Pitt Program Council is held prior to or during some football games. Held on the lawn of the Cathedral of Learning, it often involves the band, cheerleaders, football team, visiting dignitaries, and giveaways.[90][91] Forbes Field Home Plate Slide is a tradition for good luck on midterm and finals in which students slide into or step on a former home plate from Forbes Field, where the Pittsburgh Pirates played for many seasons. The plate is on display inside Posvar Hall near its original location.[92][93][94][95] Homecoming, as in other universities, revolves around one home football game each year. Pitt's homecoming involves activities hosted by the Pitt Program Council highlighted by fireworks and a laser-light display between the William Pitt Union and the Cathedral of Learning. This is followed by Casino Night in the union, the football game, and a homecoming cruise on a Gateway Clipper Party Liner.[96][97][98] Honors Convocation is a ceremony begun in 1977 that is typically held in late winter to present awards and recognition for academic and service achievements of the students, faculty, alumni, and staff throughout the schools and departments of the university.[99] Lantern Night is an annual ceremony, initiated in 1921 one of the University’s longest standing traditions. It is a formal induction for freshman women to university life and unites them as they begin their education at Pitt. Traditionally held on the evening before the first day of classes, the ceremony today takes place in Heinz Chapel. Part of the Lantern Night tradition is for a distinguished alumna to give the freshman address, while other distinguished alumnae are flame bearers who light the lanterns given to each freshman woman as a keepsake.[100][101] Night of the Panther is an annual ceremony for welcoming freshman men that corresponds to Lantern Night. The ceremony typically takes place in Alumni Hall where men are presented with pins to symbolize strength.[102] Omicron Delta Kappa Walk is a stone walkway between the Cathedral of Learning and Heinz Memorial Chapel that contains the engraved names of Pitt's Omicron Delta Kappa Senior of the Year award winners. The walk is the only one of its kind in the country.[103] Panther Sendoff is an annual free reception typically held in Alumni Hall to congratulate each year's graduating class and wish them well.[104] University of Pittsburgh Annual Jazz Seminar and Concert is a fall lecture and concert series founded by Dr. Nathan Davis, professor in the Music Department, and University officials in 1970. Renowned jazz musicians, critics, and historians lead seminar sessions for students and others in the local jazz community. These sessions are free and open to the public and deal with topics ranging from entering the music business to practice techniques, composing, arranging, and individual instrument mastery. Previous musicians who have attending include Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, and Max Roach.[105] Varsity Walk is a walkway between the Cathedral of Learning and Heinz Memorial Chapel on which is carved the names of former Pitt athletes (each year since 1950) who have promoted the University through their athletic (Panther Award) or academic (Blue-Gold Award) achievements.[106] Victory Lights is a tradition where golden flood lights illuminate the top of the Cathedral of Learning after every home football victory.[107][[108][109] E-Week is a spring celebration organized by the Engineer Student Council for a week-long, fun-filled series of activities and competitions to demonstrate engineering skills and foster a spirit of camaraderie. Activities include games such as Monopoly, Ingenuity, Jeopardy, Assassins, and include a talent show, relay race, mini-Olympics, and blood drive. The festivities reach climax with a parade on Friday, a soapbox derby on Saturday, and the `e-ball finale` on Saturday evening. Each year, a unique theme is chosen. Each engineering department competes against the others, while some smaller departments join forces.[110][111] Student ProgramsBigelow Bash is a spring festival held by the Pitt Program Council between the William Pitt Union and the Cathedral of Learning, involving a range of activities, novelties, and bands. Fall Fest is a fall festival held by the Pitt Program Council between the William Pitt Union and the Cathedral of Learning, also involving a range of activities, novelties, and bands. Pitt Arts is a program started by the University to encourage students to explore and connect to the art and cultural opportunities of the City of Pittsburgh via three programs. Art Encounters provides trips to arts events for undergrads that include free tickets, transportation, a catered reception, and encounters with international artists and thinkers. Free Visits grants undergrad and grad students free admission using their Pitt IDs 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. Cheap Seats is a program that everyone at Pitt can use to take advantage of deeply-discounted tickets to the most sought-after arts events in the area, including the Pittsburgh ballet, opera, symphony, theater, concerts, and other cultural district activities.[112] Student OrganizationsPitt Program Council, The Pitt Program Council is the all-campus programming organization at the University of Pittsburgh. Comprised of eight student committees:Advertising, Arts, Lecture, Leisure Learning, Public Relations, Recreation, Special Events, and Travel, Pitt Program Council offers an unlimited variety of programs and ways to get involved. Each committee is headed by a student Director, and committee members plan and execute dozens of events each semester, such as Fall Fest and Bigelow Bash, Homecoming Laser and Fireworks Show, trips to New York City, Cedar Point, and spring break in Panama City Beach, FL, art gallery exhibits, films, horseback riding, sports tournaments, lectures, fitness and dance classes, and Black and White Ball. All planning committees are open to student involvement at any time.[113] Blue and Gold Society, founded in 1991, is a group of undergraduate student leaders chosen as liaisons between the student community and the Pitt Alumni Association.[114] Pitt Pathfinders is a student-run organization that hosts campus tours, assists prospective students in making well-informed college-related decisions, and promotes Pitt pride. [115] Quo Vadis is a student organization that conducts guided tours and interpretations of the Cathedral of Learning's 26 nationality rooms.[116] William Pitt Debating Union is a co-curricular program and hub for a wide range of debating activities, including intercollegiate policy debate, public debate, and debate outreach. 1981 National Debate Tournament champions[26], it has qualified for the National Debate Tournament forty times[27] and is one of the oldest organizations of its kind in the nation, growing from the University’s Division of Public Speaking in 1912.[117] Greek Week Greek Week is a year long initive for the Greek organizations on campus to raise money for different charitable organizations through different events. The two biggest events each year are the Pitt Dance Marthon and Greek Sing. The Pitt Greeks have signed a contract with the Hilman Cancer Research Center to raise $500,000 over the next five years. [118] Student theaterImage:StephenfosterDoors.jpg
Pitt's Stephen Foster Memorial contains two theaters.
Student MusicHeinz Chapel Choir is an accomplished and well-known a cappella choir consisting entirely of Pitt students.[120] Pitt Men's Glee Club, founded in 1890, is the oldest extracurricular club on campus. The club includes both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as staff members from throughout the University. Traditionally, the Glee Club has sung for a variety of campus-wide and community functions, including graduations, receptions, alumni gatherings, sporting events, and chancellor's events.[121] Pitt Jazz Ensemble, founded in 1969, has been recognized internationally as one of the best collegiate jazz groups. Under the direction of Dr. Davis, the ensemble has performed around the world.[122] Student Media
Greek Life
In 2005 the University of Pittsburgh Greek system raised a total of $119,000, and $101,000 in 2006 for the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. This is part of the Pittsburgh Greek system's 5 year pledge to raise $500,000 for the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.[28] Regional campusesRegional campuses offer Master's, Bachelor's, and Associate's degrees at four locations in Western Pennsylvania. They also allow students to take preliminary courses and relocate to other regional campuses or the Oakland campus to complete their degrees. They offer several degrees and certificates:
References and notes
Pittsburgh Campus Gallery
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