University of Pittsburgh at Bradford

University of Pittsburgh at Bradford

Motto	Veritas et Virtus (Latin)
Motto in English	Truth and Virtue
Type	Regional campus State-related
Established	1963; 58 years ago (1963)
Endowment	$30.9 million (2020)[1]
Chancellor	Patrick D. Gallagher
President	Richard Esch (interim)
Academic staff	98[2]
Students	1,317[2]
Location	Bradford , Pennsylvania , United States
Campus	Rural, 470 acres (1.9 km2)
Colors	Pitt Royal and Pitt Gold
Athletics	NCAA Division III – AMCC
Nickname	Panthers
Website	www.upb.pitt.edu

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (Pitt-Bradford or UPB) is a state-related college in Bradford, Pennsylvania. It is a baccalaureate degree-granting, regional campus of the University of Pittsburgh.

History[]

Founding[]

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford was founded in 1963 in response to a shortage of higher education institutions in the northcentral/northwestern region of Pennsylvania. While Pennsylvania State University had previously offered courses in Bradford in 1933 and 1948, these arrangements lasted only a year and, at the time of Pitt-Bradford’s establishment, there were no opportunities for tertiary learning in the surrounding six-county area. To address this, local leaders reached out to University of Pittsburgh chancellor Edward Litchfield advocating for a permanent presence in the region. During the early correspondence, Litchfield was evaluating the feasibility of several sites in Western Pennsylvania with the goal of increasing the university’s footprint. Pitt had previous success establishing extension centers and junior colleges, particularly the Johnstown Junior College in Cambria County in 1927, a model which served as the inspiration for the Penn State commonwealth campuses, and which the Litchfield administration now planned to incorporate into Pitt’s expansion.^[3]

Edward Litchfield, 12th chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh, led the efforts to establish the Bradford Campus

Among Pitt’s primary concerns was the interest of local communities in maintaining a regional campus, as well as their ability to financially support one. Once the university leadership settled on Bradford and two other locations, Litchfield’s administration worked with officials in the Bradford area to acquire funding and facilities for the new venture, including classrooms, dormitories, and a library, as well as new faculty. To support the college’s establishment and growth, local philanthropists and businesses exceeded the University’s fundraising target by more than thirty percent.^[4] The first class arrived in the fall of 1963 and consisted of 143 full-time and 145 part-time students. In 1966, the University of Pittsburgh, a private university since its founding, became a state-related institution upon joining the Commonwealth System of Higher Education. This affiliation provided access to public funding, which Pitt-Bradford used to expand its programs and campus.^[5] While the college was originally located in Bradford’s downtown area, in the 1970s it moved to its current location just outside the city limits, putting down roots on a section of land collectively donated by Witco-Kendall Corporation, the City of Bradford, and Bradford Township.^[6]

1980 to present[]

Initially a two-year institution for students intending to transfer to the Pittsburgh campus, UPB received baccalaureate degree-granting status in 1979. Under the leadership of President Richard McDowell, the campus continued to experience growth throughout the 1980s and 1990s, expanding its academic programs, physical plant, and forging its identity as a four-year residential college. As part of this process, the campus continued revising its curriculum to include foundational liberal arts courses, ensuring that students received an eclectic education and exposure to various disciplines, in addition to their major coursework.^[7]

In 2013, the college celebrated its 50th anniversary, now having over 10,000 alumni from all 50 states and several countries around the world. This year, the University of Pittsburgh conferred its first honorary degree from the Bradford Campus to opera star Marilyn Horne, in recognition of her support of the campus and local community. It was also marked by the unveiling of the panther statue on the Bromeley Quadrangle. A study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh Center for Social and Urban Research found that UPB was now generating nearly $70 million in annual economic activity for the region.^[8] On July 1, 2021, Richard Esch, Pitt-Bradford’s Vice President for Business Affairs, assumed the role of interim president.^[9]

Campus[]

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford is located just outside the city limits of Bradford, Pennsylvania in Bradford Township, rural McKean County, PA, near the Allegheny National Forest. The 470-acre campus, bordered by the Tungungwant Creek and the adjacent McDowell Trail, has 37 buildings, including sixteen residence halls and an athletics complex. The structures combine a modern architectural style with rustic features, designed to complement the area’s natural surroundings.^[10]

Bromeley Quadrangle[]

The center of campus is the Bromeley Quadrangle, where UPB's primary administrative and academic buildings are located. Swarts Hall, Pitt-Bradford's first academic building, is home to several disciplines, including business, economics, history, education, nursing, political science, and sociology. The building also houses several multimedia classrooms, a CIS&T lab, and the Office of Academic Affairs. Fisher Hall contains the science and engineering faculty and is the location for classes in biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, petroleum technology, and energy science and technology. It is also home to the science labs and two computer-aided learning centers, known as CALC labs. The campus greenhouse is atop the building. Fisher Hall's chemistry and biology laboratories received nearly $6 million in upgrades in 2010.^[11]

The Frame-Westerberg Commons is the student center. Positioned in front of the commons is a 10.5 foot-long (3.2m) bronze panther statue created by Bradford native David Hodges. The panther, which stands on top of a rock originating from the same quarry that provided stone for the Pittsburgh campus’ Cathedral of Learning, was unveiled in honor of the 50th anniversary of the school's opening on September 3, 2013.^[12]

Hanley Library, the final building constructed on the quad, contains more than 95,000 books. The library also provides access to 400 electronic databases, 50,000 e-journals, 300,000 e-books and other electronic resources. The Bradford campus has access to the University of Pittsburgh's scholarly resources, including 20 libraries and more than 6 million books through the University Library System. Hanley Library is home to the Academic Success Center, the Academic Advising Center, the Writing Center, and TRIO Student Support Services, which provides academic assistance to students. The Hanley Library Cafe is located inside near the foyer.

With 6,148,036 volumes held, the University of Pittsburgh Library System is the 29th largest library and 21st largest university library in the United States. It is also the 2nd largest library in Pennsylvania, behind only the University of Pennsylvania.^[13]

Other buildings[]

Across the "loop" on Campus Drive, Blaisdell Hall is Pitt-Bradford's fine arts and communication arts building and is home to the broadcast communications, public relations, interdisciplinary arts, theater and music programs. It features all-digital television and radio studios, the 500-seat Bromeley Family Theater, art studios, a music rehearsal hall, lighting and sound booths, and music theory and technology studios. The building is also home to the KOA Art Gallery, which hosts various exhibitions of traditional and new genre art.^[14]

The CSI House is home to the criminal justice program. In this facility, students are instructed on how to process a crime scene and collect evidence using some of the same equipment and technologies as many professional law enforcement agencies. Located next to the CSI House is the Ceramics Studio for the arts faculty and students.

The Richard E. and Ruth McDowell Sport and Fitness Center contains a performance arena, where the basketball and volleyball teams compete, as well as a fitness center, an NCAA-regulation natatorium, an athletic training room, a dance studio, and the McDowell Field House. It is also houses facilities for the exercise science and athletic training majors, including a physiology lab.

The Hangar Building, a former airplane hangar, contains the Office of Enrollment Services and Registrar, the Office of Financial Aid and the Office of Business Affairs. The Systems and Network Administration Practice (SNAP) lab for the CIS&T program also resides here. Wick Chapel, a $2.5 million, 150-seat, multipurpose, nondenominational chapel was dedicated on September 30, 2010.^[15][16]

Pitt-Bradford's Marilyn Horne Hall is located off-campus in downtown Bradford, and houses the university's Marilyn Horne Museum

Marilyn Horne Hall, formerly the Seneca Building, is located in downtown Bradford and contains the offices and classrooms of the Division of Continuing Education and Regional Development and the Center for Rural Health Practice. Its ground floor is also home to the Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center which displays rotating selection of artifacts from the Marilyn Horne archives housed at the University of Pittsburgh.^[17][18]

Organization and administration[]

The University of Pittsburgh, Bradford is a regional campus of the University of Pittsburgh, one of four institutions composing the Commonwealth System of Higher Education. The campus' chief administrator is the President, who is assisted by an advisory board.^[19] The presidents of the regional campuses, along with the heads of the university's 17 other schools and colleges, are under the purview of the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor at the Pittsburgh campus, who reports to the Chancellor.^[20]

The college has five academic divisions: Behavioral and Social Sciences, Biological and Health Sciences, Communication and the Arts, Management and Education, and Physical and Computational Sciences.^[21]

Pitt-Bradford houses the University of Pittsburgh Center for Rural Health Practice, the Allegheny Institute of Natural History, the American Refining Group/Harry R. Halloran Jr. Energy Institute, and the Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center. Since 2012, UPB has overseen the operations of the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville. A two-year regional campus, UPT offers associate degree programs and professional training through the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville Education and Training Hub.^[22][23]

The University of Pittsburgh, including Pitt-Bradford and other regional campuses, is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.^[24]

Academics[]

The campus offers 115 academic programs consisting of 43 majors, 50 minors, 20 pre-professional programs and two graduate programs. The largest degree programs by enrollment are biology, computer information systems and technology (CIS&T) [1], business management, nursing, and criminal justice. In addition to liberal arts and sciences such as English, history and political science, psychology, and chemistry, the university offers professional programs in accounting, broadcast communications, and hospitality management. Pitt-Bradford also confers interdisciplinary degrees in forensic science and environmental studies.^[25] Graduate programs include a Master of Science in Nursing and a Master of Social Work. The MSN and MSW degrees are administered by the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing and School of Social Work.^[26]

The student/faculty ratio is 15:1 and the average class size is 18, with 66% of courses having fewer than 20 students, 29% having fewer than 10 students, and 1% having 50 or more students.^[27][28] All courses are taught by faculty, rather than graduate assistants. Internship and research opportunities are also available to students through partnerships with area businesses and industries.

Rankings and recognition[]

U.S. News & World Report's 2021 edition of Best Regional Colleges - North ranked Pitt-Bradford 19th (tied) overall.^[29] The campus also received the following specialty rankings:

UPB was ranked 57th in the nation among baccalaureate colleges by Washington Monthly in 2020,^[30] 8th in the nation for satellite campuses by The Best Colleges in 2019,^[31] and is named to the list of "Best Colleges in the Northeastern Region" by The Princeton Review.^[32] In 2016, it was also named to The Princeton Review Guide to 361 Green Colleges, which recognizes environmentally responsible colleges.^[33]

In 2019, the University of Pittsburgh launched the Pitt Success Pell Match Program, which provides Pell Grant recipients across the university with matching funds to lower the cost of attendance.^[34] Previously, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, along with Georgia State University, the University of California, San Diego, and ten other public universities, was recognized by the administration of President Barack Obama for its high enrollment and graduation rates among students receiving Pell Grants.^[35]

International studies[]

The University Center for International Studies (UCIS), located at the Pittsburgh campus, facilitates more than 350 study abroad programs in over 75 countries, providing UPB students in all majors the opportunity to participate in global education experiences. Programs offered by UCIS include: Panther Programs, with Pitt faculty developing curricula and leading students on overseas excursions, two-way exchange programs with foreign universities, and third-party programs approved by Pitt. Both the university and the Bradford campus offer scholarship opportunities for study abroad.^[36]

Pitt-Bradford coordinates additional programs through the campus' study abroad office,^[37] and offers the university's only undergraduate major in international affairs, which integrates foreign language study with coursework in politics, economics, and management.^[38]

Student life[]

Pitt-Bradford is a residential college, with most students (including 86% of freshmen) living on campus in one of the fourteen residence halls. UPB has over 60 student clubs and organizations, several fraternities and sororities, and numerous intramural sports leagues. Student media include: The Source, the college newspaper, WDRQ Campus Radio, Pitt-Bradford's radio station, and Baily’s Beads, a literary magazine featuring work from the campus community.

The student union is the Frame-Westerberg Commons. The Commons houses the campus dining room, as well as the Panther Shop, which serves as the campus bookstore and also features an after-hours convenience store; the Commons Cafe, where students can get a meal while sitting by the fireplace; the mail center; a game room; meeting space for student organizations; a lounge area; and the Mukaiyama University Room, where various events are held.^[39]

Housing[]

Student residences are primarily apartment-style and townhouse-style. Each unit houses two to five students, and rooms are either single or double occupancy. There are three types of residence halls: Suites (Lester and Barbara Rice House, Reed-Coit House, Sarah B. Dorn House and Howard L. Fesenmyer House), townhouses (Emily Dickinson House, Ernest Hemingway House, Herman Melville House, T.S. Eliot House and Gertrude Stein House), and garden apartments (Willa Cather House, F. Scott Fitzgerald House, James Baldwin House and William Faulkner House). First-year students reside in Livingston Alexander House, a $17 million LEED-certified complex constructed in 2018 and featuring study lounges and fitness areas.^[40]

Athletics[]

UPB's athletics logo incorporates a "P" into an abstract Panther

The University of Pittsburgh, Bradford is an NCAA Division III institution and a charter member of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. Pitt-Bradford student athletes compete in 14 varsity sports: men's baseball, basketball, wrestling, golf, soccer, swimming, and tennis along with women's basketball, bowling, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and volleyball. UPB also has an ice hockey program, which competes at the club sports level.

The KOA Arena is home to the basketball and volleyball programs, while the swimming team competes in the Paul C. Duke III Aquatic Center, which features a performance arena and an NCAA-regulation, six-lane swimming pool. The baseball, softball and soccer teams play at the Kessel Athletic Complex, whose facilities include the baseball/softball field, soccer field and tennis and basketball courts.

Pitt-Bradford's athletic programs hold a combined 16 conference titles and have appeared in several NCAA Division III tournaments.^[41]

References[]

Works cited[]

• Mershon, Sherie (2014). A History of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. University of Pittsburgh Press.

External links[]

• Official website

Coordinates: 41°56′39″N 78°40′23″W / 41.944200°N 78.672937°W / 41.944200; -78.672937