Pittsburgh, University of, is a state-affiliated university system in Pennsylvania. The system operates a main campus in Pittsburgh and four regional campuses. The University of Pittsburgh was founded in 1787 as the Pittsburgh Academy. It became Western University of Pittsburgh in 1819 and received its present name in 1908. The university is often referred to as “Pitt.” It operates regional campuses in the Pennsylvania communities of Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown, and Titusville.
The central feature of the main campus is the Cathedral of Learning, a 42-story Gothic skyscraper. This structure houses international classrooms that contain artifacts from all over the world.
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System is known worldwide for its organ transplant program. Jonas Salk conducted his research on the polio vaccine while on the faculty of the university’s medical school.
Well-known graduates of the university have included United States Senators Orrin G. Hatch of Utah and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, motion-picture director Werner Herzog, dancer Gene Kelly, football stars Mike Ditka and Dan Marino, philanthropist Andrew Mellon, and television pioneer Vladimir Zworykin. Pitt’s sports teams are nicknamed the Panthers.
The university’s website at https://www.pitt.edu/ offers additional information.
