University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh is a state-related, doctoral/research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ranked among the highest public universities in the country, it is frequently referred to simply as "Pitt".

Related Topics:
University - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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The University was founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787. It was renamed The Western University of Pennsylvania in 1819 and took its current name in 1908. In 1966 it 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 generally considered a public university.¹ Pitt's endowment is $1.36 billion (2004).

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1787 - 1819 - 1908 - 1966 - Pennsylvania

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Arguably the most famous Pitt professor in history was Jonas Salk, inventor of the first polio vaccine.

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According the Philosophical Gourmet Report, University of Pittsburgh's Philosophy department is ranked 4th in the United States (tied with University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) behind New York University, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, and Princeton University http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/overall.htm.

Related Topics:
Philosophical Gourmet Report - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor - New York University - Rutgers University, New Brunswick - Princeton University

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Pitt's medical school, along with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, is a leading organ transplant center. It performs more kinds of organ transplants than any other institution. http://www.pitt.edu/history/1984.html Pitt is a major center of medical research; in FY 2004, it ranked seventh in NIH funding among American universities but was ranked 13th among hospitals nationwide by USNewshttp://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/honorroll.htm. Particularly topical is Pitt's strength in stem cell science. Additionally, Pitt is widely believed to be a key university in the development of a bioterrorism defense system. George W. Bush has, for this reason, visited the university twice during his presidency http://www.pitt.edu/history/2002d.html.

Related Topics:
NIH - Stem cell - Bioterrorism - George W. Bush

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Pitt is home to the Cathedral of Learning, which at 42 stories and 535 feet makes it the tallest educational building in the western hemisphere and second-tallest in the world.

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JURIST, an authoritative legal news and reseach website, is based at Pitt's law school and is maintianed by its faculty and students.

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Pitt hosts progressive music radio station WPTS. The station's carrier current forerunner was founded by a student group led by Adrian Cronauer, whose career as a military DJ was famously portrayed in the movie Good Morning, Vietnam.

Related Topics:
Carrier current - Adrian Cronauer - Good Morning, Vietnam

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Pitt is tied with University of Georgia at #19 among public universities in the country by U.S. News & World Report in their 2006 university rankings edition http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/natudoc/natudoc_pub_brief.php. It is also tied with University of Georgia at #58 among all national universities http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/natudoc/tier1/t1natudoc_brief.php.

Related Topics:
University of Georgia

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