Robert Gregerson: Continuing the Pitt-Pennsylvania partnership
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At the University of Pittsburgh’s Greensburg campus, community is important to us. In fact, it’s what drives us. As a community member for nearly 60 years, we have a long history of educating local students in a supportive environment, helping them gain the tools and opportunities necessary to stay here and thrive.
Today, more than 90% of Pitt-Greensburg students are from Pennsylvania and more than 80% of our graduates remain in the state after graduation.
This means that families don’t have to stretch across the country. Generations of Pennsylvania families can stay together, and Pitt-Greensburg graduates can contribute — right away — to our local workforce and regional economy. As a campus community, in fact, our statewide impact tops nearly $80 million annually.
Our role as a strong community anchor is by design: It’s fueled by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which helps in-state students pay significantly less in tuition — about 46% less — than students from other states.
This benefit matters. As a regional campus, we’re especially connected to the people who live and work around us. We shop in the same stores as our neighbors. We also go to the same restaurants and support the same teams. Our academic mission is a priority. But so, too, is our active role in the Greensburg community.
Some examples:
We launched Westmoreland County’s first accredited Bachelor of Science in nursing program, a move that aims to fill a severe talent gap by training more nurses in our community.
Each year, our students and employees collectively invest over 5,200 hours volunteering for familiar organizations and causes.
We provide meeting space and support to local employers and organizations, keeping their business in Westmoreland County.
We welcome military families with open arms. We have earned a Military Friendly School designation for 12 consecutive years.
We’re also an incredible value for Pennsylvania’s students and their families. Since 2018, the Washington Monthly has recognized Pitt-Greensburg for giving students “the Best Bang for the Buck.” The Student Loan Report has touted us as a college that graduates students with low levels of educational debt. And University HQ has ranked us as a top college, in terms of affordability, for students earning a health care management degree.
These accolades aren’t outliers. For Pitt-Greensburg’s entire existence, we’ve partnered with the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to help in-state students advance their education and stay local for their careers.
Our partnership works like this: The commonwealth provides us with funding that we supplement to make a Pitt education more affordable for Pennsylvania families. The total discount is significant. Each in-state Pitt-Greensburg student saves about $12,000 each year, on average, or nearly $48,000 over their four-year college career.
For the last few years, for reasons that I don’t understand, this appropriation has been endangered. What I do understand, however, is that further decreases in state support would impact 100% of our in-state students.
From my perspective, our record of success is undeniable. The simple math involved is powerful. And the stakes are high. We need politicians in Harrisburg to step up and support Pitt. In doing so, they will enable our campus to continue doing what we do best: educating local students, supporting local businesses, and fueling our local workforces and regional economy.
Our elected officials should be partnering with us in the same way that we’ve worked with local students, residents and businesses to support their success. We’re all in this together, and that’s why I’m asking state lawmakers representing Westmoreland County to continue supporting the University of Pittsburgh and, in doing so, to continue investing in Pennsylvania’s students, families and future.