PRINTER'S NO. 3003
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
759
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY FRANKEL, MAHER, SACCONE, BURNS, COHEN,
CALTAGIRONE, READSHAW, P. COSTA, THOMAS, MARKOSEK, BAKER,
LONGIETTI, ENGLISH, RAVENSTAHL, D. COSTA, CONKLIN, GERGELY,
DUSH, SONNEY, O'NEILL, MILLARD, MURT, VEREB, GODSHALL,
HEFFLEY, KINSEY, MACKENZIE, KIRKLAND, WHEELAND, NEILSON,
WATSON, DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, MARSICO, ROSS, V. BROWN, SAINATO,
WARD, DEASY, GIBBONS AND EVERETT, MARCH 22, 2016
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 22, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Designating March 22, 2016, as "Pitt Day in Harrisburg."
WHEREAS, The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) was founded in
1787, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher
education in the United States; and
WHEREAS, A State-related institution since 1966, Pitt
continues to advance its mission as a leader in education, a
pioneer in research and a partner with the Commonwealth in
economic development; and
WHEREAS, As one of the largest institutions of higher
education in this Commonwealth, Pitt is home to approximately
25,000 undergraduate students and more than 10,000 graduate
students; and
WHEREAS, Pitt is one of the nation's best institutions for
undergraduate education according to The Princeton Review's
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2016 edition of its annual college guide, The Best 380 Colleges;
and
WHEREAS, Thomson Reuters ranked Pitt 30th on its list of the
world's 100 most innovative universities in 2015, based on such
criteria as research output and patent filings; and
WHEREAS, Pitt was the only Pennsylvania public college or
university included in The Princeton Review-USA TODAY national
"Best Value Colleges for 2014" list, based on academic quality,
cost and financial aid; and
WHEREAS, Pitt ranks seventh nationally in federally financed
research and development expenditures and ranks fifth among all
American universities in terms of the competitive grants awarded
to members of its faculty by the National Institutes of Health;
and
WHEREAS, For the 11th consecutive year, Pitt has been ranked
as the top value among all public universities in Pennsylvania
by Kiplinger's Personal Finance; and
WHEREAS, Victory Media named Pitt a 2015 Military Friendly
School, a designation that recognizes the top 15% of United
States colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing
the most to ensure the success of veterans inside and outside of
the classroom; and
WHEREAS, U.S. News & World Report ranks Pitt's Bradford,
Greensburg and Johnstown campuses among the best baccalaureate
colleges in the northern United States; and
WHEREAS, Each year, Pitt confers thousands of undergraduate,
graduate and professional degrees; and
WHEREAS, In recent years, Pitt alumni have won numerous
awards and accolades, including the Nobel Peace Prize, Nobel
Prize in Medicine, Pulitzer Prize for fiction, National Book
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Award for Poetry, Fritz Medal in engineering and National Medal
of Science; and
WHEREAS, Pitt undergraduates have won 7 Rhodes Scholarships,
9 Marshall Scholarships, 11 Truman Scholarships, 8 Udall
Scholarships, 1 Gates Cambridge Scholarship, 2 Churchill
Scholarships and 45 Goldwater Scholarships; and
WHEREAS, Pitt has earned status as an academic standout in
the world of higher education and an economic powerhouse in
western Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Pitt employs more than 13,000 Pennsylvania residents
at its main campus and campuses in Bradford, Greensburg,
Johnstown and Titusville; and
WHEREAS, Pitt provides approximately $188 million in State
and local tax revenue and generates an economic impact of $3.7
billion for the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, This year marks the 20th year of "Pitt Day in
Harrisburg"; and
WHEREAS, "Pitt Day in Harrisburg" is sponsored by Pitt
Advocates and the Pitt Alumni Association in partnership with
the Office of Community and Governmental Relations of the
University of Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, "Pitt Day in Harrisburg" has given members of the
General Assembly an opportunity to talk with alumni, faculty and
students about their work and to gain a firsthand perspective of
the challenges and changes facing public higher education; and
WHEREAS, Pitt's "Legislative Day" started as a small
breakfast gathering, attended predominantly by local legislative
staff, in the chancellor's office on campus; and
WHEREAS, This event has evolved into "Pitt Day in
Harrisburg," a daylong celebration of the university and its
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accomplishments in the Capitol; and
WHEREAS, "Pitt Day in Harrisburg" has become an annual
opportunity for Pitt's alumni and friends to advocate for the
university; and
WHEREAS, "Pitt Day in Harrisburg" is regularly enjoyed by
members of the Governor's administration, General Assembly,
their staff, alumni and friends of the university; therefore be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate March
22, 2016, as "Pitt Day in Harrisburg" and recognize the
tremendous impact the University of Pittsburgh has on this
Commonwealth.
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