HIGHLIGHTS OF ONGOING PROGRESS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

Progress continues to be the hallmark of activities at the University of Pittsburgh. Some of the accomplishments during the past year that have contributed to moving the university to even greater levels of excellence are:

• Undergraduate applications to the University were at an all time high, and have increased by more than 70 percent over the past five years.

• SAT scores have increased by 50 points over that same period, and the number of entering freshmen who are eligible for the Honors College has more than doubled.

• A full 34 percent of the entering freshmen were in the top 10 percent of their high school classes, up from 21 percent five years ago.

• Research funding reached $340 million, an increase of more than $100 million in annual research support since 1995.

• Pitt continues to rank among the top 20 American universities in attracting total federal science and engineering research support, and among the top 10 in terms of federal support for medical research.

• Private voluntary support reached $82 million, a 108 percent increase since 1995 and the highest total for any single year in the University's history.

• Commonwealth appropriations have shown a growth of 23 percent, to $177.4 million, with an additional $138 million in capital project commitments.

• Both the University's endowment and operating budget exceeded the

$1 billion level.

• Major facilities projects completed or underway include the Petersen Events Center, the Multi Purpose Academic Complex, the Masonic Temple renovation, the Bouquet Gardens residence halls, and the Duratz Athletic Complex on the South Side, as well as important projects on Pitt's regional campuses.

• The University continues to be a partner in regional development, as exemplified by the $45 million in support to operate the most powerful nonmilitary computer in the world received by the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center – a partnership of Pitt, CMU, and Westinghouse.

• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the University a grant of almost $400,000 to establish a Community Outreach Partnership Center, which will build on ongoing efforts to work with neighborhood community groups.

December 7, 2000