Chatham University facts for kids
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Former names
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Pennsylvania Female College (1869–1890) Pennsylvania College for Women (1890–1955) Chatham College (1955–2007) |
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| Motto | Filiae Nostrae Sicut Antarii Lapides (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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That our daughters may be as cornerstones, polished after the similitude of a palace. |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | December 11, 1869 |
| Endowment | $106.6 million (2021) |
| President | Rhonda Phillips |
| Students | 2,300 (approx.) |
| Location |
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United States
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| Campus | 39 acres (16 ha) |
| Colors | Purple and Gray |
| Nickname | Cougars |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division III – PAC |
| Mascot | Carson the Cougar |
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Chatham University is a private university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It started as a college just for women. In 2015, it began to welcome male students into its undergraduate programs. Today, about 2,110 students attend Chatham University. This includes around 1,002 undergraduate students and 1,108 graduate students.
The university offers many different study programs. You can earn certificates and degrees like bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees. These programs are offered through its School of Arts, Science & Business, the School of Health Sciences, and the Falk School of Sustainability & Environment.
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Discovering Chatham's Past
Chatham University was first opened on December 11, 1869. It was called the Pennsylvania Female College back then. Reverend William Trimble Beatty founded it. The college was located in a large mansion in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Today, the Shadyside Campus still uses buildings that were once private mansions.
In 1890, the college changed its name to Pennsylvania College for Women. Later, in 1955, it became Chatham College. This new name honored William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. The city of Pittsburgh is also named after him. On April 23, 2007, the school officially became a university. It was then renamed Chatham University.
The Shadyside Campus is about 39 acres (16 hectares) in size. It was designed by the Olmsted Brothers. They also helped design parts of the original Andrew Mellon estate. In 1998, the campus was named an arboretum. An arboretum is like a botanical garden, but it focuses on trees and shrubs.
In 2005, Chatham started offering online degree programs. These programs allowed students to earn bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from home. Two years later, a writing program at Chatham was recognized as one of the top five unique programs in the country.
In 2014, Chatham made a big announcement. It was thinking about letting men join its undergraduate programs. This news surprised some former students. However, male students began attending in 2015. The current president of Chatham University is Rhonda Phillips. She is the tenth woman to lead the university in its 154-year history.
Exploring Chatham's Campuses
Chatham has two main campuses. The original one is the Shadyside Campus. It is located on historic Woodland Road. The Shadyside Campus also includes the Chatham Eastside building. This building is home to health science and interior architecture programs.
The university's newer campus is the Eden Hall Campus. It is much larger, about 388 acres (157 hectares). This campus is north of Pittsburgh in Richland Township. It is home to Chatham's Falk School of Sustainability & Environment. Here, students can study things like sustainability and food.
The Eden Hall Campus was given to Chatham University in 2008. It is designed to be very eco-friendly. In 2016, the first part of its development was finished. It even won an award for its sustainable design. In 2013, the Falk Foundation gave a large grant to the School of Sustainability & the Environment. This helped complete the Eden Hall Campus. The school was then renamed the Falk School of Sustainability.
Chatham's Accreditation
Chatham University is officially recognized by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This means the university meets high standards for education.
Chatham's Sports Teams
Chatham University's sports teams are called the Cougars. They compete in NCAA Division III. The Cougars are part of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC). Chatham has both men's and women's teams. They play sports like basketball, soccer, ice hockey, and volleyball.
Chatham was the first university in Pennsylvania to have an NCAA women's ice hockey team. The university's mascot used to be Pennsy the Seal. In 1992, the cougar became the new mascot. It was named Carson in 2011, honoring famous alumna Rachel Carson.
Notable Alumni from Chatham
Many successful people have graduated from Chatham University. Here are a few:
- Muriel Bowser – She is the mayor of Washington, D.C.
- Rachel Carson – A famous biologist and zoologist who wrote important books about nature.
- Elaine Scarry – An author and professor at Harvard University.
- Lea Wait – An author who writes mystery novels and children's books.
- Lesley B. Wells – A United States district judge.
See also
- Chatham University Arboretum
