Quick Links.jpg)
On January 19, 2007, the Penn State Board of Trustees formally changed the name of Penn State McKeesport to Penn State Greater Allegheny. The name change is intended to support the campus' regional presence, facilitate an expanded vision and evolving mission for the campus and raise general awareness of the campus.
The new name also is expected to give campus alumni and Penn Staters living in the greater Allegheny County region an understanding of the campus' position as the only Penn State campus in the county. More than 22,000 Penn State alumni live in Allegheny County -- the largest concentration of alumni residing in any one county in the nation -- and approximately 4,000 Penn State students hail from the county.
The campus is proud of its vast and ever-changing academic and cultural history. With more than fifty years of service to Western Pennsylvania at our current site, Penn State Allegheny is a leader in academic excellence, technology, and diversity.
The Early Years of the Campus
Penn State Greater Allegheny celebrates a long and committed partnership with the Pittsburgh region. Since its beginning at the current location in 1957, the campus continues to play a dynamic role in the Greater Pittsburgh area, bringing the resources of a nationally prominent university to students of all ages.
As early as 1934, the Pennsylvania State College offered technical courses in various locations in Pittsburgh and McKeesport to train industry workers.
In 1948, The Penn State McKeesport Center opened in Dravosburg to provide occupational training and self-enrichment courses for returning veterans.
The Center moved to McKeesport in 1952, established associate degree programs and graduated the first students in 1955. That same year a group of area businessmen formed the Penn State McKeesport Advisory Board to begin a search for a permanent location for the McKeesport Center. Milton F. Frable became the first Advisory Board president.
The Campus Grows
William L. Buck, a local realtor and philanthropist, donated a ten-acre tract of land adjacent to Renzie Park to the University in 1956. The following February, the Center moved into the first permanent building on the site, the Main Building, and officially became “The McKeesport Campus of The Pennsylvania State University.”
From the late 1950s through the mid-1970s, student enrollment increased and several buildings were constructed to accommodate growth. In 1959 along with the completion of a science building (now the E.R. Crawford Building), the campus began to offer the first two years of baccalaureate degree programs. The Buck Union Building, fondly referred to as the "BUB" was completed in 1961 and gave students a multi-purpose facility for activities. The BUB was later replaced by a new facility.
In 1969 the Frable Building was added, and Mr. Buck’s gift of additional acreage provided a site for the Residence Hall and Food Service buildings. During the 1972-73 academic year, three more buildings were completed in honor of campus benefactors: the Ostermayer Building, Wunderley Gymnasium, and Kelly Library. The Maintenance Building opened in 1976 to accommodate physical plant operations. Conference facilities in the Frable Building were added in the 1980s.
The 1990s brought many changes to the campus, including new computer labs and multi-media classrooms. The campus began offering four-year degree programs (see Academic Programs) to better serve our students and communities.
In 2001, the Buck Union Building was torn down to make way for a new Student Community Center. "The Last Dance at the BUB" attracted alumni, friends and members of the campus community for a farewell celebration. In recognition of the Buck Family's contribution of land, the campus named the new green space in front of the Student Community Center "The William L. Buck Family Green". A plaque recognizes the family for making the growth of the campus possible to advance educational opportunitites to the region.
In 2003, the campus community celebrated the opening of the $5.5 million Student Community Center. The25,000-square-foot facility is located in the heart of the campus. Student life is a significant part of the college experience and this facility is the central meeting place on the campus. Students have a place to have a meal with friends, interact with faculty, study in small groups, relax, or to listen to music. The Student Community Center houses both student and campus programs, including music and theatre productions, guest speakers, multicultural events, job and career fairs, and public forums. Funding for the new Student Community Center came from a variety of University sources and from private donations.
A student Fitness Center opened in what was once the Food Services building in 2005. The popular center houses dozens of cardio machines and more than twenty plate-loaded weight machines. More than $130,000 worth of equipment is spread out in nearly 4,000 square feet of floor space. The campus continued to embrace new technologies. It was among the first campuses to implement wireless technology for PC application. All of the campus' buidlings now operate on a wireless network. In addition, multimedia classrooms provide expanded learning experiences, and many computers are equipped with specialized software for chemistry and physics modeling, engineering, business and information sciences and technology applications, among others.
In 2004, faculty began formally internationalizing the curriuculum to better prepare graduates for life and work in the global society. The inagural project of what is now called in general Teaching International was Taching Haiti 2004.
In 2005, the campus was designated an international campus, meaning that we became one of the official destinations at the University for international students.
In 2007, the name of the campus was officially changed to Penn State Greater Allegheny to better reflect the campus' expanded mission.
The Future of Penn State Greater Allegheny
Penn State Greater Allegheny continues to foster the success of our students and communities by offering excellent and distinctive programs of study and by engaging our communities through collaborative ventures and partnerships.
Penn State Greater Allegheny Timeline
1934
Penn State offers technical courses in McKeesport and Pittsburgh
1948
A Victorian mansion in Dravosburg is the location for the McKeesport Center of Penn State; the mansion trained returning World War II veterans
1952
Westinghouse Corporation purchases the mansion; the West Side School in McKeesport takes the place of the mansion
1953
Associate degrees in technology are offered at the McKeesport Center
1955
First graduating class of the Penn State McKeesport Center; area businessmen form the McKeesport Advisory Board and begin looking for a permanent location for the McKeesport Center; Milton F. Frable became the first Advisory Board President
1956
Realtor William Buck donated a ten-acre parcel of land adjacent to the City of McKeesport’s 250-acre Renziehausen Park to Penn State
1957
The first Penn State McKeesport classroom building, Main, opens; The Maintenance Building is also opened; an all male student body exists
1959
Crawford building is open; The Penn State Center at McKeesport offers the first two years of bachelor degree programs
1967
Frable building opens
1969
Residence Hall and Food Service Building open; William Buck donates even more land due to continued growth
1971
Kelly Library, Ostermayer Laboratory, and Wunderley Gymnasium all open
1999
Penn State McKeesport launches the four-year Information Sciences and Technology degree
2001
The Bachelor of Science in Business (BSB) is added as a new baccalaureate degree; the Buck Union Building (BUB) is demolished to make way for a new facility. Campus green named in honor of William L. Buck and the Buck family
2002
Applied Psychology is announced as a new four-year degree at Penn State McKeesport
2003
Communications becomes the fourth four-year bachelor degree; the Student Community Center opens in the fall
2004
Campus announces associate degree in Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology and bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership
2005
Campus named an International Campus; Fitness Center opens; University reorganizes network of campuses to streamline administrative functions and improve efficiencies
2006
Bachelor's degree in Letters, Arts and Sciences added.
2007
Campus renamed Penn State Greater Allegheny to better reflect its expanded mission. A new minor in Civic and Community Engagement is added to the curriculum. Athletic teams are expanded. Residence Hall is filled to capacity.
