Pitt has twice been named among the nation’s top-ranked public “Best Neighbor” educational institutions in Saviors of Our Cities: A Survey of Best College and University Civic Partnerships.
After first making the list in 2006, Pitt was ranked the number one public university on the 2009 list. The ranking is based on schools' positive impacts on their urban communities, including commercial and residential activities such as cultural renewal, economics, and community service and development.
Among criteria assessed are length of involvement with the community, faculty and student involvement in community service, continued sustainability of neighborhood initiatives, quantifiable increase in positive recognition of the institution, and recognition of the impact of these institutions within their communities.
The list was compiled by Evan Dobelle, president of Westfield State University in Massachusetts and former president of the New England Board of Higher Education.
