Skip to main content
Cathedral of Learning

What We Do

University Relations aims to:

  • Act as a strategic leader and collaborative partner regionally, in the Commonwealth, and around the world.
  • Champion University initiatives and strategic priorities to amplify their impact and strengthen Pitt’s brand.
  • Spearhead programs and campaigns that drive and grow Pitt’s global reputation.
  • Represent and facilitate advocacy for the University’s interests.
  • Serve as a trusted resource and advisor for all corners of the University.

Offices

Engagement and Community Affairs

Engagement and Community Affairs (ECA) is the core unit at the University of Pittsburgh with responsibility to advance a community engagement strategy for the university, to ensure Pitt is a partner and asset to the region, to mobilize the University’s response to community-identified problems and concerns, and to support faculty and staff in delivering sustainable and substantive engagement and outreach activities. To achieve these goals, we partner with all major divisions of the university and connect the various community-focused programs across academic units with the university’s larger community engagement agenda. We carry out four institutional commitments and we facilitate six types of activities across these workstreams: community affairs; faculty and staff involvement; economic opportunity programming; resident engagement; community-engaged scholarship, and neighborhood commitments.

ECA Focus Areas

Government Relations and Advocacy

Government Relations and Advocacy (GRA) serves as the primary liaison between the University and our partners in local, state, and federal government to build awareness about Pitt's impact and increase support for the University. The team maintains valuable relationships with public officials to advance the University’s interests in alignment with the Plan for Pitt, raise its profile, and lead the University’s advocacy strategies. GRA’s work is built on a strong commitment to relationships with government, policy organizations, businesses, neighboring communities, and the Pitt community. Its advocacy efforts are centered around Pitt Advocates—a network of students, employees, alumni, and friends, which has been built up to 20,000+ members in the past two years.

GRA Focus Areas

University Communications and Marketing

University Communications and Marketing (UCM) works to develop and deliver an integrated communications and marketing strategy including campaigns and tactics that raise the University’s profile, strengthen its reputation, and differentiate Pitt and its value proposition among target audiences. The office spearheads differentiated communications programs that articulate and reinforce Pitt’s major accomplishments, intellectual contributions, and mission. It also highlights the university’s differentiated student experience, underscoring why and how Pitt delivers a unique experience and engages with current and prospective students and alumni.

UCM Focus Areas