The 2024-2025 academic year marks the second in a two-year timeline that the University announced in summer 2023 to strive to close a multimillion-dollar budget deficit.
In year one, those efforts included staff cuts, undergraduate and graduate program eliminations and other departmental changes. This year, though, the University’s administration has its eyes on opportunities for growth.
According to the “strategic planning” section on Chatham’s website, the reorganization process has goals of improving stability, furthering student success and enhancing the campus experience. These goals are directed toward all three locations (Shadyside campus, Chatham Eastside and Eden Hall) and are intended to help the University adapt to the consistent undergraduate growth Chatham has experienced during the last decade.
“While much of the first year was focused on the RENEW focus area of Improving Fiscal and Operational Sustainability, and that work will continue,” Vice President of Marketing and Communications Bill Campbell said in an email. “We anticipate that work and focus on… Academic Excellence and Student Success and Enhancing the Campus Experience will accelerate in year 2.”
As a result of money from the University’s cuts, there have been a few departmental changes for the start of the 2024-25 academic year, including moving the Women’s Institute to Lindsay House, and moving the dean’s office and the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics (PCWP) to make room for the new School of Business and Enterprise (SBE). The PCWP now occupies Braun 202 and the dean’s office occupies the James Laughlin Music Center (formerly the Office of Career Development, which also occupies the second floor of Braun).
SBE will offer new programs like the sports management bachelor’s degree and extend the existing business majors by exploring how they intersect with other major areas of study at Chatham, such as sustainability and healthcare. As a result of the new School of Business and Enterprise, the former School of Arts, Science and Business is now the College of Arts and Sciences, headquartered in part of the James Laughlin Music Center.
The administration, along with staff and faculty, also continue to explore ways to enhance the student experience. One example announced during the summer was the development of a Healthcare Living and Learning Community (LLC) at UPMC Shadyside. Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Chris Purcell announced in an email in June that this residential complex on Centre Avenue will be geared toward graduate students in the School of Health Sciences because of its close proximity to UPMC Shadyside for students who are completing their clinical rotations.
Chatham also is exploring new opportunities for engaging with the community and generating more revenue possibilities. One such example is the creation of the Events & Conference Services department, which will provide people beyond the Chatham University community a way to rent space for events such as meetings, weddings or conferences.
While the reorganization continues, the Chatham community also is gearing up for its Middle States reassessment, which will be completed in 2026. This fall begins the “self-study” period, giving students, staff and faculty the chance to work together to reflect upon Chatham’s strengths and areas upon which it can improve based on the accreditation standards the Middle States Commission has established.
“The Middle States Self-Study process will complement, support and parallel the reorganization process,” Campbell said.
