Chatham University — Attraction in Pittsburgh

Maybe time has changed things, or the people who decided to make reviews are only those who are disgruntled, who knows? Considering my experience and the dedication of the alumnae, I can't imagine Chatham has lost its luster. Chatham is not a cheap school. If your concern is affordability, don't bother. And again, I can't speak to the present or anyone else's experience, but I was full financial aid and 100% financed through many forms of payment, from academic scholarships to work/study jobs . The academics were rigorous and informative well past graduation - I continue to use the skills and knowledge from my undergraduate degree to this day, more than 30 years after graduating. In 2015, despite the protests of alumnae and then-current students, Chatham ended a 146 year tradition and broke with the school identity by opening the doors to its undergraduate program to male students for the first time ever (more correctly, male students were permitted to take individual courses at Chatham for a long time, but never permitted to matriculate, and were only permitted to live in certain dorms). Before that, with the alumnae resoundingly voting for the undergraduate program to remain single-sex, only the graduate and professional programs were officially co-ed. But no matter what, Chatham continues to have small student to teacher class sizes, where your professor really gets to know you, and can challenge you specifically to your strengths and weaknesses. My profs still remembered me 4 years after I graduated, when I applied for graduate school, and those who are still able continue to recall me and the work I did for them 30+ years later.

That's all part of the Chatham experience. It's not for everyone, it appeals to a minority of people, and that's okay. It, or any school for that matter, doesn't have to pander to all. It is what it is, and for those of us for whom Chatham was/is appealing, it has a great deal of learning and networking to provide for a sound future and lifelong affiliations. Students live in old mansions converted into dorms, and take a great deal of pride in keeping their secluded campus beautiful and safe. Chatham is also now one of the "greenest" campuses in the U.S. with the addition of Eden Hall. I'm proud to be a Chatham alumna, it has opened doors I could never have dreamed as I chose it, and my education stays with me to this day. And none of this is taking into account what fun I had going to school in Pittsburgh, and the friendships I made along the way. My experience couldn't have...

This is a terrible university--at least from the perspective of a recent graduate student. Not only was the University's director of Student Accounts (Alden Watters Jr.) arrested and charged with forgery, but considering student housing, administration, available student resources (including post-graduation career advising, etc.), some professor(s) playing politics & exacerbating an already tumultuous time for students, this is far and away the most crooked university I've ever had the displeasure of attending. It should be said there are a few fantastic professors who really made the program worthwhile and indeed enjoyable, though they are unfortunately not valued appropriately by the university. The sustainability of Eden Hall campus is also, frankly, laughable. Prospective students are strongly advised to attend another university or, at the bare minimum, tour Chatham in person and ask hard questions bluntly (How does Eden Hall factor into the financials of Chatham University? What is the base pay rate for students who hold jobs on campus? How will faculty be held accountable for predatory/questionable behavior and treatment of students? What does diversity of professors and executive-level management look like to Chatham? Are professors on the cutting-edge of their field and in tune with current trends/issues/solutions? What is the housing situation and will the university honor leases it enters into with students? What resources are available for students along their graduation trajectory, concerning professional development and career skills? Are some students treated preferentially by executive-level professors and how do you rectify these situations? What is the job outlook for graduates who hold XYZ degrees? Does the dining hall offer meals using ingredients primarily sourced from the campus farm? Will my papers be graded in a timely fashion with appropriate comments and edits where necessary? Will students be caught in the crossfire of professor/administration feuds and treated with disrespect in the classroom? Do professors speak poorly of current students to other students? Are some students given preferential treatment regarding thesis timelines and professor access, how will they be held accountable? Will course expectations for success be explained clearly and the syllabus adhered to, and if not, what is the process for rectifying...

I attended Chatham for 1 1/2 years in the Food Studies graduate program before transferring to another university. While my time in Pittsburgh was great and I had many once-in-a-lifetime experiences because of my attendance at Chatham, I feel that the program was nothing like I was led to believe and I often wondered while I was there if things were being done the best possible way. Many great advancements have been happening there over the past couple of years, especially in the Falk School of Sustainability. But it always felt super rushed, like they wanted to be the first ones to do this and thus didn't quite get the input from students and community that they should have. For instance, when they transferred the entire school out to the farm, many of us students were left hanging, with decisions being made without our input that didn't benefit us and often made our lives more complicated. Also, many new classes would be offered that were exciting but felt poorly planned. Ideas for courses would be posed just months (weeks, for one of them!) before offering them. While those teachers were certainly qualified to deliver that course, there simply wasn't enough fore-thought and planning put into the curriculum. I had enrolled in one of those courses because it sounded amazing and perfect for what I want to do, but it was extremely disorganized and didn't even feel like it was graduate level information being offered.

Chatham as an undergrad school is also somewhat lacking from what I could see. There are very few majors actually offered in comparison to other schools, and those that exist also have very limited course offerings.

It is a great place to go for that small-school feel and to be able to have your voice easily (sometimes TOO easily, given some of the voices that were loudest when I was there) heard by staff, students, and community. It offers a very welcoming atmosphere for diversity and, because of its small size, more opportunity to take on leadership roles in student organizations and such. But there are other schools that aren't as flashy and high-profile that can offer the same programs and just as many unique opportunities at a better deal....