116-653: Education Management Corporation ( EDMC ) was a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -based operator of for-profit post-secondary educational institutions in the United States and Canada. The company was founded in 1962. At its peak in 2011, Education Management Corporation operated 110 schools through its higher education divisions: Argosy University , The Art Institutes , Brown Mackie College , and South University , and enrolled 158,300 students. Facing declining enrollment, legal issues, and accreditation problems, EDMC closed or sold many of its schools between 2013 and 2017. By 2014,
232-416: A U.S. magistrate judge dismissed allegations that the company failed to notify the U.S. government when students left their program and that the company misled prospective students about program costs. The remaining allegations were recommended for further review. In May 2013 U.S. Judge McVerry rejected EDMC's appeal to dismiss the case, and on May 11, 2014, he ordered full-blown pretrial discovery regarding
348-532: A 'boiler room' style sales culture and has made recruiting and enrolling new students the sole focus of its compensation system". In January 2014, EDMC was among several for-profit schools approached by approximately a dozen attorneys general for information in an investigation of their practices. EDMC's stock price has dropped more than 75% in the three months up to February 2014 as the company faced lower enrollments and investigations at state and federal levels, including investigations by states Attorneys General and
464-527: A C grade, and improving from the 46th to 54th most polluted by ozone smog. According to daily ozone air quality data provided by the EPA, from 2021 to 2024, Pittsburgh had good or moderate air quality most of the time. Then-Allegheny County executive Rich Fitzgerald said in December 2023 that they’d seen an "80 % drop in hazardous air pollutants" and that they made EPA attainment at all eight county air monitors for
580-509: A challenge to the settlement and allowed to proceed the debt cancellation due to alleged fraud. EDMC's headquarters was located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania . The company's chairman, Mark A. McEachen, replaced Todd Nelson who was its chairman since July 2012. Until recently, its chief executive was Edward West, who resigned August 28, 2015; the company currently lists no CEO. The current board of directors has five members, all of whom have been with
696-426: A decrease in city population, even as the metropolitan area population increased again. During the late 2000s recession , Pittsburgh was economically strong, adding jobs when most cities were losing them. It was one of the few cities in the United States to see housing property values rise. Between 2006 and 2011, the Pittsburgh metropolitan statistical area (MSA) experienced over 10% appreciation in housing prices,
812-593: A defaulted bond rating (to junk bond status). Under a pending agreement, shareholder stock value will be diluted an additional 96%. Moody's credit rating service in January 2015 dropped EDMC to its lowest rating, D-PD. EDMC's CEO, Edward West, resigned from the company on August 28, 2015, "to pursue other interests". The company was never profitable under his leadership. EDMC was delisted from the NASDAQ in November 2014. EDMC has been
928-469: A former South University recruiter, was initiated in January 2010 and officially filed in March 2012. This lawsuit alleged that the company deliberately misclassified data to inflate the job-placement rates of its graduates and make the school more attractive to prospective students. Unlike the federal whistleblower lawsuit initiated in 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice has not joined the lawsuit. In October 2012,
1044-594: A free state after the Revolution, enslaved African Americans sought freedom here through escape as refugees from the South, or occasionally fleeing from travelers they were serving who stayed in the city. There were active stations of the Underground Railroad in the city, and numerous refugees were documented as getting help from station agents and African-American workers in city hotels. The Drennen Slave Girl walked out of
1160-666: A growing residential segment. Most significantly, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is embarking on RiverParc, a four-block mixed-use "green" community, featuring 700 residential units and multiple towers of between 20 and 30 stories. The Firstside portion of Downtown borders the Monongahela River, the historic Mon Wharf and hosts the distinctive PPG Place Gothic-style glass skyscraper complex. New condo towers have been constructed and historic office towers are converted to residential use, increasing 24-hour residents. Downtown
1276-645: A law school, Western State University College of Law . Programs offered included doctoral , master's , bachelor's , associate and certificate level. As of January 2013, EDMC operated 110 colleges and universities in 32 U.S. states and Canada. Argosy University became part of EDMC in July 2001, when Education Management Corporation acquired Argosy Education Group. Argosy schools were sold along with other EDMC schools to Dream Center in 2017. All Argosy campuses were officially closed on March 8, 2019. The Art Institutes , of which there were approximately 50 locations in
SECTION 10
#17328559206751392-472: A non-profit charity, the EDMC Foundation, to skirt federal 90/10 regulations. The expose was based on three-month investigation. In 2010, several EDMC shareholders initiated a lawsuit alleging that EDMC had misled investors prior to the company's 2009 IPO , causing investors to lose money when the company's stock fell in 2010. The lawsuit was later joined by EDMC shareholders OPPRS and SEPTA . The case
1508-462: A program about for-profit universities called "College, Inc." which featured Argosy University among others. Later that year, Argosy University was one of 15 schools named in a Government Accountability Office report. The report stated that recruiters at the school were found to have "made deceptive or otherwise questionable statements" when speaking with undercover applicants. The GAO later revised its report, with Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) saying
1624-533: A quarter of neighborhood names make reference to "hills," "heights," or similar features. The steps of Pittsburgh consist of 800 sets of outdoor public stairways with 44,645 treads and 24,090 vertical feet. They include hundreds of streets composed entirely of stairs, and many other steep streets with stairs for sidewalks. Many provide vistas of the Pittsburgh area while attracting hikers and fitness walkers. Bike and walking trails have been built to border many of
1740-570: Is 39.61 inches (1,006 mm) and precipitation is greatest in May while least in October; annual precipitation has historically ranged from 22.65 in (575 mm) in 1930 to 57.83 in (1,469 mm) in 2018. On average, December and January have the greatest number of precipitation days. Snowfall averages 44.1 inches (112 cm) per season, but has historically ranged from 8.8 in (22 cm) in 1918–19 to 80 in (200 cm) in 1950–51. There
1856-483: Is an average of 59 clear days and 103 partly cloudy days per year, while 203 days are cloudy. In terms of annual percent-average possible sunshine received, Pittsburgh (45%) is similar to Seattle (49%). The American Lung Association's (ALA) 2023 "State of the Air" report (which included data from 2019 to 2021) showed air quality in Pittsburgh improving. The city received a passing grade for ozone pollution, going from an F to
1972-465: Is home to the University of Pittsburgh , Carnegie Mellon University , Carlow University , Chatham University , The Carnegie Institute's Museums of Art and Natural History , Phipps Conservatory , and Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall . It is also home to many parks and public spaces including Mellon Park , Westinghouse Park , Schenley Park , Frick Park , The Frick Pittsburgh , Bakery Square , and
2088-557: Is now known as Washington's Landing, formerly Herr's Island , in what is now the Lawrenceville neighborhood. The first known European to enter the region was the French explorer Robert de La Salle from Quebec during his 1669 expedition down the Ohio River . European pioneers, primarily Dutch, followed in the early 18th century. Michael Bezallion was the first to describe the forks of
2204-672: Is primarily composed of residential neighborhoods and is noteworthy for its well-constructed and architecturally interesting homes. Many buildings date from the 19th century and are constructed of brick or stone and adorned with decorative woodwork, ceramic tile, slate roofs and stained glass. The North Side is also home to attractions such as Acrisure Stadium , PNC Park , Kamin Science Center , National Aviary , Andy Warhol Museum , Mattress Factory art museum, Children's Museum of Pittsburgh , Randyland , Penn Brewery , Allegheny Observatory , and Allegheny General Hospital . The South Side
2320-564: Is referred to as "the Point." The city extends east to include the Oakland and Shadyside sections, which are home to the University of Pittsburgh , Carnegie Mellon University , Chatham University , Carnegie Museum and Library , and many other educational, medical, and cultural institutions. The southern, western, and northern areas of the city are primarily residential. Many Pittsburgh neighborhoods are steeply sloped with two-lane roads. More than
2436-506: Is served by the Port Authority 's light rail system and multiple bridges leading north and south. It is also home to Point Park University and Duquesne University which borders Uptown . The North Side is home to various neighborhoods in transition. The area was once known as Allegheny City and operated as its own independent city until 1907, when it was merged with Pittsburgh despite great protest from its citizens. The North Side
SECTION 20
#17328559206752552-713: Is water. The 80th meridian west passes directly through the city's downtown. The city is on the Allegheny Plateau , within the ecoregion of the Western Allegheny Plateau . The Downtown area (also known as the Golden Triangle) sits where the Allegheny River flows from the northeast and the Monongahela River from the southeast to form the Ohio River . The convergence is at Point State Park and
2668-486: The 68th-most populous city in the U.S., with a population of 302,971 as of the 2020 census . The city is located in southwestern Pennsylvania at the confluence of the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River , which combine to form the Ohio River . It anchors the Pittsburgh metropolitan area , which had a population of 2.457 million residents and is the largest metro area in both the Ohio Valley and Appalachia ,
2784-567: The Allegheny Mountains . The Great Fire of Pittsburgh destroyed over a thousand buildings in 1845. The city rebuilt with the aid of Irish immigrants who came to escape the Great Famine . By 1857, Pittsburgh's 1,000 factories were consuming 22 million coal bushels yearly. Coal mining and iron manufacturing attracted waves of European immigrants to the area, with the most coming from Germany . Because Pennsylvania had been established as
2900-596: The DCCC . An additional $ 850,000 was spent on 2010 lobbying efforts. With other private-sector colleges and universities, EDMC helped form the Coalition for Educational Success in 2010. Represented by Lanny Davis , the CES lobbied for changes to the "gainful employment rule". The coalition persuaded the Department of Education to amend the rule, making vocational programs and programs with
3016-753: The Edgar Thomson Steel Works in North Braddock, Pennsylvania , which evolved into the Carnegie Steel Company . He adopted the Bessemer process to increase production. Manufacturing was key to growth of Pittsburgh and the surrounding region. Railroad lines were built into the city along both rivers, increasing transportation access to important markets. In 1901, J. P. Morgan and attorney Elbert H. Gary merged Carnegie Steel Company and several other companies into U.S. Steel . By 1910, Pittsburgh
3132-711: The Iroquois Confederacy , based in New York, had maintained control of much of the Ohio Valley as hunting grounds by right of conquest after defeating other tribes. By the terms of the 1768 Treaty of Fort Stanwix , the Penns were allowed to purchase the modern region from the Iroquois . A 1769 survey referenced the future city as the "Manor of Pittsburgh". Both the Colony of Virginia and
3248-483: The Köppen climate classification , Pittsburgh falls within either a hot-summer humid continental climate ( Dfa ) if the 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm is used or a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) if the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm is used. Summers are hot and winters are moderately cold with wide variations in temperature. Despite this, it has one of the most pleasant summer climates between medium and large cities in
3364-705: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was started, and in 1787, the Pittsburgh Academy was chartered. Unrest during the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 resulted in federal troops being sent to the area. By 1797, glass manufacture began, while the population grew to around 1,400. Settlers arrived after crossing the Appalachian Mountains or through the Great Lakes . Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh) at the source of
3480-552: The Pittsburgh Steelers , Pittsburgh Penguins , and Pittsburgh Pirates . Pittsburgh is additionally where Jehovah's Witnesses traces its earliest origins, and was the host of the 2009 G20 Pittsburgh summit . Pittsburgh was named in 1758, by General John Forbes , in honor of British statesman William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham . As Forbes was a Scotsman , he probably pronounced the name / ˈ p ɪ t s b ər ə / PITS -bər-ə (similar to Edinburgh ). Pittsburgh
3596-461: The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. The neighborhoods of Shadyside and Squirrel Hill are large, wealthy neighborhoods with some apartments and condos, and pedestrian-oriented shopping/business districts. Squirrel Hill is also known as the hub of Jewish life in Pittsburgh, home to approximately 20 synagogues. Oakland , heavily populated by undergraduate and graduate students, is home to most of
Education Management Corporation - Misplaced Pages Continue
3712-573: The Province of Pennsylvania claimed the region under their colonial charters until 1780, when they agreed under a federal initiative to extend the Mason–Dixon line westward, placing Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. On March 8, 1771, Bedford County, Pennsylvania was created to govern the frontier. On April 16, 1771, the city's first civilian local government was created as Pitt Township . William Teagarden
3828-460: The University of Pittsburgh . The area has served as the federal agency headquarters for cyber defense , software engineering , robotics , energy research , and the nuclear navy . In the private sector, Pittsburgh-based PNC is the nation's fifth-largest bank, and the city is home to ten Fortune 500 companies and seven of the largest 300 U.S. law firms. Other corporations that have regional headquarters and offices have helped Pittsburgh become
3944-517: The second-largest in Pennsylvania , and the 26th-largest in the U.S. Pittsburgh is the principal city of the greater Pittsburgh–Weirton–Steubenville combined statistical area which includes parts of Ohio and West Virginia . Pittsburgh is known as "the Steel City" for its dominant role in the history of the U.S. steel industry . It developed as a vital link of the Atlantic coast and Midwest , as
4060-580: The "... U.S. Education Department cut off federal student loan and grant funds last week after learning Argosy used $ 13 million owed to students to cover payroll and other expenses." By mid-February, the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), "students should be aware of the possibility that Argosy in Hawaii could abruptly close prior to the completion of their program." All campuses officially closed doors on March 8, 2019. At that time of
4176-571: The 1850 Fugitive Slave Act , as it required cooperation from law enforcement even in free states and increased penalties. From 1850 to 1860, the black population in Allegheny County dropped from 3,431 to 2,725 as people headed to more safety in Canada. The American Civil War boosted the city's economy with increased iron and armament demand by the Union. Andrew Carnegie began steel production in 1875 at
4292-520: The 2013 fiscal year. In February 2013, EDMC announced a tuition freeze through at least 2015, as part of a strategy to refocus on students. As of 2014 enrollment was 120,920 students, a decrease of nine percent. From June 2013 to June 2014, the company eliminated about 2,600 positions, and campuses have been closed or are in the process of closing. On May 6, 2015, EDMC announced it would begin closing 15 of its Art Institute locations, citing declining enrollment and restructuring. The week of June 13, 2016,
4408-674: The American School of Professional Psychology, the Medical Institute of Minnesota, and the University of Sarasota. In the late 1970s, Michael Markovitz founded the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, which later changed its name to the American School of Professional Psychology. In 1976, Markovitz became the founding chairman of Argosy Education Group, which acquired the University of Sarasota in 1992. The University of Sarasota
4524-515: The Argosy schools to the Dream Center , a Los Angeles-based Pentecostal organization. The sale faced scrutiny by regulators. The transaction closed in November 2017; EDMC said it would remain in operation to wind down the approximately fifty schools that had stopped accepting new students. In 2019, USA Today reported that Argosy University campuses were under receivership and their accreditation
4640-550: The Board of the Association of Private Colleges and Universities, an advocacy organization, and currently serves on the organization's Federal Legislative Affairs Committee. In 2007, two former EDMC recruiters filed a whistleblower complaint regarding recruitment and compensation practices at EDMC institutions. As a result of these complaints, the U.S. Department of Justice initiated a federal lawsuit in 2011 on behalf of eleven states and
4756-449: The Central, North Side/North Hills, South Side/South Hills, East End, and West End. Downtown Pittsburgh has 30 skyscrapers, nine of which top 500 feet (150 m). The U.S. Steel Tower is the tallest, at 841 ft (256 m). The Cultural District consists of a 14-block area of downtown along the Allegheny River . This district contains many theaters and arts venues and is home to
Education Management Corporation - Misplaced Pages Continue
4872-495: The Dallas campus was still underway. As of 2013 , Argosy University in Dallas did not offer any degrees in clinical psychology, and was not listed as part of the university's College of Clinical Psychology. In December 2013, EDMC agreed to pay about $ 3.3 million as part of the lawsuit. The settlement did not require EDMC to admit liability. In May 2010, the PBS program Frontline aired
4988-578: The District of Columbia. The civil lawsuit was filed under the False Claims Act , which allows whistleblowers to file lawsuits when they believe the federal government has been defrauded. The lawsuit seeks to recoup $ 11 billion, the amount of federal money EDMC institutions received in the form of federal student aid between 2003 and 2011. The Department of Justice argued that EDMC violated federal rules banning incentive-based compensation and therefore acquired
5104-759: The Ed.D. in Counseling Psychology was accepted for psychology licensure, and two graduates were advanced to Psychology Licensure candidacy, by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies and the Colorado Psychology Board. In November 2015, the US Justice Department announced that EDMC will pay nearly $ 95.5 million to settle claims the company used illegal incentives causing recruiters to use high-pressure tactics to convince students to enroll in
5220-510: The Elder , while the settlement was named "Pittsborough". During Pontiac's War , a loose confederation of Native American tribes laid siege to Fort Pitt in 1763; the siege was eventually lifted after Colonel Henry Bouquet defeated a portion of the besieging force at the Battle of Bushy Run . Bouquet strengthened the defenses of Fort Pitt the next year. During this period, the powerful nations of
5336-541: The Kentucky Attorney General in December 2010. In August 2010, EDMC and other private sector schools were investigated by the U.S. GAO , which reported that Argosy University (Chicago) recruiters misled undercover students about tuition and program quality. The GAO later revised parts of its original report from the investigation, which was the focus of testimony at a U.S. Senate HELP committee September 2010 hearing. A 2011 US DOJ report claimed that EDMC "created
5452-546: The Medical Institute of Minnesota, and the University of Sarasota under the Argosy University name. Students of the Argosy University in Dallas filed a Texas lawsuit in 2009 alleging they believed university recruiters inaccurately informed students that the school would soon receive accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA). The school had not completed accreditation process by
5568-551: The Monongahela House in 1850, apparently to freedom. The Merchant's Hotel was also a place where African-American workers would advise slaves the state was free and aid them in getting to nearby stations of the Underground Railroad. Sometimes refugee slaves from the South stayed in Pittsburgh, but other times they continued North, including into Canada. Many slaves left the city and county for Canada after Congress passed
5684-509: The North American front of the Seven Years' War , began with the future Pittsburgh as its center. British General Edward Braddock was dispatched with Major George Washington as his aide to take Fort Duquesne. The British and colonial force were defeated at Braddock's Field . General John Forbes finally took the forks in 1758. He began construction on Fort Pitt , named after William Pitt
5800-690: The North Side, and the Golden Triangle are characterized by more density of housing, walking neighborhoods, and a more diverse, urban feel. Pittsburgh falls within the borders of the Northeastern United States as defined by multiple US Government agencies. Pittsburgh is the principal city of the Pittsburgh Combined Statistical Area , a combined statistical area defined by the U.S. Census Bureau . Pittsburgh falls within
5916-666: The Ohio River became the main base for settlers moving into the Northwest Territory . The federal government recognizes Pittsburgh as the starting point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition . Preparations began in Pittsburgh in 1803 when Meriwether Lewis purchased a keelboat that would later be used to ascend the Missouri River . The War of 1812 cut off the supply of British goods, stimulating American industry. By 1815, Pittsburgh
SECTION 50
#17328559206756032-403: The Ohio headwaters was long inhabited by the Shawnee and several other settled groups of Native Americans . Shannopin's Town was an 18th-century Lenape (Delaware) town located roughly from where Penn Avenue is today, below the mouth of Two Mile Run, from 30th Street to 39th Street. According to George Croghan , the town was situated on the south bank of the Allegheny, nearly opposite what
6148-452: The Ohio in a 1717 manuscript, and later that year European fur traders established area posts and settlements. In 1749, French soldiers from Quebec launched an expedition to the forks to unite Canada with French Louisiana via the rivers. During 1753–1754, the British hastily built Fort Prince George before a larger French force drove them off. The French built Fort Duquesne based on LaSalle's 1669 claims. The French and Indian War ,
6264-474: The Securities and Exchange Commission. Information that EDMC provided to the Senate Harkin Commission indicates that of the 78,661 students who enrolled at EDMC-owned colleges in 2008–9, 62.1 percent, or 48,840 students, dropped out as of mid-2010. As of 2013, about 120,000 students attended Education Management Corporation-operated schools, a drop from its peak of 160,000. In July 2016, a Maine Sunday Telegram expose found that former EDMC CEO Jock McKernan used
6380-453: The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the settlement and allowed to proceed the debt cancellation due to alleged fraud. Argosy University was first accredited by the Higher Learning Commission in 1981 and then the WASC Senior College and University Commission in 2011 with its most recent review in 2018 at which time the school was placed on "show cause" status. According to the College Scorecard in 2018, Argosy online's graduation rate
6496-430: The U.S. The city lies in the USDA plant hardiness zone 6b except along the rivers where the zone is 7a. The area has four distinct seasons: winters are cold and snowy, springs and falls are mild with moderate levels of sunshine, and summers are warm. As measured by percent possible sunshine, summer is by far the sunniest season, though annual sunshine is low among major US cities at well under 50%. The warmest month of
6612-410: The U.S. and Canada, construction of new Art Institute locations and the establishment of on-line education programs. Goldman Sachs , Providence Equity Partners and Leeds Equity Partners acquired EDMC and its 70 schools for $ 3.4 billion in March 2006 ($ 5.14 billion in 2023 dollars). On June 1, 2006, EDMC was taken private again in the largest for-profit education sector buyout at that time. At
6728-642: The U.S. and Canada, offered programs in design, fashion, media and culinary arts. In 2017, Education Management Corporation sold the existing Art Institutes to The Dream Center Foundation, a Los Angeles-based Pentecostal organization. The sale was complete in October 2017. As of August 2019, eight locations remain open to new students, operated by the Education Principle Foundation, and no longer connected to EDMC or Dream Center. All remaining Art Institute schools will close on September 30, 2023. Brown Mackie College offers programs in health sciences, business, legal studies, information technology and design technology at
6844-430: The US Department of Defense, and the Veterans Administration. In 2009, EDMC allocated 21.6 percent of its revenue, or $ 435 million, to marketing and recruiting, and 16 percent, or $ 319 million, to profit. EDMC spent over $ 500,000 per year on lobbyists between 2010 and 2015. EDMC operated through four major groups of schools, Argosy University , The Art Institutes , Brown Mackie College , South University . It also owned
6960-399: The air and the rivers. The "Renaissance II" project followed in 1977, focused on cultural and neighborhood development. The industrial base continued to expand through the 1970s, but beginning in the early 1980s both the area's steel and electronics industries imploded during national industrial restructuring. There were massive layoffs from mill and plant closures. In the later 20th century,
7076-425: The area shifted its economic base to education, tourism, and services, largely based on healthcare/medicine, finance, and high technology such as robotics. Although Pittsburgh successfully shifted its economy and remained viable, the city's population has never rebounded to its industrial-era highs. While 680,000 people lived in the city proper in 1950, a combination of suburbanization and economic turbulence resulted in
SECTION 60
#17328559206757192-702: The associate and bachelor's level. The school also offers diploma and certificate programs. In 2012, there were 28 Brown Mackie College locations in the U.S. In June 2016, it was announced that 22 of 26 Brown Mackie campuses were closing. The Akron campus was closed in September 2006. The last three campuses were sold to Ross Medical Education Center in 2017. South University is a for-profit university with its main campus in Savannah, Georgia . Additional locations are in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. Education Management Corporation acquired South University in 2003. The schools were sold along with other EDMC schools to Dream Center in 2017. EDMC
7308-402: The borders of Appalachia as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission , and has long been characterized as the "northern urban industrial anchor of Appalachia." In its post-industrial state, Pittsburgh has been characterized as the "Paris of Appalachia", recognizing the city's cultural, educational, healthcare, and technological resources, and is the largest city in Appalachia. Under
7424-453: The changes made "undermine many of the allegations" in the original report but the head of the GAO maintained that "Nothing changed with the overall message of the report, and nothing changed with any of our findings." In 2011, Argosy University was investigated by the Florida Attorney General following eight consumer complaints. The school cooperated in the investigation. In 2012, the law school Western State University College of Law, which
7540-406: The city's population. Pittsburgh also became a main destination of the African-American Great Migration from the rural South during the first half of the 20th century. Limited initially by discrimination, some 95% percent of the men became unskilled steel workers. During World War II , demand for steel increased and area mills operated 24 hours a day to produce 95 million tons of steel for
7656-486: The city's rivers and hollows. The Great Allegheny Passage and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath connect the city directly to downtown Washington, D.C. (some 335 miles [539 km] away) with a continuous bike/running trail. The city consists of the Downtown area, called the Golden Triangle, and four main areas surrounding it. These surrounding areas are subdivided into distinct neighborhoods (Pittsburgh has 90 neighborhoods). Relative to downtown, these areas are known as
7772-413: The city. However, the city divested from steel and, since the 1990s, Pittsburgh has focused its energies on the healthcare, education, and technology industries. Pittsburgh is home to large medical providers, including the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center , Allegheny Health Network , and 68 colleges and universities , including research and development leaders Carnegie Mellon University and
7888-437: The claims and defenses. As of March 2013, both the federal whistleblower case begun in 2007 and the case initiated in 2010 are pending. EDMC has responded to the claims saying that both cases "are wholly without merit". In December 2013, EDMC settled a civil claims suit filed by the Colorado Attorney General's Office for $ 3.3 million. The suit was brought following investigation by the attorney general's office, and alleged that
8004-525: The closure, many higher education institutions scrambled to support Argosy University's students to help them complete the degree programs they had started at Argosy, including Concordia University Texas , Ashford University , Indiana Wesleyan University , DeVry University , Bethel University , Walden University , and American InterContinental University , among others. Following campus closings, Argosy teachers and staff said that they had not received their final paychecks. In 2022, Argosy University
8120-476: The community and various developers to create a master plan for a mixed-use development that included a riverfront park, office space, housing, health-care facilities, and indoor practice fields for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers . Construction of the development began in 1998. The SouthSide Works has been open since 2005, featuring many stores, restaurants, offices, and the world headquarters for American Eagle Outfitters . The East End of Pittsburgh
8236-487: The company less than one year. Their Chairman, Mark McEachen, was nominated by preferred stockholders after the 2015 company- debt restructuring . Starting in the late 2000s, EDMC engaged in lobbying and political advocacy. One such area was the Department of Education 's June 2011 " gainful employment rule " which limited access to federal student loan money for students attending private-sector institutions with high post-graduation unemployment and default rates. EDMC opposed
8352-465: The company misled students about job placement rates and other postgraduation outcomes while recruiting them. The loan forgiveness will affect 80,000 students and provide an average of $ 1,370 to each student. Four states initiated investigations in recent years with Florida in October 2010, New York, California and a subpoena of documents regarding Brown Mackie College from the Office of Consumer Protection of
8468-620: The company's Argosy University in Denver violated the Colorado Consumer Protection Act by engaging in deceptive marketing, in particular misleading students about prospects for employment following graduation. Students had lodged complaints that the school had led them to believe it was pursuing accreditation from the American Psychological Association for its education in counseling psychology program, although it
8584-467: The company's stock had lost 99.9% of its value, and EDMC received a defaulted bond rating (to junk bond status). Moody's credit rating service in January 2015 dropped EDMC to its lowest rating, D-PD. In June 2018, EMDC filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and began to liquidate its assets. Eighty percent of Education Management's funds came from US government funds, from US Department of Education Title IV programs (Pell Grants and federal student loans),
8700-477: The corporation announced the planned closure of most of its Brown Mackie College campuses, with 22 of the 26 slated for closure. In December 2016, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) announced that nine Art Institute campuses and all 15 South University campuses were placed on probation. EDMC has faced significant financial problems, including a 99.9% drop in the value of its stock and
8816-523: The death knell for Argosy." On February 7, 2019, Dottore asked the Department of Education for $ 13 million in federal student aid funds to pay stipends to students at Argosy University in Southern California. The Arizona Republic and Inside Higher Education reported that Argosy University failed to distribute more than $ 9 million in financial aid to its students, and "it's unclear where the money is." The Washington Post subsequently reported that
8932-404: The degree he was pursuing wasn't "worth much more than the paper is worth". And he felt he was "throwing away taxpayer money" by using GI Bill funds. In 2012, Edward West replaced Todd Nelson as CEO, while Nelson replaced McKernan as chairman. After the growth in student numbers in the late 2000s, EDMC's enrollment declined from around 160,000 students in 2011 to approximately 130,000 students at
9048-464: The downtown skyline, and numerous other residential neighborhoods such as Sheraden and Elliott . Many of Pittsburgh's patchwork of neighborhoods still retain ethnic characters reflecting the city's settlement history. These include: Several neighborhoods on the edges of the city are less urban, featuring tree-lined streets, yards and garages, with a more suburban character. Oakland, the South Side,
9164-457: The end of 2012. EDMC has attributed this to the economic downturn of the late 2000s and new federal restrictions on the PLUS Loan program. The decrease in enrollment, coupled with pending changes to the U.S. Department of Education 's "gainful employment" rule, prompted EDMC to hold off expansion plans in 2012, and led to several rounds of layoffs. Only one new school opening has been announced in
9280-509: The federal funds illegally. In response to the charges, EDMC stated that the compensation plan in question was in compliance with then-current federal rules and had been reviewed and approved by two education law firms. In May 2012, the charges that the compensation plan was illegal were dismissed with other charges allowed to stand. During this time EDMC settled with a former South University recruiter alleging similar practices. The details were not public. A separate whistleblower lawsuit, filed by
9396-619: The first time in 2020, and then also achieved that goal in 2021, 2022, and were on track for better results in 2023. Argosy University Argosy University was a private for-profit university with campuses throughout the United States owned by Dream Center Education Holdings (DCEH), LLC and Education Management Corporation . On February 27, 2019, the U.S. Department of Education stated that they were cutting off federal funding to Argosy University. All Argosy campuses were officially closed shortly thereafter. The origins of Argosy University trace to three separate institutions:
9512-437: The highest appreciation of the largest 25 metropolitan statistical areas in the United States, with 22 of the largest 25 metropolitan statistical areas experiencing depreciations in housing values. In September 2009, the 2009 G20 Pittsburgh summit was held in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has an area of 58.3 square miles (151 km ), of which 55.6 square miles (144 km ) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km ), or 4.75%,
9628-407: The highest debt and lowest loan repayment rates ineligible for federal loans. Private-sector providers were also given time to comply with the changes. EDMC Senior VP of Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Development, Anthony J. Guida Jr., served, by appointment, on the U.S. Department of Education's Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance from 2009 until September 2012. He previously served on
9744-606: The mineral-rich Allegheny Mountains led to the region being contested by the French and British Empires, Virginians , Whiskey Rebels , and Civil War raiders . For part of the 20th century, Pittsburgh was behind only New York City and Chicago in corporate headquarters employment; it had the most U.S. stockholders per capita. Deindustrialization in the late 20th century resulted in massive layoffs among blue-collar workers as steel and other heavy industries declined, coinciding with several Pittsburgh-based corporations moving out of
9860-568: The online division. In 2011, EDMC and its then-subsidiary, the Art Institutes , received greater public scrutiny with the release of the Frontline documentary: Educating Sergeant Pantzke . In the documentary, Iraq war veteran Chris Pantzke discussed the lack of disability services at the school. According to Pantzke, "Being a soldier, you don't want to quit, you don't want to give up or fail." But after doing his own research, Pantzke concluded that
9976-753: The operator of Argosy University campuses, for $ 78 million ($ 134 million in 2023 dollars). The acquisition allowed EDMC to offer programs in law, education and business. In 2003 EDMC acquired the health sciences-focused South University in April and 18 schools operated by the Ohio-based American Education Centers in June, which were re-branded Brown Mackie College a year later. In September 2003, former Maine governor John McKernan became EDMC chief executive officer, serving until 2007. He oversaw continued acquisitions of existing art and design schools in
10092-649: The process of closing at that time. On October 18, 2017, EDMC announced it completed the sale of 31 Art Institute Schools, South University, and Argosy University to the Dream Center Foundation. As of 30 June 2018, it was announced that EMDC filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and began to liquidate its assets. In 2022, the EDMC schools Argosy University, The Art Institutes, Brown Mackie College, and South University were among 153 institutions included in student loan cancellation due to alleged fraud. The class action
10208-495: The record cold daily maximum is −3 °F (−19 °C), which occurred three times, most recently the day of the all-time record low, while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is 82 °F (28 °C) on July 1, 1901. Due to elevation and location on the windward side of the Appalachian Mountains, 100 °F (38 °C)+ readings are very rare, and were last seen on July 15, 1995. Average annual precipitation
10324-492: The rule's original draft, arguing that it limited minority and low-income students access to higher education. EDMC established a PAC in 2009 to address politically important industry issues. During the 2010 elections its PAC donated more than $ 50,000 to organizations of both parties and to politicians including Democratic Congressman Jason Altmire , who opposed the "gainful employment rule", as well as to Republican Congressman John Kline , Democratic Senator Michael Bennet and
10440-543: The school was working to get its Ed.D. in Counseling Psychology degrees accredited by the American Psychological Association and that graduates would be eligible to be licensed psychologists in Colorado, when that did not appear to be true. The settlement did not require EDMC to admit liability. Argosy University changed the Ed.D. in Counseling psychology curricula in order to meet psychology licensing standards. In May 2015, EDMC
10556-424: The school. As part of the deal, the company will also forgive $ 102.9 million in loans students borrowed from the company to attend the school. The settlement resolves claims alleged in four whistleblower lawsuits, one of which the government intervened in. In addition, the deal covers allegations made as part of a consumer fraud investigation by the attorneys general of 39 states and the District of Columbia over claims
10672-590: The sixth-best area for U.S. job growth. Pittsburgh is sometimes called the "City of Bridges" for its 446 bridges . Its rich industrial history left the area with renowned cultural institutions, including the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy , Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium , Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens , the National Aviary , and a diverse cultural district . The city's major league professional sports teams include
10788-423: The subject of several lawsuits and investigations alleging that the company made misleading claims in its efforts to recruit students. On November 16, 2015, federal and state authorities announced a $ 95.5-million settlement resolving a whistleblower case in which former EDMC employees said the company was "illegally paying recruiters based on the number of students they enrolled". As of 2016, EDMC announced that it
10904-488: The time of the acquisition EDMC's schools were serving around 72,000 students, 4,000 of whom were enrolled in online programs. The additional capital was used grow online enrollment to more than 40,000 students by the end of the decade, made possible in part by a 2006 Congressional revision to the "50% rule", which formerly required accredited schools to enroll more than half their students in campus-based programs in order to maintain federal loan eligibility. Todd S. Nelson, who
11020-450: The time the students graduated. At the time of the lawsuit, Argosy University Dallas had not applied for APA accreditation. According to a response from Argosy University's parent company, EDMC, accreditation with the APA is not required for clinical psychology licensure in many jurisdictions, including Texas. Argosy officials rejected charges of fraud, noting that pursuit of APA accreditation for
11136-852: The universities, and the Petersen Events Center . The Strip District to the west along the Allegheny River is an open-air marketplace by day and a clubbing destination by night. Bloomfield is Pittsburgh's Little Italy and is known for its Italian restaurants and grocers. Lawrenceville is a revitalizing rowhouse neighborhood popular with artists and designers. The Hill District was home to photographer Charles Harris as well as various African-American jazz clubs. Other East End neighborhoods include Point Breeze , Regent Square , Highland Park , Homewood , Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar , Larimer , East Hills , East Liberty , Polish Hill , Hazelwood , Garfield, Morningside, and Stanton Heights. The West End includes Mt. Washington , with its famous view of
11252-552: The value of homes in the South Side had increased in value by about 10% annually for the 10 years leading up to 2014. East Carson Street has developed as one of the most vibrant areas of the city, packed with diverse shopping, ethnic eateries, vibrant nightlife, and live music venues. In 1993, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh purchased the South Side Works steel mill property. It collaborated with
11368-400: The war effort. This resulted in the highest levels of air pollution in the city's almost century of industry. The city's reputation as the "arsenal of democracy" was being overshadowed by James Parton 's 1868 observation of Pittsburgh being "hell with the lid off." Following World War II, the city launched a clean air and civic revitalization project known as the "Renaissance," cleaning up
11484-604: The year in Pittsburgh is July, with a 24-hour average of 73.2 °F (22.9 °C). Conditions are often humid, and combined with highs reaching 90 °F (32 °C) on an average 9.5 days a year, a considerable heat index arises. The coolest month is January, when the 24-hour average is 28.8 °F (−1.8 °C), and lows of 0 °F (−18 °C) or below can be expected on an average 2.6 nights per year. Officially, record temperatures range from −22 °F (−30 °C), on January 19, 1994 to 103 °F (39 °C), which occurred three times, most recently on July 16, 1988;
11600-424: Was a business and education-focused school and was founded in 1969. Six years later Argosy Education Group acquired the health profession training school the Medical Institute of Minnesota, which was established in 1961. In July 2001, Argosy Education Group was acquired by Education Management Corporation . Two months later, Argosy Education Group brought together the American School of Professional Psychology,
11716-489: Was at risk. DCEH's court-appointed receiver, Marc Dottore, wrote to the US Department of Education that Studio Enterprise, a company designated to service former and current DCEH schools, "is taking service fees from the deal without providing any services, draining badly-needed cash from the operation." The Washington Post reported that "being kicked out of the federal student-aid programs, known as Title IV, would sound
11832-629: Was brought by a group of more than 200,000 student borrowers, assisted by the Project on Predatory Student Lending, part of the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School. A settlement was approved in August 2022, stating that the schools on the list were included "substantial misconduct by the listed schools, whether credibly alleged or in some instances proven." In April 2023, the Supreme Court rejected
11948-511: Was dismissed by a federal judge in September 2011, as the shareholders were unable to show that the company had lied to investors. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( / ˈ p ɪ t s b ɜːr ɡ / PITS -burg ) is a city in and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania , United States. It is the second-most populous city in Pennsylvania , after Philadelphia , and
12064-486: Was federally recognized as "Pittsburg", though use of the final h was retained during this period by the city government and other local organizations. After a public campaign, the federal decision to drop the h was reversed. The Pittsburg Press continued spelling the city without an h until 1921. [REDACTED] Kingdom of France 1690s–1763 [REDACTED] Great Britain 1681–1781 [REDACTED] United States 1776–present The area of
12180-488: Was founded in 1966 and originally acquired by Argosy in 2000, was renamed Western State College of Law at Argosy University . In December 2013, EDMC agreed to pay $ 3.3 million in restitution and fines to settle charges with the Colorado Attorney General that Argosy University had engaged in deceptive marketing practices. The Colorado Attorney General alleged that Argosy University led students to believe that
12296-528: Was incorporated as a borough on April 22, 1794, with the following Act: "Be it enacted by the Pennsylvania State Senate and Pennsylvania House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ... by the authority of the same, that the said town of Pittsburgh shall be ... erected into a borough, which shall be called the borough of Pittsburgh for ever." From 1891 to 1911, the city's name
12412-633: Was incorporated in Pennsylvania in 1962 and acquired its first educational institution in 1969 with the purchase of the nearly 50-year-old Art Institute of Pittsburgh . In June 1986, Robert Knutson and Merrill Lynch Capital Partners led a recapitalization of the company in which Richard Royston, co-CEO, was bought out. At the time there were eight Art Institutes. In October 1996 the EDMC conducted an initial public offering ($ 87.4 million in 2023 dollars). By 1998, EDMC served 17,400 students at 15 Art Institutes and three additional schools. In July 2001, EDMC purchased Chicago-based Argosy Education Group ,
12528-399: Was not. Without the accreditation, students were not accepted to local internships that met the state's licensing standards. As part of the settlement, EDMC agreed to reimburse tuition fees for 66 students, end advertisement of its education in counseling psychology program in Denver as a psychology licensure-track program, and not enroll any further students to the program. As of January, 2015,
12644-506: Was once the site of railyards and associated dense, inexpensive housing for mill and railroad workers. Starting in the late 20th century, the city undertook a Main Street program in cooperation with the National Trust for Historic Preservation , encouraging design and landscape improvements on East Carson Street, and supporting new retail. The area has become a local Pittsburgher destination, and
12760-490: Was one of 153 institutions included in student loan cancellation due to alleged fraud. The class action was brought by a group of more than 200,000 student borrowers, assisted by the Project on Predatory Student Lending, part of the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School. A settlement was approved in August 2022, stating that the schools on the list were included "substantial misconduct by the listed schools, whether credibly alleged or in some instances proven." In April 2023,
12876-479: Was planning on closing in The Art Institute of California, Silicon Valley, a branch campus of Argosy University. In November 2015, Argosy's parent company agreed to forgive more than $ 100 million of student loan debt to settle claims it violated consumer protection laws. In 2016, Argosy, Seattle stopped taking new students. In March 2017, Education Management Corporation reported that they intended to sell
12992-501: Was planning to close 19 of its Art Institute campuses and 22 of 26 Brown Mackie College campuses. In 2017, EDMC sold its remaining Brown-Mackie campuses to Ross Medical Education Centers . In 2017, EDMC reported that it had sold the existing Art Institutes to The Dream Center Foundation, a Los Angeles-based Pentecostal organization. The sale was complete in October 2017. In 2017, EDMC reported 109 locations, but more than 40 Brown Mackie Colleges and Art Institutes schools were in
13108-641: Was previously the CEO of Apollo Education Group , became the CEO in 2007 and the chairman of the board of directors in 2012. On September 21, 2009, EDMC became a public company once again, raising $ 330 million ($ 469 million in 2023 dollars) on the NASDAQ while Goldman Sachs retained 40% ownership. Enrollment in EDMC's online programs ballooned from 7,900 in 2007 to 42,300 in 2012, due in large part to practices that devoted more per-student expenditures to marketing ($ 4,158) than on education ($ 3,460). The next few years saw dramatic drops in enrollment and massive layoffs in
13224-530: Was producing significant quantities of iron, brass, tin, and glass. On March 18, 1816, the 46-year-old local government became a city. It was served by numerous river steamboats that increased trading traffic on the rivers. In the 1830s, many Welsh people from the Merthyr steelworks immigrated to the city following the aftermath of the Merthyr Rising . By the 1840s, Pittsburgh was one of the largest cities west of
13340-569: Was the nation's eighth-largest city , accounting for between one-third and one-half of national steel output. The Pittsburgh Agreement was subscribed in May 1918 between the Czech and Slovak nationalities, as envisioned by T. G. Masaryk , concerning the future foundation of Czechoslovakia . The city suffered severe flooding in March 1936. The city's population swelled to more than a half million, attracting numerous European immigrants to its industrial jobs. By 1940, non-Hispanic whites were 90.6% of
13456-565: Was the first constable, and William Troop was the first clerk. Following the American Revolution , the village of Pittsburgh continued to grow. One of its earliest industries was boat building for settlers of the Ohio Country . In 1784, Thomas Vickroy completed a town plan which was approved by the Penn family attorney. Pittsburgh became a possession of Pennsylvania in 1785. The following year,
#674325