With Pitt-Greensburg’s first homecoming fast approaching, now is a good time to look back at the university’s history and see just how far it has come.

As one of the school’s first faculty members, Dr. Guy Nicoletti, an associate professor of math and engineering, has seen firsthand the progress the university has made.

“I’ve been here since day one. Since 1963,” he said. “The university has changed tremendously.”

Pitt-Greensburg started in only two buildings in downtown Greensburg. Those two buildings held five classrooms for about 50 full-time students and 150 part-time students, a small auditorium, student lounge and offices for about twelve faculty members.

In fact, the university was so small and had so little at the time that Seton Hill let Pitt-Greensburg faculty and students use things such as their chemistry lab. Even local high schools helped the university – Nicoletti taught a few evening classes at a junior high.

Pitt-Greensburg expanded when the university bought the Lynch estate in 1964. For a little while, the campus was divided between the building downtown and the current campus. Smith Hall was the first university building to be built on this campus with construction beginning in 1974 and first used in 1976, followed by its dedication in 1977. The university kept expanding to include all of the buildings on campus today.

“It went from twelve people to the total body of the university,” Nicoletti said. “The campus has expanded significantly.”

Nicoletti has been glad to see this expansion in what has been over 40 years.

“It has come extremely far,” he said. “It has been a steady, uniform increase of physical plans as well as faculty and all other facilities. It has great support from the community.”

In addition to the growth of the actual campus, Nicoletti is also glad to see how the student body has expanded from approximately 50 in 1963 to about 1800 – both commuters and residents – today.

“I’m elated that the student growth shows beyond any doubt the growth and success of the university,” he said.

Some things, though, haven’t changed.

“What remains constant has been the spirit and the commitment of the university to implement its educational mission,” Nicoletti said.

That spirit and commitment has never faltered.

“The university has always been aware, in spite of its growth, of the original purpose and obligation to the community,” he said.

The university’s very first homecoming is yet another change, although very minor compared to everything else Nicoletti has witnessed. Still, he is enthusiastic about this weekend’s homecoming celebrations.

“It definitely will be an inspiring event for all affiliated who have become friends of the university, who will come to reminisce and admire the present. And that will be an inspiration for other generations.”

Nicoletti is also optimistic about the future of the university and the potential it has.

“Not only do I hope, but I am quite certain the march forward for the university will continue. It will continue to grow.”