Subscribe to Pittwire Today
Get the most interesting and important stories from the University of Pittsburgh.Nearly 200 people celebrated the opening of the newly renovated student union at the Education and Training Center (ETC) at Pitt-Titusville and toured its updated facilities on April 24.
Elected officials from across Western Pennsylvania, representatives from local businesses, community members, students, faculty and staff attended the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the J. Curtis McKinney II Student Union. The celebration also acknowledged the successful capital campaign, which made the renovation project possible.
“This is an incredible day for our students, our community, and the future of education and workforce development in the region,” said Rick Esch, president of Pitt’s Titusville and Bradford campuses. “Today marks not only the opening of a renovated facility, but also the realization of a bold vision that combines education, innovation and community to create real and lasting opportunities.
“This is more than a building: It’s a promise. A promise that ETC is leading and shaping the future of education and workforce training in ways that are flexible and grounded in real-world need.”
The facility includes the recently named Peter C. Rossin Manufacturing Center, a makerspace, a digital arts studio, two gallery spaces, upgraded classrooms and collaborative areas designed to spark innovation and hands-on learning.
The manufacturing center had been located off-campus since its relocation to Titusville in 2021. The new on-campus facility gives students hands-on experience with an assortment of tools and equipment, including mills, lathes, band saws, a drill press, and disc and belt grinders. The center also includes quality control and inspection tools, including a CNC coordinate measuring machine and optical comparator.
“It is an honor to be standing here today — thanks to the collaboration of community and educational partners, regional employers, donors, faculty, staff and students — to offer low-to-no-cost education and training to fulfill the workforce needs of northwestern Pennsylvania,” said Stephanie Fiely, executive director of the ETC at Pitt-Titusville. “The newly revised center is here to enhance the educational opportunities of residents in the region and to strengthen our communities.”
The renovation, intended to serve as a springboard for workforce development advancements for the region, began in spring 2024. In addition to the unveiling of the new facility, the event highlighted ETC’s success in surpassing its $3 million capital campaign goal, which helped to support the renovation project.
“Thanks to the unwavering support of our community, I’m proud to share that we have exceeded our immediate capital campaign goal of $3 million,” said Joseph McCarthy, Pitt provost and senior vice chancellor. “That milestone is more than just a number, it’s a testament to the shared vision, faith, and dedication that fuels the mission.”
Jim Broadhurst, who along with Tom McKinney served as a co-chair of the campaign, said, “Having the Pitt brand involved makes a big difference here, as it provides inroads for students who may want to continue on and build upon the education they learned here. The connection provides many additional opportunities to regional students which ultimately provides a favorable impact on the region’s economic health.”
Photography by Aimee Obidzinski. In the top photo, from left: Kevin Jenkins, president and CEO of Manchester Bidwell; Rick Esch, president of Pitt-Titusville and Pitt-Bradford; Joe McCarthy, provost and senior vice chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh; Stephanie Fiely, executive director of ETC at Pitt-Titusville; campaign co-chairs Tom McKinney and Jim Broadhurst; Sen. Michelle Brooks; Susie Snelick, president of Northern Pennsylvania Regional College.