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The IUP at Northpointe Campus is a regional campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The campus offers a range of programs including both undergraduate and graduate degrees. IUP at Northpointe is located immediately off Route 28 at Exit 18 in the mixed-use community of Northpointe in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.

History
Concerned by the number of Armstrong County students not seeking higher education, a group of Armstrong County residents initiated efforts to start a college campus in the county in 1962. Leadership of the citizens’ group fell upon six individuals: Dr. Albert R. Pechan, state senator and dentist from Ford City; John B. McCue, a state representative and attorney in Kittanning; James M. Wyant, publisher of the Leader-Times; Dr Donald W. Minteer, a physician; Dr. Robert H. Thurau, a minister; and Doyle V. Shaeffer, manager of the West Penn Power Company in Kittanning.

These six individuals organized into the Armstrong County Educational Trust, which became the non-profit organization that spearheaded the opening of the Armstrong Campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

The Trust provided the “advisory link” between the University and the communities it serves. In August, 1963, the Trust purchased the former West Penn Power building on North McKean Street in Kittanning to serve as the Campus academic “old Main.” It was an ideal structure since the architecture was similar to that of other buildings on college campuses and only a few modifications were necessary to convert the facility for use as an academic center.

Robert H. Doerr was appointed by the University as the first director of the Armstrong Campus and he served in that capacity for over three decades.

From the initial discussions, the campus organizers’ efforts to start the college progressed even faster than they expected and the first class was held in the new building in September, 1963, with a surprisingly large enrollment of 96 students.

As enrollments increased the need for housing became apparent. Pechan Hall opened in 1965, providing housing for 76 students. Two years later in 1967, Minteer Hall opened with 138 students. Because the campus is located in a residential area of Kittanning, many students were housed in private homes nearby. It became evident that the need for student activities was necessary, and the Student Union was founded in 1969.

In addition to meeting the needs of the community, the IUP Armstrong Campus served as a feeder campus to Main Campus, providing admission to applicants who were not offered admission to Indiana. The campus prospered for a number of years, and then the economy changed. The local high-school graduates who traditionally flocked to the Armstrong Campus were gone. Other branch campuses experienced similar situations, and a paradigm shift had to take place for branch campuses to survive.

In May 2001, the IUP Armstrong Campus closed its residence halls, focusing on its new mission to become a first-rate commuter campus for location-bound students.

The IUP Armstrong Campus opened its new facility in August 2005. This new facility is located immediately off Route 28 at Exit 18 in Northpointe, a mixed-use community. With the move the campus name was changed to IUP at Northpointe. The original campus in Kittanning was given to Armstrong County

Notable IUP alumni who began their IUP degree at this campus:
• Kim Lyttle (1972, M1974); VP National City Bank of Pennsylvania

• J. Bracken Burns Sr. (1970); Washington County (PA) Commissioner (1996-present)

• Jack Wagner (1974); Pennsylvania Auditor General, former state senator, former president of Pittsburgh City Council

• Jim Haslett (1979), former NFL player and coach

• Patricia Kirkpatrick, Armstrong County (PA) Commissioner

• James Scahill, Armstrong County (PA) Commissioner

• Sally J. Anderson (1992) Executive Vice President & COO, Merchants National Bank of Kittanning

• Ronald G. Shafer (1968) Professor, IUP English Department

• David M. Siesko (1983) Executive Vice President, Technical Claims, Zurich NA

• John Beale (1979) Senior Lecturer in PSU College of Communications and former Pittsburgh Post Gazette photographer

External Links:
IUP at Northpointe