F E A T U R E I N T H I S I S S U E According to an annual AAUP Benefits open enrollment runs survey, salaries for most Pitt fac- through May 13................................3 ulty ranks exceeded the averages Blue, Gold & Green: Pitt holds its for peer institutions nationally. first sustainability festival...............13 See page 5. U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES VOLUME 41 • NUMBER 17 APRIL 30, 2009 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH Pinsky wins Regional Senate post undergrad ichael R. Pinsky of the School of Medicine Mhas won the election for president of the University tuition Senate. Pinsky is professor of criti- cal care medicine, bioengineering, translational and clinical research, is frozen cardiovascular diseases and anes- here will be no under- thesiology. He is a former Senate graduate tuition increases vice president. Tat Pitt’s regional campuses Susan B. Hansen, professor of in Bradford, Greensburg, John- political science, was re-elected stown and Titusville next year, the vice president, and Lisa Marie University announced April 20. Bernardo, associate professor, In making the announcement health and community systems, of the regionals’ tuition freeze, School of Nursing, was re-elected Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg for a third term as secretary. stated, “Particularly in these Winners of the recent officer difficult times, the University is elections were announced this sensitive to the difficult task of week by the Senate office. Senate balancing our own financial uncer- officers serve one-year terms that tainties with the challenges faced begin July 1. by families who are budgeting to Also announced were newly meet tuition expenses. As a result, elected members to Faculty we are redoubling our efforts to Assembly for 2009-2012. Assem- limit tuition increases.” bly members serve the first year In commenting on the likely of their three-year terms on the level of tuition increases on the Assembly; during their second Pittsburgh campus, Nordenberg and third years, they serve on COMMENCEMENT noted, “At best, it will be several both the faculty-only Assembly weeks before the commonwealth’s and on Senate Council, which budget has been approved, permit- includes faculty, staff, students ting us to make the revenue and and administrators. expense projections necessary to The following faculty were 2 • 0 • 0 • 9 determine the tuition increases elected to Faculty Assembly: that will be necessary for the more School of Arts and Sciences On Sunday the University conferred some 6,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees, complex array of programs offered • Humanities: Marcia Landy, including 416 doctorates, to students on the Pittsburgh campus, and approximately 1,000 under- graduate degrees to students on regional campuses, which hold their own commencement ceremo- in Pittsburgh. Some increases English. nies. For coverage of the commencement convocation, see pages 8 & 9. seem inevitable, but we will do • Natural sciences: Chandralekha our best to temper them.” Singh, physics and astronomy; Photos by Jim Burke/CIDDE According to the University’s Marc Sommer, neuroscience. Fact Book, there were 6,923 stu- • Social sciences: Martha Chai- dents enrolled at the four regionals klin, history; Janelle Greenberg, in fall 2008 including both full- history. and part-time students. Professional schools In-state full-time students at • Business: Jay Sukits. the Bradford, Greensburg and • Education: Amy Otto. Johnstown campuses paid $11,012 • Engineering: Patrick Smolin- in tuition for the current academic ski. year in most programs; out-of- • Information sciences: Michael state students paid $20,572. Spring. At Titusville, the current in- • Law: Nancy Burkoff. state student tuition is $9,700; • Social work: Keith Caldwell. out-of-staters will continue to • University Library System: Ed pay $18,320 in tuition for most Galloway. programs. Schools of the The University Planning and Health Sciences Budgeting Committee (UPBC) • Medicine: Lisa Pan; Tom Smi- supported freezing regional therman; Adele Towers. campus tuition now, while rec- • Public health: Joe Costantino. ognizing that tuition decisions There were no openings for regarding programs on the Pitts- new Assembly members from burgh campus would have to dental medicine, nursing, phar- await further information and macy, public and international analysis. affairs or the Health Sciences UPBC also had supported the Library System. recently announced salary freeze Voting for membership on the for employees, which will be in Senate’s 15 standing committees place for the 2009-10 academic will be held May 4-15. For the year. (See March 5 University committee slate see page 11. Times.) —Peter Hart n —Peter Hart n 1 U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES tions already has been eliminated from the governor’s proposed Pitt FY10 budget process continuing $26.6 billion FY10 budget. Pro noted that some legislators favor eliminating all funding for he University’s fiscal year the Senate on matters of Univer- watch revenue figures, House the legislature is not under obliga- non-preferred entities. “I think 2010 budget continues to sity concern. appropriations spokesperson tion to fund. right now everything is on the Ttake shape even as legisla- Referring to BPC’s mission Johnna Pro told the University The governor’s proposed table,” she said. tors in Harrisburg deal with their statement (www.pitt.edu/univsen- Times, adding that tax receipts budget would hold funding for “We’re going to have a lot of own budget woes. ate/committees/budget/mission. make April and May big months the state-related universities at discussion.” University Senate budget html), Pratt reiterated that the for revenue. current levels, which already The legislature’s goal is to policies committee (BPC) chair fiscal health of the University is Regardless, Pennsylvania faces have been cut 6 percent from the complete a budget by the June 30 Richard Pratt at an April 17 BPC among the committee’s primary a $2.3 billion shortfall in the amounts authorized last July by fiscal year end. “Realistically, do meeting said the University Plan- concerns. “It’s clear that the current fiscal year’s budget with the legislature. (See Sept. 25, 2008, we think that’s going to happen? ning and Budgeting Committee budget policies committee has similar numbers expected for next and Jan. 8 University Times.) Some It’s hard to say. People have to be (UPBC) could recommend a very wide-ranging jurisdiction year, leaving a gap of more than funding for non-preferred arts, willing to negotiate,” Pro said. budget at its next meeting. UPBC and responsibilities albeit very $6 billion that must be closed cultural and historical organiza- —Kimberly K. Barlow n is scheduled to meet today, April limited authority as an advisory as legislators debate next year’s 30. body,” he said. budget. Pratt said BPC could then Vice Chancellor for Budget “We cannot cut our way out review the recommendation and Controller Arthur Rami- of this budget process,” Pro said, Provost addresses in a closed session at its May 8 cone told BPC he plans to make adding that the state will need to meeting. a report at the May 20 meeting tap into its rainy day fund, increase Given the Chancellor’s March of the trustees’ budget commit- revenues and streamline its BPC in closed session 2 announcement that there will tee. “Then we wait and see what budget. While federal economic rovost James V. Maher addressed the Senate budget policies be no salary pool increase in this happens with the commonwealth stimulus money is helpful, Pro committee April 17 in closed session. BPC chair Richard year’s budget, Pratt said, “There appropriation,” he said. said, “It doesn’t solve our budget PPratt said the provost used the time to review with the may not be as much to say this The full board of trustees has problem.” committee issues the University is facing as well as the status of time,” although he noted the issue scheduled a June 26 meeting at House and Senate appropria- its various major revenue sources including investment income, of benefits could be a topic for which the new annual budget tions committee hearings — part research grants, tuition and the state appropriation. BPC to review and discuss. could be approved. of the annual budget process — In other business, Pratt said the committee tentatively plans to Pratt elaborated on BPC’s role However, a University budget have been completed. As budget review at its May 29 meeting the University’s annual report com- as an adviser and watchdog over typically is not approved until after discussions continue in the coming paring faculty salaries with those of its 33 Association of American Pitt’s budget process and issues Pitt’s state appropriation is final- weeks, Pro said, “I think you will Universities peers. Robert Goga of the Office of Management related to the University’s fiscal ized. Ramicone said trustees have have a lot of discussion about Information and Analysis told BPC the report is in progress. health. set a contingency meeting in July funding of non-preferreds” — • Goga was present at BPC to elaborate on the University’s Citing the University’s plan- in case the legislature fails to pass charitable or educational institu- annual report on salaries of full-time Pitt employees, which was ning and budgeting system (PBS) a budget before the June 30 end tions (including Pitt and its fellow distributed at BPC’s March 27 meeting. (See April 16 University document (www.pitt.edu/~jdl1/ of the current fiscal year. state-related schools) that are not Times.) PBSdoc.htm) and Senate bylaws Harrisburg is continuing to under the state’s control and that BPC member Philip Wion noted that the report cuts two ways: (www.pitt.edu/univsenate/bylaws. It prompts some employees to approach their chairs or deans if html), Pratt said, “The general they find they are being paid less than others in their unit; it also University Times letters policy serves as a reality check, Wion said, allowing those who think they PBS procedure does state that Letters should be submitted at least one week prior to publication.