N O T I C E IN THIS ISSUE The next issue of the Univer- U N I V E R S I T Y There is help for those suffering sity Times will be published on from seasonal depression................2 Wednesday, Nov. 25, due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Pitt prepares to dedicate its 30th TIMES Nationality Room.............................8 THE FACULTY & STAFF NEWSPAPER SINCE 1968 VOLUME 48 • NUMBER 6 NOVEMBER 12, 2015 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH Senate to address State budget: Some progress? grad student issues State leaders have announced they’re in agree- he University Senate student added that graduate students ment on a “broad framework” admissions, aid and affairs are a more complicated demo- for a fiscal year 2015-16 state Tcommittee’s plan to join graphic than undergrads. Some budget that’s now more than forces with Graduate and Pro- are in their 30s and 40s, married four months overdue. fessional Student Government with children; others are 23 and Among the provisions: (GPSG) to address graduate just beyond their undergraduate • Raising the state sales tax student concerns struck a chord years. The challenge of develop- from 6 percent to 7.25 percent with faculty. ing programs for such a complex to fund $2 billion in property In a report to Faculty Assembly group bolsters the argument that tax relief. on Nov. 4, student admissions, aid a dedicated graduate student unit • Using $600 million in and affairs committee co-chair should be established and funded casino tax revenues to shore Robin Kear said, “What we’re in Student Affairs, he said. up state pension contribu- trying to do right now is start a Nursing faculty member tions, freeing general fund conversation and see what we can Marilyn Hravnak, a member of revenues to increase educa- do.” One area being explored is the Senate’s equity, inclusion and tion funding. whether a graduate student unit anti-discrimination advocacy In a statement following a should be added, perhaps as part committee (EIADAC), said the Nov. 10 briefing outside Gov. of Student Affairs, she said. committee has been looking at Tom Wolf ’s office, Senate The committee will gather the campus community’s inter- minority leader Jay Costa information and may present national population. International (D-Allegheny) said: “While recommendations in spring, graduate students “seem to feel there is more work ahead, Kear said. there are little resources for them,” I am pleased that a budget “We know there’s no ‘typical’ although undergraduates don’t framework is in place that graduate student — they’re all share that view. may put us in position to very unique in what they need “It’s interesting to see that it’s consider a comprehensive from the University and what they not just international students but budget agreement in the near expect. But it has been brought to it seems to be graduate students future. What we announced our attention that some graduate in general,” she said. with the governor today was student organizations expressed EIADAC is discussing the an outline of a plan that lead- that they feel disconnected from perceived disparity, which may ers of both parties can take the larger University.” be related to the way resources to their members once details John Stoner of history noted are distributed, she said. Funds are finalized. Just last week ... CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 that competition and consumer are more centrally disbursed for Kimberly K. Barlow/University Times pressures may underlie the many undergrads, whereas graduate services and amenities aimed student funds are more likely to at undergraduates. Graduate be disbursed school by school. Staff give input on strategic plan students, however, come to Pitt Graduate students pay a $30 for a particular program. “They activity fee each semester. Half early 100 staff members Foundational strength about particularly how do we choose to be here in a different goes to their school and half to brainstormed in small Michele Colvard, executive ensure that collaborations are way than undergraduates choose GPSG, said Joseph Kozak, GPSG Ngroups Nov. 5 to provide director for staff personnel and improving both between academic to be here,” he said. “We shouldn’t president. input on implementing the Uni- senior assistant dean in the Diet- units, between academic units and forget about them.” Kozak said GPSG holds pro- versity’s strategic plan. The forum rich School of Arts and Sciences, business units, and between indi- Kear noted as well that gradu- grams and social events to bring was hosted by the Staff Associa- who is a member of the working vidual business units themselves,” ate students’ connection with the graduate students from different tion Council (SAC). group on building foundational she said. Should working groups University isn’t solely an issue schools together. “Graduate stu- Administrators have embarked strength, launched the discussion be formed to tackle some of the during their years on campus, dents are all siloed across their on a series of engagement ses- by elaborating on her group’s University’s complex problems? “especially considering that they respective schools,” he said. sions in which faculty, staff and direction. Where should decision-making become our alumni as well.” In addition, GPSG funding students can suggest specific ways “We have really been thinking on complex topics lie? While some graduate students provides legal services and travel to “put meat on the bones” of about how we can ensure that the • Enhancing Pitt’s ability to access support services from grants and pays for a part-time the strategic plan that has been infrastructure of the University ... partner, both internally and with their school- or department-level graduate student worker to pro- in development for over a year. can support the mission of the public and private partners locally, graduate student organization, not vide administrative support. The plan’s broad goals are institution and the other broad nationally and globally. all do, Kear said. GPSG is surveying graduate to advance educational excel- goals of education and research “How do we improve our Often programming falls to students about their concerns, lence, engage in research of and community outreach and all agility and break down barriers?” the student-run GPSG. Kozak said. He urged faculty impact, strengthen communities, of those things that we are aspiring she said. “I can see the need for more who work with grad students to build foundational strength and to achieve,” she said. support,” she said. encourage them to take the survey embrace diversity and inclusion. The group is focusing on three Staff feedback Business faculty member Jay via my.pitt.edu. Moderated by Executive Vice broad strategic initiatives, she said: Staff asked for more opportu- Sukits pointed out that graduate Under past president David Provost David DeJong, the ses- • Transforming information nities for face-to-face interaction. student isn’t a one-size-fits-all Gau, GPSG instituted an ori- sion for staff focused on two of infrastructure to expand Pitt’s “Effective business decisions term. Students in the Katz Gradu- entation and resource fair to the University’s five goals: build- reach and better support improve- come from people you know and ate School of Business’s master’s provide new graduate students ing foundational strength and ment in research, learning and trust,” said Yvonne Keafer of programs tend to be focused on with important information. embracing diversity and inclusion. operational efficiency. Pitt’s Risk Management office, completing their program and “We’ve been trying to grow that A session for faculty has been • Strengthening administra- advocating for providing opportu- getting a job, he said, while PhD program,” Kozak said, noting that scheduled for noon-1:30 p.m. tive and operational efficiency nities for staff “to see each other students are more closely tied to about 500 grad students attended. Nov. 17 in the William Pitt Union by improving communication outside our silos.” the school’s teaching and research. Gau, a member of the student Ballroom. and collaboration between and Forming interest groups of “It’s important to separate the admissions, aid and affairs com- Additional meetings for the among the University’s academic like-minded individuals would kinds of students you group here.” mittee, said that Alberta Sbragia, entire University community are and business units. enable staff in similar job groups Clark Muenzer of German CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 planned. “Here we’ve been thinking CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 1 Internal Senate to address campaign grad student issues CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 vice provost for graduate studies, will have an effect on the direction kicks off advocates on behalf of graduate of faculty research, he said. This year’s annual faculty and students, but her office is small. Morel pointed out there is staff campaign has kicked off with “GPSG for the past couple of broad representation on the the theme “Together, We Make a years has been trying to fill the committee and that conversations Work of Art.” role supporting graduate student have ensued on the topic of what Joseph Junker, associate direc- life,” he said. is research. tor of leadership annual giving In addition to orientation, Gau Seth Weinberg of dental medi- in the Office of Institutional said GPSG has been assisting with cine noted that similar concerns Advancement (IA), explained: admissions and recruitment and are arising in biomedical sciences, “This year’s campaign focuses leading campus tours. He added, where questions include whether on the idea that each member of “We’re limited as well because datasets should be counted as Pitt’s faculty and staff offers an we’re all students and we’re not scholarship in matters of pro- individual artistry to the Univer- paid to do any of those things.