PITT GPSG



Please summarize the content of the meeting. Highlighted portions were read at the meetings.University Planning and Budget Committee: The meeting content are confidential except the public meeting minutes. However, they are not yet approved.Educational Policies: - There are 2 open positions that will have public interviews in the future, and thus may be open for input from graduate students: Director of the University Library System and Dean of the School of Education. - Graduate students have reported technical issues with the the electronic dissertation submission system and Vice Provost Sbragia noted that people are aware of these issues and are working on it - she will report back. - A new US News and World Report university ranking was released. Pitt's overall national rank fell from 66 to 68. Pitt was ranked 24th among public institutions, and 20th in public AAU schools (AAU has focus on graduate studies). - The UCGS is working on a proposal for a graduate computer science program at Pitt.Senate Library Committee: Director search is a very large issue. There are 6 finalists chosen by a search committee. The search committee members are required to choose 3-5 to submit to the provost in an unranked list. Some of the faculty were upset that they could not input a ranked list of the finalists to the provost quoting that they spent ~80 hours of work choosing the finalists. The renovation of hillman is also a very hot issue. The plan is to close the fourth floor by the start of the summer semester and work down floor by floor so as to only shut off one floor at a time. During floor closures, the library will do there best to find the students alternative study spaces should the need arise.The library website will contain up to date records of any books or collections that are being moved to storage -- one committee member voiced a complaint that some collections may be needed by new faculty members. By the end of the term the renovation team hopes to submit a proposal scope and total dollar amount for the project. Health science library -- currently updating their website. Using a new biopreprint software to stay on the cutting edge of science. Their new systematic reviews workshop is a big hit and now is being held 3 times a year at a max capacity of 22 people. They are planning on renovating the scaife library beginning this summer and ending the beginning of next fall. No representative present from Barco. One member voiced a complaint about a lack of transparency between the senate library committee and the renovation committee. The complaint was acknowledged and the group devised a plan to help coordinate better communication between the groups.Mental Health Task Force: *Mental Health Awareness Month-October -Preparation surrounding events for the week of 10-13, 2016 -In September representative Jenna Heberle, from American Foundation For Suicide Prevention came and offered Talks Saves Lives, which will take place on Tuesday 10/18 and 10/25. Open to anyone, (especially aimed at student group leaders & Resident Assistants). *Request for new meeting time, as some student group leaders/reps are unable to attend at the 2-3pm time frame. Doodle poll will be organized and sent out to group for consensus of best meeting time. *JED/Clinton Campus Program self-assessment discussion focused on what is being done or is offered on campus for students at all level (undergrad; graduate/professional) addressing issues of inclusion/tolerance, student safety, health/wellness and academic performance. Assessment is lengthy and not all topics were covered and will be continued in next meeting on 10/18. It should be noted that much of the discussion focused on programs targeted at undergraduate student population and that graduate/professional students are likely not aware or are not targeted in the services that were discussed as addressing the aforementioned issues. Will need to have more in-depth discussion of ways to be more intentional in the in inclusion of graduate/professional students.Hillman Library Renovation Committee: Led by brightspot design consultancy. There will be a 6 week definition phase where we as a team will identify the question areas and concerns about Hillman to address in the next phase of the project. We identified a series of opportunities for improvement at Hillman: -Removing books (~60%) -Increasing the student study space -Increasing partnerships across the campus -Increasing the experience of Hillman The library is a space for people, not books. We observed current trends in other libraries to get ideas. How to function as a library in a rapidly changing world. Broke out into groups to discuss changes we wish to see in the library. Space models we looked at: 1) Forum - inviting space to welcome people in library, experiential spot in the library 2) Research Institute - place for students to research and collaborate in new and exciting ways 3) Study Space - place to work and cabinet of curiosities Question: Can we incorporate all these models into one building? We discussed seat numbers in Hillman, how many we should add and the seat density of the space. We discussed partnerships with outside organizations to add to the student life. The meeting ended with us voting on what sort of experiences students come to the library to have.EIADC: 1) Introductions 2) Update on 2015-16 committee progress: a. Gender Equity working group b. International Populations working group c. Race and Ethnicity working group 3) Discussion of 2016-17 working groups/subcommittees 4) Plans for the Year of Diversity (YoD): a. Discussion from those who have attended YoD events 5) New business: a. Stephen Foster Memorial statue b. Leave for eldercare c. Male vs female productivity after maternity leave: i. “Equal but Inequitable: Who Benefits from Gender-Neutral Tenure Clock Stopping Policies?” ii. d. Any new business from committee membersSustainability Committee: -Inaugural meeting of this committee -Inclusion of regional campuses vs. just Pittsburgh campus -Goal is to get a draft of a Sustainability Plan to the Chancellor by April -What kinds of sustainability does this committee what to focus on? Social, economic, environmental. Based on a UN Commission Report from Brundtland 1987. -By next month: goals for improving sustainability (question: in GPSG? Graduate schools as a whole?)Student Affairs, Aid, and Admissions: Discussed student/faculty/staff relationship (consensual/sexual/etc.) policies. The University is revamping this policy to be more in-line with Title IX requirements. There is still a lot of ambiguity with the new policy around the reporting of relationships between student/faculty/staff especially revolving around the fact that the policy currently states that reporting may result in disciplinary action. The overall gist of the policy is to protect individuals and prevent conflict of interest/power play situations.University Research Council: We discussed the visitor research policy and the development of a new format to bring research visitors to campus. Currently, only faculty visitor policies have been discussed. Student visitors will be next after the finalization of this portion.PSGC: ? Universities bid on dates to host PSGC o Pitt will host PSGC on March 23rd, 2017 ? Executive committee o Discussed Dave Gau’s International Students Day that will be hosted at Pitt ? We are the first city in the U.S. to be hosting this ? They are looking for volunteers to help on the day of o Mental Health ? Discussed that mental health services records are covered under FERPA not HIPPA and can be brought as evidence during a suit ? Challenged us to explore this issue at our University ? Carlow University o Alumni Event ? “Shammy the Shamrock” ? Take pictures with their mascot and sell them to alumni during homecoming ? Chatham University o Focusing on Diversity ? Hosted a “Black Lives” conversation o Forming a professional dress closet for business casual events on their campus ? Their SGB requires business casual dress and hopes that this closet will allow more students to participate in SGB ? Clothing drive to fill the closet o Asked others schools about their undocumented student policy ? No one responded with any information o Chatham is interested in making SGB members mandatory reporters if sexual misconduct is reported to them ? Robert Morris University o Hosted a bonfire where student wrote down their biggest fears about college and burned them o Looking to create an App for RMU that can centralize resources ? Point Park University o Hosted freshmen frenzy o Sexual assault awareness meetings held o Assistant Resident Directors at Point Park are current Pitt Graduate students ? Karina Carillo and Tyler Pieron o Elected new President-pro tempore o Opened up new senator position for media innovation o Mentor weekend coming up ? Duquesne o New University President just inaugurated ? Community College of Allegheny County o Restarting up for the semester o Launched ambassador program for admissions and tours ? Work-study pay o Working on an international student event of their own o Campus is becoming smoke free ? Carnegie Mellon University o Masters and Undergraduate student committed suicide just recently o Working to provide resources for faculty, staff, graduate students to know what to do if they know a student who has an issue o Working on visa reform ? Student currently receiving F class visas that can get student stuck for months in securityUniversity Senate Council: ? May 18 meeting minutes approved without comment ? Chancellor Patrick Gallagher o University is conducting a search for the Head of Development and currently an interim Head is in place o Summer updates ? Arrival survival went well ? Welcoming a record setting undergraduate class. His goal is to reconnect students and make them feel like they belong ? This is one of the most diverse classes with highest SAT scores ? Additional Summer Updates ? See handout distributed at meeting o 10/13 Frontiers Conference ? U.S. President Barack Obama is coming to Pittsburgh ? Last travel as President ? Discussing the future of innovation through smarter communities and personalized medicine o Year of Diversity and Inclusion ? Launched through the Office of the Provost ? Catalytic event for future efforts ? The Chancellor challenged everyone to participate in the effort ? Senate President Frank Wilson o Said some “controversial initiatives” are in the works but did not detail further o On 10/17 there will be an Expanded Executive Committees Meeting ? Frank hopes that chairs will meet with officers ? He encourages committees to collaborate and form working groups rather than forming new ad-hoc committees ? Hopes to share their agendas together o Senate Plenary Topic ? Looking at the topics of using metrics to measure quality of teaching and research ? 9 members so far ? Reminded us to follow the Senate on social media ? This topic will be the central focus ? Looking at the evaluation of teachers and end results of evaluations ? Said salary decreases may come into play ? More information to come about this topic o Year of Diversity ? Committee to meet ? They are looking to see if this committee can become a permanent diversity advisory committee to Vice Chancellor Pam Connelly’s team o Institutional Statement of Core Values for faculty, staff, students ? Goal is to develop such a statement in year during Senate Council meetings ? Goal is to develop this collaboratively (shared governance o Reminded the Senate Council to read the University Times’ article about the faculty assembly ? Learn more about the search for the Senior Vice Chancellor of Research ? Look out for open forum meetings ? Evaluation of faculty will be a serious issue during the search o Discussed past meetings on divestment from fossil fuels ? Forming new committee to comprise students also ? Frank is reaching to his student picks ? Frank hopes to work more closely with students in the coming year ? SGB President Natalie Dall o Hosting community engagement panel to consist of community speakers and voter registration o Worked with CGR to organize and “Everyone Votes” event with PA Secretary of State Cortes o Working to publicize the SGB campus readership program with New York Times and USA Today available in boxes o Safety and Wellness fair planned o Mental health awareness week planned ? Speaker affiliated with student group “Active Minds” ? Continuing “Untold” gallery showing in the William Pitt Union ? Self-care fair to be hosted to focus on resources available on campus o Formed student empowerment committee and task-forces ? Focus on improving body image issues o SGB announced that they are now considered a formula group at Pitt ? This means that they receive 2% of the undergraduate activities fee each semester ? This allows them to have more ability to have budget flexibility ? They can have more reactionary programing ? CGS President Jessica Cevcik o Planning a diversity project to go along with the Year of Diversity and Inclusion o Goal is to develop a mentorship program to support peers at CGS o Planning several homecoming events ? Arts and Sciences GSG President Dominique Johnson o Elected new VP o Revised their website o Goal is to bring all of the graduate student organizations at the Dietrich School together o Planning a graduate student conference o Support sexual assault and Title IX initiatives ? Exploring initiatives and potential collaboration o Launched a professional development series ? Staff Association Council o Major topic of discussion: Salary Administration ? Thanked the chancellor for the 1.5% increase in pay despite the 1% decrease in incoming earnings ? Want a better perspective of pay with the cost of living and rising living expenses in Pittsburgh ? Noted that some schools are keep certain percentages of the increase for “merit and equity deductions” ? Noted that this was at the individual school level and at the Dean’s discretion ? SAC hosted their Day at Kennywood ? SAC mentorship program is in the works ? Consist of professional development also ? SAC is continuing initiatives related to the Year of Humanities ? SAC thanked SGB for their collaboration with “Safety Walks” ? Chancellors comments to SAC ? Vice Chancellor of HR Cheryl Johnson hired Looking at better communication with pay decisions for staff even at the local school level ................
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