University Center
for Teaching and Learning
2021-22 Annual Report
Greetings from Michael Bridges, Interim Executive Director, University Center for Teaching and Learning

The changing face of the COVID-19 pandemic has presented the University Center for Teaching and Learning with some of the most significant challenges we have faced. Our Center was called upon to respond to rapidly changing circumstances and unpredictable teaching and learning environments. As the university returned to the in-person classroom, many of those challenges still loom and questions persist regarding what the post-pandemic learning environment will look like. Throughout these difficult times, the Teaching Center has steadfastly supported faculty and students in ways that continue to amaze me. Our team members have been innovative, creative, and tireless in their efforts during the pandemic and remain even more dedicated to helping faculty create the very best learning environments for our students as we navigate our way back to the in-person classroom.
While this report highlights some of our key accomplishments, it only scratches the surface as to how the Teaching Center supports, facilitates, and contributes to the success of the university.
New Faculty Essentials
In support of a reimagined New Faculty Orientation in 2021, we launched a new initiative: New Faculty Essentials. This program welcomed 327 new faculty to the University community.
Workshops, seminars, faculty learning communities, and other professional development activities were held in order to help new faculty acclimate themselves to Pitt.
Outreach & Events
- Newsletter recipients have grown to over 11,000.
- 286,000+ website views during the academic year.
- Twitter audience grew to more than 1,100 followers, while receiving 21,000 impressions.
- In support of a reimagined New Faculty Orientation in 2021, we launched a new initiative, New Faculty Essentials, to welcome new faculty to the university community.
- New Faculty Orientation remained in a hybrid format. Nearly 160 faculty registered.
- Demand for our teaching and technology workshops and events remained strong, with over 1,000 attendees spanning over 80 workshops/events respondents indicated that they relied on the Teaching Center newsletter as a source of information for COVID-19 updates.