Teaching Center Update for Oct. 23, 2020
A new episode of Diversity Digest is now available and it focuses on the University's new course, "Anti-Black Racism: History, Ideology, and Resistance." Faculty who helped create the course share what the course symbolizes for Pitt and what it means to them personally and professionally to be on the committee that designed the course. Additionally, the nomination period for the Provost’s Award for Diversity in the Curriculum is now open. This award recognizes faculty who have taught a modified course or revised curricula to strengthen diversity and inclusion, resulting in changes of impact. Any full-time or part-time Pitt faculty member who has participated in diversity initiatives at the University may apply for this award. Please encourage faculty who have embraced inclusive teaching practices to submit an application. Deadline to nominate is Nov. 13.
Teaching Center Update for Oct. 16, 2020
The Provost’s Award for Diversity in the Curriculum recognizes faculty who have taught a modified course or revised curricula to strengthen diversity and inclusion, resulting in changes of impact. Any full-time or part-time Pitt faculty member who has participated in diversity initiatives at the University may apply for this award. Please encourage faculty who have embraced inclusive teaching practices to submit an application. The deadline for applications is Nov. 13.
Special Announcement: Provost’s Faculty Panel
Provost Ann E. Cudd will moderate a faculty panel discussion at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14, that explores some of the pedagogical approaches, technologies, and modifications currently in use on our campuses. Join us for this one-hour panel that discusses teaching successes in the Flex@Pitt instructional model. Panelists include:
- Joanne Baird, PhD, Department of Occupational Therapy
- Kristen Butela, PhD, Department of Biological Sciences
- David Sanchez, PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Gabby Yearwood, PhD, Department of Anthropology
Teaching Center Update for Oct. 9, 2020
On Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, the University of Pittsburgh’s Pittsburgh campus is planning to move from Elevated to Guarded Risk Posture. This decision, which is based on the recommendations of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the Healthcare Advisory Group (HCAG), is dependent on the continuation of good results next week. The University plans to release more details on its move to Guarded Risk Posture—and the accompanying changes to academic and social life on campus—in the near future. Requirements and guidance that remain in place in Guarded Risk Posture include:
- Wearing face coverings, indoors and out, with very few exceptions.
- Maintaining a proper physical distance of 6 feet or more from others.
- Washing or sanitizing hands frequently.
- Minimizing the number of close contacts outside of roommates, pods and households.
Teaching Center Update for Oct. 2, 2020
Bits and bytes from around campus:
- Chancellor Patrick Gallagher addressed challenges and successes of the past year during the Sept. 25 fall meeting of the Board of Trustees.
- The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine announced today that it is operating one of 25 initial sites to test therapies aimed at treating early-stage COVID-19 to keep the illness from becoming severe.
- Pitt IT has released information on a new way for students, faculty, and advisors to access student information ahead of spring 2021 course enrollment.
Teaching Center Update for Sept. 25, 2020
We are pleased to announce that University of Pittsburgh on Coursera is now available. This program allows Pitt students, faculty, and staff to access nearly 4,000 courses offered by Coursera partner institutions at no cost. The courses are non-credit, but successful completion could earn joint credentials from both the universities offering the course and Coursera. The program was designed by the Coursera community to assist colleges and universities with delivering courseware online to help minimize the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on students, faculty and staff. For more information on how to enroll, please visit Pitt Online's page on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).