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YouTube video thumbnail featureing Rob Rutenbar, Senior Vice Chancellor for Research.

New Faculty Essentials, March 21, 2024

About Pitt Research
The Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Research, or “Pitt Research,” provides a collaborative, team-oriented set of services and offerings to aid and enhance your research and scholarship. These include special funding opportunities like the Pitt Momentum Funds, honorific awards such as the Chancellor’s Distinguished Awards for Research, and Big Proposal Bootcamp training for developing large-scale, multidisciplinary grant proposals.

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NFE Feb. 16, 2024, header, logo for Honors College

New Faculty Essentials, Feb. 16, 2024

David C. Frederick Honors College
The David C. Frederick Honors College provides teaching and mentorship opportunities for faculty who are passionate about undergraduate education and want to bridge intellectual disciplines and reimagine the world around them. The mission of the Frederick Honors College (FHC) is to meet the academic and experiential needs of the University’s most highly motivated, intellectually curious, and socially conscious undergraduates by providing enriching and creative educational opportunities while fostering a nurturing community. The FHC offers three options for undergraduates to affiliate with the FHC formally: the Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil) Degree, the Honors Degree, and the Honors Distinction and provides a variety of opportunities for students to participate in undergraduate research, contribute to engaged scholarship, pursue national scholarships, lead Scholar Communities, and join in academically focused programming that develops competencies within the Honors Outside the Classroom Curriculum while taking Honors courses.

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Carla Panzella Interim Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

New Faculty Essentials, Jan. 31, 2024

From the Desk of Student Affairs
Hello and I hope the spring term has started off well for you! As Interim Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, I lead a division of more than 200 professional Student Affairs staff members whose mission is to provide students with a transformational collegiate experience. We complement Pitt’s academic excellence by cultivating a campus environment that is vibrant, challenging, nurturing, and inclusive. We want every student to feel a sense of belonging and support that allows them to flourish in all aspects of well-being. This year's four major priorities for the division are (i) supporting student well-being, (ii) pursuing our diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, (iii) educating students about life skills (including resiliency, self-care, and conflict resolution), and (iv) assessing the use of physical spaces for student development.

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Cathedral of Learning with leaves in the foreground.

New Faculty Essentials, Nov. 15, 2023

The Year of Discourse and Dialogue
Earlier this year, the Office of the Provost announced that 2023 would be the Year of Discourse and Dialogue. Higher education has been at a forefront of engagement around respecting divergent viewpoints and giving a space to those viewpoints for expression. At Pitt, we seek to uphold the principles of protected speech and expression because it lies at the heart of open inquiry and academic discourse. The Year of Discourse and Dialogue Steering Committee invites Pitt students, staff, and faculty to submit proposals that advance learning, research, engagement, and/or practice around discourse and dialogue. Proposals are eligible for up to $5,000 in funding and you can view examples of examples of previously funded projects online.

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University of Pittsburgh "established" sign on campus in the fall.

New Faculty Essentials, Sept. 27, 2023

On behalf of the Office of the Provost, we’d like to welcome you to New Faculty Essentials, a publication designed to support your success as a new faculty member here at Pitt. Over the next year, you will receive monthly messages from us with just-in-time information, helpful resources like workshops and seminars, details about faculty learning communities, and other professional development opportunities (both in-person and virtual). We will introduce you to campus offices and services that you and your students can use, and we will provide more opportunities for interdisciplinary work with new faculty members from around campus.

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Aerial view of the Cathedral of Learning and Heinz Chapel in the summer.

New Faculty Essentials, April 24, 2023

Office of Engagement and Community Affairs & the Community Engagement Centers
The University’s Office of Engagement and Community Affairs (ECA) is a central hub for Pitt’s community partnerships and engagement efforts, making it easier for communities, public leaders, faculty, staff, and students to forge effective collaborations. The University's Community Engagement Centers (CECs) in Homewood and the Hill District ground Pitt's neighborhood commitments in the heart of these communities. To learn more about our CECs, and to discuss project ideas and partnership opportunities, please reach out to our staff at the CEC in Homewood or the CEC in the Hill District.

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Rob Rutenbar, Senior Vice Chancellor for Research.

New Faculty Essentials, March 27, 2023

The Office of Senior Vice Chancellor for Research
The Senior Vice Chancellor for Research provides strategic vision, leadership, and partnership expertise that helps University of Pittsburgh faculty and students advance their world-class research, scholarship, and innovation. This past year, Pitt surpassed a landmark of $1 billion in research expenditures from external awards, placing the University among an elite national cohort of research peers. To learn more, read Pitt’s annual report of research.

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SIESMIC Collaboration logo - full.

New Faculty Essentials, Feb. 27, 2023

Do You Teach an Introductory STEM Class?
The SEISMIC (Sloan Equity and Inclusion in STEM Introductory Courses) collaboration hopes to recruit four STEM faculty members and two undergraduate students who are interested in STEM equity to be part of the NSF-funded Stem Equity Learning Community (SELC) during the 2023-24 academic year.

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Diego Chaves-Gnecco, Olga Klimova, Megan Kappel, Piper Carroll, John Wallace, Joaquin Rodriguez, Provost Ann Cudd, and Sera Mathew at the Provost's Award for Diversity in the Curriculum luncheon. This luncheon is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and managed/coordinated by the University Center for Teaching and Learning. The 2022 award recipients were recognized an event held at the University Club Jan. 24, 2023. The speakers were Provost Ann E. Cudd and Vice Provost John Wallace.

New Faculty Essentials, Jan. 31, 2023

Provost's Award for Diversity in the Curriculum
On Jan. 24, we recognized five faculty members for their efforts to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) concepts into courses and curricula which have resulted in changes of impact. Read more about the 2022 award recipients. Now in its sixth year, the Provost’s Award for Diversity in the Curriculum has recognized 33 faculty for their exemplary efforts to bring diverse perspectives to the curriculum, create inclusive environments, and institute changes that expand students’ cultural awareness and cross-cultural development. Applications for the 2023 award will begin in fall term 2023.

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Exterior of Cathedral of Learning with bare trees in the foreground - winter.

New Faculty Essentials, Dec. 14, 2022

Preparing for Spring Term
Key Dates to Remember

  • Dec. 18: Winter recess begins for students (no classes), all schools
  • Dec. 20: Fall term grades must be approved by instructors by 11:59 p.m.
  • Dec. 23, 2022–Jan. 2, 2023: Winter recess (University closed)
  • Jan. 9, 2023: Spring term begins (University Academic Calendar 2022-2023)
  • Jan. 16, 2023: Martin Luther King holiday (University closed)
  • Jan. 16-20, 2023: Week of SEISMIC (Sloan Equity and Inclusion in STEM Introductory Courses)
  • Jan. 27, 2023: Assessment and Teaching Conference (Details coming soon)

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Year of Emotional Well-Being graphic.

New Faculty Essentials, Nov. 17, 2022

The Year of Emotional Well-Being
Provost Ann E. Cudd announced the Year of Emotional Well-Being in April 2022, expressing that “this theme offers an opportunity to engage collectively with a focus on restoring and enhancing our emotional well-being. The pandemic underscored the importance of fully supporting the emotional welfare of students, faculty, and staff as everyone navigates the new terrain. This is a time of burgeoning research and collective reflection on our emotional needs and the qualities that make for a good life."

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Chancellor Gallagher greets new faculty at the Fall 2022 New Faculty Orientation event.

New Faculty Essentials, Sept. 28, 2022

New Faculty Orientation Fall 2022
More than 200 people attended the reception for an evening of interdisciplinary networking with colleagues, deans, department chairs, and university administrators. You can view a gallery of the event. On-demand New Faculty Orientation: ICYMI - Our research, teaching, and library workshops (and the accompanying slides) are available for viewing on the New Faculty Orientation events page.

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New Faculty Orientation event Sept. 20, 2022.

New Faculty Essentials, Sept. 20, 2022

Welcome New Faculty
Provost Ann E. Cudd and Chancellor Patrick Gallagher welcomed new faculty to the University at an in-person, informal new faculty reception on Sept. 20, from 4-6 p.m. in Alumni Hall. This event allowed faculty to meet a network of colleagues with whom they will interact throughout their careers at the University. They were joined by deans, department chairs, and other University leaders.

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Alumni Hall at the University of Pittsburgh with light streaks from traffic.

New Faculty Essentials, April 20, 2022

Remind Students to Complete Their Teaching Surveys
Sunday, April 23, so now is the time to encourage student feedback. Let students know that their feedback matters to you, and remind them of the deadline. The Teaching Center website has additional resources and tips for improving your survey response rates. Survey results will be available on May 5.

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Rob Rutenbar, Senior Vice Chancellor for Research.

New Faculty Essentials, March 23, 2022

A Message from Rob Rutenbar, Senior Vice Chancellor for Research
The Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Research provides strategic vision, leadership, and partnership that helps Pitt faculty and students advance their world-class research, scholarship, and innovation. Pitt Research connects researchers with funding agencies, government entities, and corporate sponsors, while always ensuring integrity and compliance.

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Exterior of Cathedral of Learning with bare trees in the foreground - winter.

New Faculty Essentials, Feb. 23, 2022

Watch Now: Pitt Honors College (link to video on YouTube)
The University Honors College is looking for faculty who want to bridge intellectual boundaries, re-imagine the world around them through unique academic lenses – and challenge undergraduate students to do the same! The mission of the University Honors College (UHC) is to meet the academic and cocurricular needs of the University’s most highly motivated, intellectually curious, and socially conscious undergraduates by providing ...

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Kenyon R. Bonner Vice Provost for Student Affairs

New Faculty Essentials, Jan. 26, 2022

A special message from Kenyon R. Bonner, Vice Provost for Student Affairs: Welcome back for spring term! I hope you had a chance to spend time doing things that bring you joy over the winter recess. I would like to share with you what new faculty should know about the resources available to Pitt students through Student Affairs, current issues of concern to our students, and how you can help our students to thrive while they are at Pitt and as they launch their careers. ...

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New Faculty Essentials, Dec. 31, 2021

Spring Term to Start Fully Remote for First Two and a Half Weeks
In accordance with the Provost’s announcement on Dec. 30, all classes will be fully remote for the first two and a half weeks of the semester. Classes will begin remotely on Jan. 10, 2022. Exceptions to this rule may be made by approval of the dean for programs and classes that need to meet in person. Classes will take place fully in person beginning on Jan. 27, 2022.

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Cathedra of Learning at night with rainbow colored light trails from vehicles.

New Faculty Essentials, Dec. 15, 2021

A special message from Ann E. Cudd, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor:
Dear Colleagues, As we make our way through finals week, I want to congratulate you on the completion of the fall term. During my many walks on campus the past few months, it has brought me great joy to see faculty and students connecting and reconnecting. Thank you for all you do to advance transformative teaching and learning at Pitt. I wish you a restful winter recess and a happy holiday season.

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New Faculty Essentials, Nov. 17, 2021

New Faculty Essentials, November 2021
With the end of the fall term quickly approaching, we want to direct your attention to two topics that represent important and recurring end-of-term processes: final course grades and end-of-term Student Opinion of Teaching Surveys.

FINAL COURSE GRADES Here are a few resources to help you understand the grading policies and procedures at Pitt. University Grading Policies. The Registrar's page ...

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Ann E. Cudd, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor

Introducing You to New Faculty Essentials

Welcome to our new monthly communiqué
As a new faculty member/instructor at the University of Pittsburgh, you invigorate Pitt with a sense of exploration, innovation, and commitment to scholarship. I am delighted that you have joined our University. Your work will energize and transform not only every Pitt campus but our region and our world. As you move through your first year, I urge you to take advantage of all the resources the University has to offer. Thank you for all you do—and Hail to Pitt! -Provost Ann E. Cudd ...

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