Dear Graduate and Professional Students,
At a recent meeting with graduate students I was asked about whether there were any consistent themes, concerns, or questions that I have heard from students in the various individual and group meetings. I plan to compile a more systematic list of these soon, but I thought I would mention a few here. Across the population of 10,000 graduate and professional students at Pitt there is a lot of diversity in questions and concerns, but I would say that some themes that have emerged include:
- Graduate student communications and sense of “community” (http://www.gradstudents.pitt.edu/)
- Professional development programs and services (http://www.gradstudents.pitt.edu/career-preparation)
- Pitt’s shared governance model and how graduate students can be involved (http://gpsg.pitt.edu/people/committees/)
- Communication and mediation between students and school and university administration (http://www.provost.pitt.edu/students/graduate-studies/additional-graduate-resources)
- Title IX and campus climate (https://www.diversity.pitt.edu/civil-rights-title-ix-compliance)
- What I would broadly call graduate student well-being, including various kinds of University services and support such as the counseling center, health insurance, childcare, etc. (http://www.gradstudents.pitt.edu/healthwellness)
I am planning a meeting with directors of graduate programs across campus and these items will certainly be topics of discussion with that group. If there are issues that you think should be discussed, please send me an e-mail or come to one of my office hours and I will be happy to hear about your concerns.
It’s already been a busy month and I want to highlight for you some upcoming initiatives below.
Nominations for Graduate Commencement Speakers
- One PhD graduate and one professional program graduate will be selected.
- Nominate a peer or yourself by March 23, 2018 at https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8kwd3jAXUvSl9lj.
- Visit http://www.commencement.pitt.edu.
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Pitt Competition
- Enter the online competition by noon, April 2, 2018, for students whose school is not hosting a competition.
- See http://provost.pitt.edu/students/graduate-studies/three-minute-thesis for details including eligibility.
Graduate and Professional Student Government 2018-2019 Officer Elections
- Vote at my.pitt.edu from March 19-25, 2018.
- View candidate biography and statements at http://gpsg.pitt.edu/elections/.
How to Negotiate for Your Next Opportunity
- Learn how to develop a negotiation strategy to get a training opportunity or a job.
- April 3, 2018, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 1105 Scaife Hall, UPMC Conference Center.
- Register at oacd.health.pitt.edu/news-events/how-negotiate-your-next-opportunity [watch at OACD Video Library].
Parenting Discussion Panel for Students and Post-Docs
- Activities for children two years and older provided. Partners and children younger than two are welcome. Pizza will be served.
- March 22, 2018, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in 540 William Pitt Union.
- Registration preferred at https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b8dV9VoyVO92Yhn.
Call for Exhibitions for the Second Annual ACC Smithsonian Creativity and Innovation Festival
- Held at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in April 2019.
- Submit a proposal by April 13, 2018, at https://survey.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_20rzxMXHYkuBWkJ.
- Learn about the 2017 festival at http://acceleratefestival.com.
Office Hours
My next monthly office hour is on Wednesday, March 21 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in 801 Cathedral of Learning. I am available during that time to answer questions and discuss graduate studies at Pitt.
Nathan Urban
Vice Provost for Graduate Studies
Email: VPGraduate-Urban@pitt.edu
Twitter: @PittGradStudies
Graduate Resources: www.gradstudents.pitt.edu