The University Council on Graduate Study (UCGS) develops basic standards, regulations, and policies applicable to all fields for graduate instruction and research.
UCGS reviews, evaluates, and makes recommendations to the provost concerning proposals for new post-baccalaureate degree and certificate programs throughout the University after such proposals have had prior review and approval by the appropriate people within the school.
UCGS keeps informed regarding general developments affecting graduate education.
Learn more about the Organization of Graduate Study at the University of Pittsburgh.
Meeting Dates
UCGS meets monthly September through May. For a proposal to be reviewed at the monthly UCGS meetings, it must be submitted and reviewed by the Graduate Studies team at least 11 working days in advance of the meeting. However, it is at the discretion of the Graduate Studies Team to determine if the academic program proposal can be added to a particular date's meeting agenda.
Refer to the table below for scheduled meeting dates in AY24-25. Meetings times are on Tuesdays from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. unless otherwise indicated.
Academic Year 2024–2025
| Fall Term 2024 | Academic Proposal Submission Deadline |
|---|---|
| September 10, 2024 | August 30, 2024 |
| October 8, 2024 | September 20, 2024 |
| November 12, 2024 | October 25, 2024 |
| December 10, 2024 | November 22, 2024 |
| Spring Term 2025 | Academic Proposal Submission Deadline |
|---|---|
| January 14, 2025 | December 18, 2024 |
| February 11, 2025 | January 24, 2025 |
| March 11, 2025 | February 21, 2025 |
| April 8, 2025 | March 21, 2025 |
| May 13, 2025 | April 23, 2025 |
| June 10, 2025 (tentative) |
Membership
View the current roster of UCGS members and the areas they represent.
UCGS also has subcommittees on Graduate Procedures and Graduate Student Affairs.
- UCGS Committee Membership – 2023-2024
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2023–2024 Membership
Name Area Represented Faculty/Student Rebecca Badawy Katz Graduate School of Business Faculty Chelsea Beaulieu School of Law Student Rithika Behera School of Medicine Student School of Law Faculty Bryan Brown Swanson School of Engineering Faculty Jessica Burke School of Public Health Faculty Robert Clift Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Faculty Jacob Cuyler School of Pharmacy Student Linda DeAngelo School of Education Faculty Mark DeRuiter School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Michael Dickey School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Gerard Dorve-Lewis School of Education Student Kerry Empey School of Pharmacy Faculty Dennis Galletta Katz Graduate School of Business Faculty Soumalya Ghosh Swanson School of Engineering Student Amanda Godley Office of the Provost, Chairperson Staff Susan Grayson School of Nursing Student Michael Gunzenhauser School of Education Faculty Vijayasri Hari School of Public Health Student Jonathan Helm Office of the Registrar, Observer Staff Abdoulai Jobe Katz Graduate School of Business Student James Joshi School of Computing and Information Faculty Saleem Khan School of Medicine Faculty Hyun Jin Lee School of Social Work Student Jung-Kun Lee Swanson School of Engineering Faculty Robin Lee School of Medicine Faculty Wendy Mars School of Medicine Faculty Robert Marshall Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Student Erica Owen Graduate School of Public and International Affairs Faculty Bob Parker Swanson School of Engineering Faculty Helen Petracchi School of Social Work Faculty Ketki Raina School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Nadine Robert School of Dental Medicine Student Pernille Roege Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Faculty Michelle Schein SEPC Faculty Elizabeth Schlenk School of Nursing Faculty Kayla Scoggin School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Student Jennifer Walker Office of the Provost Staff Christine Wankiiri-Hale School of Dental Medicine Faculty Sai Vivek Chava School of Computing and Information Student Jonathan Woon Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Faculty Ada Youk School of Public Health Faculty Graduate School of Public and International Affairs Student - UCGS Subcommittees
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Graduate Faculty
(UCGS only)
This committee will consider the definitions of graduate faculty and adjunct graduate faculty, potential mentor training requirements, conditions under which graduate faculty status can be revoked and the process for appointment to graduate faculty.
Guidance on Graduate Mentoring and Advising
(UCGS only)
This committee will update the University’s guide to graduate mentoring and advising (titled Elements of Good Academic Advising) and make recommendations for University-wide mentor/advisor training and support.
Advanced Standing Credits
(with PACUP)
This committee will consider transfer credit maximums and other issues related to transfer credits including block transfers.
Academic Program Structure and Dual Degrees/Majors
(with PACUP)
This committee will discuss academic program structures such as ARCOs, dual/joint degrees, stackable programs and how many credits can count for two programs concurrently.
Academic Probation/Suspension
(with PACUP)
This committee will consider the criteria by which students are placed on academic probation or suspended/dismissed for academic reasons and the process for each.
Course Repeat/G Grade
(with PACUP)
This committee will consider regulations regarding G grades (similar to incomplete grades), the conditions under which students can repeat a course, and how repeated courses appear on the student’s transcript.
Agendas, Minutes, and Annual Reports
Recent council meeting agendas and approved minute, as well as the annual reports on activities UCGS uses to communicate its decisions to the faculty, students, and administrative officers of the University, are available below. To request archived documents from past years, please contact graduate@pitt.edu.
- UCGS Meeting Agendas
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Agendas 2023-2024
- September 12, 2023
- October 10, 2023 (Cancelled)
- November 14, 2023
- December 12, 2023
- January 9, 2024
Agendas 2022–2023
- September 29, 2022
- October 12, 2022
- November 8, 2022 (Cancelled)
- December 13, 2022
- January 10, 2023 (Cancelled)
- February 14, 2023 (Cancelled)
- March 14, 2023
- April 11, 2023
- May 9, 2023
Agendas 2021-2022
- UCGS Meeting Minutes
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Minutes of 2023–2024 Meetings of Council
- September 12, 2023
- October 10, 2023 (Cancelled)
- November 14, 2023
- December 12, 2023
- January 9, 2024
- February 13, 2024
- May 14, 2024
Minutes of 2022–2023 Meetings of Council
- September 29, 2022
- October 12, 2022
- November 8, 2022 (Cancelled)
- December 13, 2022
- January 10, 2023 (Cancelled)
- February 14, 2023 (Cancelled)
- March 14, 2023
- April 11, 2023
- May 9, 2023
Minutes of 2021–2022 Meetings of Council
- UCGS Annual Reports
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Annual Reports
Guidelines and Resources
A number of guidelines are available related to areas such as assessment procedures, program review, academic planning, certificate programs, and more.
Doctoral Mentoring Awards
The Provost’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring annually recognizes outstanding mentoring of graduate students seeking a research doctorate degree. Up to four awards are made each year.