Vice Provost for Graduate Studies
Office of the Provost

March 25, 2019

Dear Graduate and Professional Students,

Education of graduate and professional students is key to the University of Pittsburgh’s mission, and we are proud of the many important contributions that graduate and professional students make to our University community. I am excited to announce Pitt’s celebration of National Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week, April 1–5, 2019. While the week seeks to showcase the contributions, impact, and value of graduate and professional students on campuses throughout the United States, we want to focus on Pitt! We have planned a variety of events and opportunities for you:

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Pitt Competition – April 1, 2019, noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Digital Scholarship Commons on the Ground Floor of the Hillman Library: This is a communications contest in which students will present their dissertation research in just three minutes. Four winners will receive travel award grants totaling $3,000, including a first place prize of $1,000 and $500 each to two runners-up. Join the audience and vote for the $1,000 public choice award.

The contestants are winners of 3MT school competitions held in the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Computing and Information, the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and the Swanson School of Engineering or online for students in other schools.

Sponsored by the Office of the Provost – Graduate Studies, the University Center for Teaching and Learning, and the University Library System. Special thanks to the schools who hosted a 3MT event.

Celebrating Our Professional Graduate Students and Their Families – April 2, 2019, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Petersen Event Center, Campus View Club: This event recognizes our professional graduate students who hold full-time jobs beyond their academic programs, as well as the contributions by their families. Children, parents, and significant others are welcome to this evening of fun, food, and networking. Bill Valenta, Associate Vice Provost for Professional Programs, and I will greet the students and families. Drop in any time. Register here by March 27, 2019. Space is limited.

Sponsored by MBA Programs of the Katz Graduate School of Business, the Office of the Provost – Graduate Studies, and the School of Education

Recognition of Fellowship Winners – April 3, 2019: External fellowship recipients and their academic advisors are invited to breakfast with me.

Sponsored by the Office of the Provost – Graduate Studies

International Student Celebration – April 5, 2019, 8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at Posvar Hall Galleria, First Floor by Home Plate: Enjoy a light breakfast and networking with international students. Ariel Armony, Vice Provost for Global Affairs and director of The University Center for International Studies; Holger Hoock, the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences; and I will greet students. Drop in any time. Register here by March 28, 2019.

Sponsored by the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, the Office of the Provost – Graduate Studies, and the University Center for International Studies

Graduate Student Organization Leader Appreciation Lunch – April 5, 2019: Leaders of graduate student organizations, organization advisors, and academic advisors are invited to lunch with me.  

Sponsored by the Office of the Provost – Graduate Studies

The Graduate and Professional Student Government has also planned a week’s worth of events and opportunities for you. See the full details below. 

I want to acknowledge the events that have challenged us all over of the last few days. Chancellor Patrick Gallagher and Dean of Students Kenyon Bonner each have shared messages on the verdict in the Michael Rosfeld case. If you need support or have other concerns that you want to share, please reach out to the University Counseling Centeror to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE NEWS

Graduate Student Unionization Information Session – March 26, 2019, 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at David Lawrence Hall, Room 120

Although we are waiting for the official order, the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB) has indicated that an election for certain graduate students will occur on campus from April 15–18, 2019. This is an important decision that could impact graduate education at Pitt. All graduate students who could be affected should know the facts. All eligible voters should vote.

To answer your questions about unionization and the election process, we are holding an Information Session with Vice Provost Nathan Urban. You can submit your questions anonymously in advance via an online form or at the information session.

Stay tuned and get up to speed at the Graduate Student Unionization Web site.

Title IX Office Educates Campus, Supports Victims 

The Title IX Office and its network of partners across the University provide numerous options for reporting, education, and training relating to incidents of sexual harassment and misconduct. The goal: To create a campus environment for all students, staff, and faculty that is fair, inclusive, and free from sexual or gender-based misconduct, including discrimination, harassment, and assault. Read more about the office in this @Pitt article.

OFFICE OF THE PROVOST – GRADUATE STUDIES  

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP) – Information Sessions: Attend one of the following sessions to learn more about these prestigious and beneficial fellowships. An NSF-GRFP provides a $34,000 annual stipend, $12,000 educational allowance, and opportunities for international research and professional development. These awards are not exclusive to natural sciences. Research in social science fields like anthropology linguistics is eligible, as are scientific method-based research projects for humanities fields. Learn more about the NSF-GRFP.

April 1, 2019: 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of Learning, 35th Floor – breakfast included
April 3, 2019: noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Learning, 35th Floor
April 4, 2019: 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of Learning, 35th Floor

Sponsored by the Honors College and the Office of the Provost – Graduate Studies

Pitt graduate and professional students enrolled in the spring 2019 term are invited to take part in the 2019 survey. The data provided by participation in the survey—that is, your insights into program quality, advising, and the overall experience here at Pitt—allow us to benchmark our performance against similar programs and influences program development. This feedback ensures that the Pitt graduate education and training program evolves in ways that best address your goals. 

Look for an email to your Pitt inbox in early April with instructions to participate in the 2019 gradSERU Research Survey.

Mental Health First Aid Training

On March 14, 2019, 20 faculty and staff who are engaged with graduate students across campus completed the Mental Health First Aid Training distributed by the National Council for Behavioral Health. Sean Moundas, PsyD, a counselor at the University Counseling Center, facilitated the day-long program during which faculty and staff learned how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training provides first-aid responders the skills to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.

The Wellness Center began offering this important training on campus in summer 2018. Additional trainings will be offered so that more faculty and staff can better help.

Faculty and staff who completed Mental Health First Aid Training on March 14, 2019

Sponsored by the Office of the Provost – Graduate Studies and the Wellness Center

GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT GOVERNMENT (GPSG)

GPSG is hosting the following events for National Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week.

Arsenal Bowling – April 1, 2019, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 212 44th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201: Join GPSG at Arsenal Bowl. A $5 ticket gets you three hours of bowling, heavy appetizers, shoe rental, and the joy of playing hooky for the afternoon. Register here.

Movies at Rowhouse Cinema – April 2, 2019, 9:00 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. at 4115 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201: Join GPSG at Row House Cinema's Japanese Film Festival Week to enjoy Battle Royale. A $5 ticket gets you into the movie, a small popcorn, and a beer or non-alcoholic beverage. Register here.

Pirates Game at Skull Bar – April 3, 2019, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at PNC Park, 115 Federal Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212: Join GPSG at the Skull Bar to enjoy the Pittsburgh Pirates versus the St. Louis Cardinals. A $5 ticket gets you into the game and includes beverages. This event is currently sold out. Join waitlist here.

Professional Development Lunch and Studio Portrait Headshots – April 4, 2019, noon to 2 p.m. O’Hara Student Center, Dining Room: Enjoy a lunch-and-learn about new and existing opportunities on campus for professional development. Then head over to 308 Bellefield Hall to get a professional headshot. Register here. Your $5 deposit will be refunded at the event.

Mega Grad Collab – April 5, 2019, 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Chatham University, Mellon Center, 1 Woodland Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15232: The inaugural Mega Grad Collab provides graduate and professional students from the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, and Chatham University the opportunity to network and socialize together. A $5 ticket gets you food, drinks, games, and dancing. Sign up before tickets sell out here.  

GRADUATE STUDENT ACCOLADES

The following doctoral students from the School of Education received a Graduate Student-Organized Interdisciplinary Workshop Grant from the Office of the Provost – Graduate Studies:

• Justin Coy, Special Education, Instruction and Learning
• Marijke Hecht, Learning Science and Policy
• Ashley Shafer, Applied Developmental Psychology
• Bianca West, Applied Development Psychology

These students are organizing a Council of Graduate Students in Education colloquium and methodological workshop on engaging minoritized communities in social science research.

Congratulations!

The following graduate students and post-docs have been selected to share their research with legislators as part of Pitt Day in Harrisburg on March 26, 2019:

• Lawrence Andrews, School of Medicine, “Targeting immune checkpoint inhibitors to enhance anti-tumor immune responses”
• Marta Boczon, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, “Are recessions good for your health? Study revisited”
• Sayan Ghosh, School of Medicine, “Targeting neutrophils as a novel therapy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD)”
• Amanda Kowalczyk, School of Medicine, “Cancer control is a key functionality underlying evolution of extended lifespan in mammals”
• Kelsey Voltz, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, “Role of occupational therapy in facilitating community based independence for young adults with disabilities”

Hail to Pitt!

OFFICE HOURS

My next monthly office hour is on Friday, April 19, 2019, from 11:00 a.m. to noon. Please note that this session will be held in 809 Cathedral of Learning. I welcome the opportunity to answer questions and discuss graduate studies at Pitt.

Nathan Urban
Vice Provost for Graduate Studies

Graduate resources: www.gradstudents.pitt.edu
Updates and News: provost.pitt.edu/students/graduate-studies
Follow: @PittGradStudies
Facebook: PittGradStudies 
E-mail: VPGraduate-Urban@pitt.edu