By SUSAN JONES
In one of its shortest meetings in recent memory, the Pitt Board of Trustees in just over 20 minutes heard a brief report from Chancellor Joan Gabel and voted to name a newly purchased building at Pitt–Johnstown after an alumnus and donor.
On the political front, Gabel said the University’s government relations team and top administrators are working with lawmakers in Harrisburg as the annual appropriation season gets into full swing.
Gov. Josh Shapiro presented his budget proposal on Feb. 4, which included money to fund performance-based incentives for Pitt, Penn State and Temple. Dwayne Pinkney, Pitt’s executive senior vice chancellor for administration and finance and chief financial officer, sits on the Performance-based Funding Council established in last year’s state budget.
“While there are details still to be determined, we’re very optimistic about the outcome and are really seeing a path toward a more stable and predictable appropriations process that benefits both the state and shows how our mission aligns with the state and our service to our students,” Gabel told the trustees.
On the federal side, Gabel reiterated what she told Senate Council two weeks ago. “We have an internal team carefully tracking and reviewing all of the administrative policy directives and executive orders coming from our new administration, along with the guidance being issued by various federal agencies as they begin to implement these changes.”
She noted that the situation is very dynamic, particularly as some of the directives work their way through stages of review. “Of course, there’s a strong desire for information about the potential impact of these changes, but we want to make sure that we’re thoroughly reviewing all the changes before sharing specifics. … We’ll keep all of you posted on these changes.”
John R. Musulin University Center
The trustees voted on a recommendation by the Mission and Academic Experience committee to name a 74-acre property adjacent to the Pitt–Johnstown campus in honor of John R. Musulin.
A $2.2 million gift from Musulin allowed Pitt–Johnstown to purchase the property at 500 Schoolhouse Road, which includes a 178,000-square-foot, four-story office building with an outdoor courtyard and 500 parking spaces.
Jem Spectar, president of the Johnstown campus, said Musulin and his late wife Marsha have been long-standing supporters of the University of Pittsburgh, and specifically the Johnstown campus, which Musulin attended for two years before transferring to Oakland. He credits the schools for helping him have a successful career as an executive with Kodak, Spectar said.
“He loves the Johnstown community. He and his late wife Marsha were very passionate about it,” Spectar said. “And he believes that this gift will position UPJ for success in the next century. We are coming up to our 100th anniversary, and he believes that a transformational gift such as this would enable us to tackle the challenges related to enrollment and adequate facilities to position us for greater success.”
The building will be used as a home for UPJ athletics and will help the school expand its academic programs.
“Our recent strategic plan called for programs in the engineering and healthcare areas, including biomedical engineering, environmental engineering, and a number of health and wellness programs that will support our emphasis toward workforce readiness,” Spectar said. “The building provides ample space to do that in a way that is much less expensive than new construction.”
Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu or 724-244-4042.
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