By SHANNON O. WELLS
Chancellor Joan Gabel started her Dec. 12 report to Senate Council on a somber note, asking for a moment of silence in honor of Jessie Maroney, a Pitt employee who was struck by a box truck and killed the morning of Dec. 5 at Terrace and Darragh streets.
Pitt and the city of Pittsburgh are taking steps to try to improve the area where three pedestrians have been killed in the past year. (See related story on: City implementing changes.)
Later in the meeting, Staff Council On behalf of Staff Council President Lindsay Rodzwicz said,
“In light of three pedestrian fatalities and little over a year, we really encourage our community to work together to continue to address better safety on campus.”
Although Gabel’s report covered much of what she shared at the Dec. 5 Board of Trustees meeting, she also acknowledged a $10 million gift from Vishnu Vardhan and Harsha Vardhini, siblings who pledge $10 million to create the new Vijayalakshmi Innovation Center in Women’s Health Analytics and Research (VIHAR) on the Pitt campus. (See related story on: Siblings $10 million gift.)
Gabel said she was pleased to join Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for Health Sciences, and the center’s founding family members at the Dec. 9 announcement event held in Alumni Hall.
Kear report
Council President Robin Kear shared an update on work being done to create an interim policy concerning a form that asks applicants for faculty positions to authorize release of information from former employers.
Implemented by former Provost Ann Cudd’s office and the Council of Deans, the current form authorizes previous employers to release information about “formal or informal and substantiated allegations or findings” against the applicant of “unprofessional conduct, sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, or hostile work environment,” or “discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.”
Concerns were raised about the document’s language and how it was developed at the Oct. 9 Faculty Assembly meeting.
Kear said Pitt’s policy office finalized a memo to Chancellor Gabel’s office that initiated an interim University policy process regarding the form. “I believe everything is almost finalized, and they're looking for a date to meet on the interim policy in advance of the full policy process,” Kear said.
Until the interim policy is put in place, the current form will continue to be used, Kear said.
UCIS search: Kear also reported that a committee is being formed to search for a new director of the University Center for International Studies (UCIS) following the departure of Ariel Armony to serve as provost and executive vice president at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass. The University Senate will elect four faculty members from the UCIS constituent faculty group, Kear said, noting there currently are 11 candidates for the spots. The election ran from Dec. 12-19.
Union representation: Kear said three Senate committees, Benefits and Welfare, Budget Policies, and Faculty Affairs are “working through what the increase in union representation means.” In light of this development, she’s asked the committees to look at their mission statements, “and we'll continue that work through the spring term on how to best proceed for these committees.” Noting that the Budget Policies committee has not met this fall, Kear said she’s “hoping they will convene (next semester). And we're also going to talk to Bylaws” regarding union representation.
Staff Council report
Staff Council President Lindsay Rodzwicz started her report by congratulating Pitt students graduating in December and thanking staff members who “worked tirelessly to make graduation such a commemorative event,” as well as staff members volunteering for graduation activities “at this busy time of year.”
Rodzwicz went on to congratulate Staff Council member R.J. Thompson, manager of digital strategy in Pitt Health Sciences, on being recognized for his teaching work with West Virginia University’s online marketing and communications programs.
Noting recent “great Staff Council events,” she thanked Jamelle Price, associate director of learning and development for the Office of Engagement and Community Affairs’ Engaged Campus team for “coming and engaging with our Staff Council Spotlight series on Nov. 15,” and to Pitt Police Chief Holly Lamb, who participated in the Coffee and Conversation event the morning of Dec. 12.
The next Coffee and Conversation event is set for Jan. 6, featuring Zach Davis, director of Equity and Inclusion programs, followed on Feb. 10 by Julie Bannister, assistant vice chancellor of auxiliary services in the Office of Business, Hospitality and Auxiliary Services; Dwayne Pinkney, executive senior vice chancellor for administration and finance and chief financial officer, on March 13; and Carla Panzella, vice provost for student affairs, on April 10.
“So we have a really great spring Coffee and Conversations lineup,” Rodzwicz noted.
The next open Staff Council meeting will take place at noon Jan. 15. “Everyone's always welcome to our events,” she said.
Rodzwicz expressed thanks to the Staff Council newsletter team, which has “pivoted to a new format over this year,” she said. “They've been working really hard to serve as a communication channel for staff, and we were really proud of our December newsletter data, which had an over 50% open rate.
“Our newsletter is reaching those people who are interested in it,” she added. “So if anyone doesn't subscribe to our newsletter, you can sign up through the Staff Council website.”
Shannon O. Wells is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at shannonw@pitt.edu.
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