University Times

At the Dec. 13 Senate Council meeting, Chancellor Patrick Gallagher provided an update on the proposed federal tax reform legislative progress and shared his appreciation for the outreach by graduate students and the Pitt community at large to lawmakers.

“Those things all matter, even though it may not feel like they matter when something is moving this fast under this dynamic. But I know it makes a difference,” he said. “So, (I) thank everybody who’s taken the time to kind of get informed and to make sure that our representatives hear from us.”

That same day, both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives had agreed on a version of the legislation, but the details had not been made available yet, said Gallagher. He added that he had seen indications that provisions that would negatively impact the tax-exempt status of graduate student tuition waivers and tuition benefits for employees and their families may not have survived negotiations.

Gallagher also praised other developments in what he described as a “spectacularly good year” for the University. He cited record federal research and development dollars awarded to faculty and what was Pitt’s third-best fundraising year, among other accomplishments.

In other Senate Council business, the dates for the election of faculty representation on the provost search committee and for the plenary session have been scheduled. Eligible faculty members may begin to vote for their representatives on the committee on Monday, Dec. 18. Results will be announced after the winter recess, according to Senate President Frank Wilson.

The plenary session will be held Tuesday, March 27. The topic of the plenary is teaching.

Contact:
Katie Fike, kfike@pitt.edu, 412-624-1085