Staff leaders from Pitt’s five campuses met last week to discuss common workplace issues, such as flexible work schedules, chronic low salaries and emergency procedures, as well as campus-specific issues and initiatives. Staff association representatives from Pitt’s five regionals met May 24 at the Greensburg campus for the annual Council of Campuses meeting. Staff associations […]
Pitt tallies its pollution cuts, energy use savings >
May 31st, 2007Over the past decade Pitt has saved an estimated $21.2 million in reduced energy consumption by “going green.” That was one the highlights of a presentation by Facilities Management at this month’s Faculty Assembly meeting. According to Joseph Fink, associate vice chancellor for Facilities Management, Pitt’s green initiatives fall into a handful of categories: energy […]
Spring planting beautifies campus >
May 31st, 2007It’s pink and purple posies in pots by Posvar, cannas near the Cathedral and palms protecting the William Pitt Union panther as spring planting reaches its peak at Pitt. When the annual May ritual is finished, some 30,000-40,000 colorful annuals will have found their way into more than 100 flowerbeds across the Pittsburgh campus. For […]
Who's highest paid at UPMC? >
May 31st, 2007Compensation figures reported on IRS form 990 for highly paid officials at UPMC were released last week for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2006. Leading the compensation pack for fiscal year 2006 was Jeffrey R. Romoff, UPMC president and CEO, whose pay was $3.3 million (a 17 percent raise over FY 2005) including […]
Oakland redd up tour redux >
May 31st, 2007Pitt and city officials, including Chancellor Mark Nordenberg and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, hit the Oakland streets this month for another “redd up Oakland” inspection tour designed to counter landlord abuses and identify dilapidated properties. Joining the top officials were city code inspectors, who fanned out in central Oakland on May 9 and south Oakland on […]
Transit cuts take effect June 17 >
May 31st, 2007Major changes to bus service in the county go into effect June 17. The Port Authority of Allegheny County is cutting service by 15 percent, including eliminating 29 of the 213 weekday routes. Port Authority also will reduce positions by 374, including layoffs for 267 current employees, effective at the end of June. According to […]
High-tech hide & seek >
May 31st, 2007Thousands of people crisscross Pitt’s campuses each day. Faculty, staff, students and even geocachers — modern-day treasure hunters who look for hidden caches with the help of global positioning system (GPS) units. In a hobby that has caught on around the globe, geocachers hide caches in an interesting spot, then post the coordinates online (most […]
Profs share insights on case-based learning >
May 31st, 2007A move toward active learning methods that engage students has been changing the ambience of today’s college classrooms. In a wide range of classes, students are exposed to more than just a lecture-based method of learning. Case-based learning is one such active learning method. The practice aims to help students craft their analytical skills by […]