Pitt has updated its contingency plans in the event of a strike by Port Authority of Allegheny County workers or a work stoppage triggered by lack of transit funding. Plans are posted on a link on Pitt’s home page (www.pitt.edu). Plans include increased car pooling, the expansion of the existing campus shuttle system, the introduction […]
Pitt expands contingency plans in the event of Port Authority strike >
November 6th, 2008On Teaching: Writing roundtable >
November 6th, 2008The five-paragraph essay, according to national experts, is the dominant formula for teaching basic writing. Students, particularly in high school, are taught to conform to a cookie-cutter model in their writing assignments. Students are asked to insert material into a introduction, provide a set of supporting data and present a conclusion. Critics of the model […]
U.S. ignoring critical importance of environment, scientist says >
November 6th, 2008The world — and particularly the United States — has its head in the sand when it comes to the dangers of destroying the ecosystems that sustain life, a prominent scientist said here last week. “When you hear a politician say, “We have a tough economic situation now, what we have to do is work […]
Pitt Men's Study marks 25th year >
November 6th, 2008When the Pitt Men’s Study began 25 years ago, researchers “had a strong vision for the need to respond to the approaching storm,” in spite of the fact that men in Pittsburgh were not dying in significant numbers from AIDS, recalls Philip Parr, who at the time directed the Pittsburgh Free Clinic. “I did not […]
The future of Oakland: Senate plenary session examines partnerships >
November 6th, 2008A Pittsburgh City Council member is calling for representatives of the University and Oakland community organizations to join with city officials in developing a new 10-year master plan for Oakland. Bill Peduto, who represents parts of Oakland, said, “I want to talk about what I call ‘2020 vision.’ Not [as it relates to] eyesight. In […]
The future of Oakland: Community groups & what they do >
November 6th, 2008Following the speakers at the Oct. 23 Senate fall plenary session, a panel of representatives from Oakland community groups presented brief descriptions of what their organizations do and how they have partnered with Pitt. Community Human Services Corp. (CHS) Adrienne Walnoha said that CHS has been a community center in South Oakland for almost 40 […]
The future of Oakland: Roundtable discussions >
November 6th, 2008The Oct. 23 Senate plenary session included summaries from roundtable discussions, where intermingled groups of Pitt students, faculty, staff and administrators sat down with local residents and community organizers to brainstorm on Oakland’s future. “The purpose of these roundtable discussions is to create representative dialogue on the issues and the strengths that we see in […]
3 companies started in FY08 based on Pitt innovations >
November 6th, 2008Three start-up companies based on innovations developed at Pitt were created in fiscal year 2008, bringing the total number of start-ups to 69 since Pitt’s Office of Technology Management opened in 1996. The OTM annual report showed continuing interest in bringing Pitt innovations to market. In FY08, more than 400 Pitt faculty, staff and students […]