For the first time since the 1980s, summer enrollment increased this year both in terms of the total number of students (13,198, a 0.06 percent increase over summer 1996) and total credits taken (83,906, up by 1.5 percent) at Pitt's five campuses, according to the Office of University Summer Sessions and Continuing Education. Increased graduate […]
Summer enrollment up in credits, students for 1st time since '80s >
October 9th, 1997Pitt launches new safety program to lower the odds of lab accidents >
October 9th, 1997On Aug. 14, 1996, Karen Wetterhahn, a distinguished research chemist at Dartmouth University, transferred the dimethylmercury she was working with from one container to another; in the process, she spilled a couple of drops of the substance onto one of her latex gloves. Well aware that dimethyl-mercury was a toxic substance, Wetterhahn quickly cleaned up […]
Senate committee wants to know whereabouts of ROTC disclaimer >
October 9th, 1997In 1992, to protest the U.S. Department of Defense's ban on homosexuals in the military, Pitt's administration agreed to a University Senate request that University publications describing Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs include the following statement: "ROTC programs discriminate against students on the basis of sexual orientation and therefore are not in compliance with […]
Amendment would reinstate TIAA-CREF's tax exempt status >
October 9th, 1997New York Senators Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Alfonse D'Amato have introduced an amendment to the 1998 federal budget bill that seeks to reinstate tax exempt status for TIAA-CREF's pension plan. The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate removed the tax exemption in the budget they sent to President Bill Clinton in early August. According to […]
Human Resources outlines reasons for enrolling in Pitt's contributory invesitment plans >
October 9th, 1997Faculty and staff groups have been known to battle fiercely with the administration over a 1 percent difference in salary raises. Yet, hundreds of Pitt employees throw away thousands of dollars each year — by failing to sign up for TIAA-CREF or Vanguard, the two "contributory tax-deferred annuity" retirement plans offered at the University. Of […]
More friends could mean fewer colds >
October 9th, 1997Want to reduce your chances of getting a cold this winter? Get more involved with people – children, relatives, friends, social groups, church groups, co-workers. While it might seem as if exposure to more people is an invitation for a cold, studies by Pitt adjunct professor of psychology and psychiatry Sheldon Cohen and colleagues have […]
Pitt seeking bids from 5 health care insurers >
October 9th, 1997The University has asked five health insurers to bid for its employee medical insurance business. Pitt's three-year, exclusive contract with Highmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield (formerly Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Western Pennsylvania) expires June 30, 1998. For the next contract, the Pitt Human Resources office has requested proposals from HighMark, HealthAmerica, Pyramid Health, Tri-State […]