The Office of Government Relations and Advocacy also is in close coordination with the chancellor’s office and Pitt Research.  

“We are advising University stakeholders about potential impacts as they arise,” McCarthy reported. “We hope that the shutdown resolves soon, and we remain committed to keeping the board and the Pitt community informed and prepared also in the federal space.” 

Enrollment increases 

McCarthy also acknowledged the notable uptick in enrollment at Pitt this fall, which has been fueled by “an incredible group of new students” — the largest first-year class in Pitt history chosen from a record 65,000 applicants — coupled with “increased persistence (from) several of our regional campuses.” 

“I can proudly say that all campuses at the University of Pittsburgh experienced an increase in student head count, year over year,” McCarthy noted, adding that Pitt is already on a record pace for applications this year. “The fall 2026 admission cycle began, as it always does, on Aug. 1, and as of last week, we were nearly 18% above our applications at this time last year. 

“On the regional campuses, what we call ‘direct applications’ — those that apply directly to our regional campuses — are up 28% at Greensburg and 50% at Johnstown,” he reported.  

With graduate and professional program enrollment also up, McCarthy said this is “all a positive sign of brand strength and continuing momentum of Pitt.” 

Other news shared by McCarthy: 

• Collective bargaining sessions with the staff and graduate worker bargaining units represented by the United Steel Workers were held throughout the summer on a biweekly basis. Tentative agreements have been reach on 13 topics for the staff union, with approximately 15 proposed provisions actively being negotiated. For the graduate workers, the parties have tentatively agreed to 10 provisions, with approximately 20 proposals actively being negotiated.  

• Acknowledging the annual United Way campaign that kicked off on Oct 1, McCarthy thanked Lina Dostilio, vice chancellor for external relations and Dwayne Pinkney, executive senior vice chancellor for administration and finance, for co-chairing this year’s campaign “to support vital services to our neighbors across southwestern Pennsylvania.” 

• The University-wide Winter Commencement Ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Petersen Events Center. The ceremony is for candidates who have completed requirements for undergraduate and graduate degrees during the summer or current fall semester. “Eligible graduates should have begun receiving invitations earlier this week,” McCarthy said, noting the Nov. 20 deadline to register for theceremony. “The commencement speaker is yet to be announced, but we will keep these keep you all informed as that progresses.” 

• McCarthy started the report by acknowledging October as Sustainability Month. “As we all know, sustainability is a year-round commitment at the University of Pittsburgh, and in fact, it is part of our strategic plan, the Plan for Pitt 2028, but I do want to recognize that this is Sustainability Month at Pitt,” he said, encouraging everyone to visit sustainable.pitt.edu to see the range of activities happening through October. 

• McCarthy gave a shout out to Tevis Jacobs, a professor and colleague of his from the Swanson School of Engineering, “whose startup surface design solutions won the inaugural AI Horizons Pitch in September,” held in Pittsburgh. “Yes, that was a (Pitt) engineer winning a Pittsburgh AI competition,” McCarthy emphasized, noting Jacob received a $100,000 prize and a year of free office space at Bakery Square. 

• The report also acknowledged “Piper,” Bradford-Pitt’s new, previously unnamed Panther mascot. “Piper is apparently a nod to the campus’s ties to aviation history,” McCarthy noted.  

President’s report 

Senate President Kris Kanthak discussed access to the new Recreation and Wellness Center in her report. She announced that eligible faculty, staff and postdocs will be able to sign up for memberships starting Nov. 1 (see related story). 

She also reported that the Senate Council’s “unofficial life coach and wellness guru, Linda Tashbook,” adjunct professor of law, and foreign, international and comparative law librarian, has compiled a list of wellness benefits for faculty and staff on the Oakland campus and beyond. These include free bike rentals via the Parking and Transportation Office, a tree trek conceived by Pitt Sustainability, along with self-directed walking tours of gardens throughout the campus, activities through the Center of Creativity and concerts hosted by the Department of Music.  

“The Human Resources office employs a health coach who will work individually with employees or with offices and departments,” Kanthak added. “Also the Mental Wellness Task Force, which (Tashbook) heads up, has scheduled a number of activities and events, including online art walks, a mental wellness book club and an online water cooler, which is a monthly Teams conversation for remote workers.” 

Kanthak went on to offer brief updates on what some other Senate committees are discussing, including:  

• EIADAC: The Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Advocacy Committee is discussing a draft policy charter based on recommendations for the Lactation and Pregnancy Accommodation Policy. (see related story)