By SHANNON O. WELLS
The final Faculty Assembly meetings of the spring 2023 semester included discussions on a broad range of topics, including campus safety and hoax reports of active shooters on campus, free speech vs. hate speech, new leadership at the chancellor and provost levels, and efforts to improve communications between shared governance and the Union of Pitt Faculty.
Some areas, such as policies passed on tuition exchange, drones and relocation, and resolutions defending academic freedom and supporting the continuance of the beleaguered English Language Institute, are squared away for the foreseeable future, while others, such as campus safety, integrating the new chancellor with shared governance, and communications with union bargaining unit leaders, will likely be part of ongoing discussions.
After several weeks away from the steady flow of issues that demand attention, Senate Council President Robin Kear said she feels refreshed and looks forward to collaborating with her colleagues in shared governance. The first Faculty Assembly meeting will be held on at 3 p.m. Sept. 6 in Posvar Hall, as well as remotely via Zoom.
“After a relatively rejuvenating summer, I am very excited to reconvene with faculty, staff, students and administrators in shared governance,” Kear told University Times. “As always, there is so much to think about and work on, and it is so much easier to do this together in common purpose.
“This summer has given me a new perspective,” she added. “There is so much that the Senate can accomplish to make Pitt better, and I look forward to starting that work again.”
The agenda for the Sept. 6 meeting includes a briefing on campus safety and communication improvements made during the summer. Kear encourages faculty to “listen and bring their questions. There are always improvements to be made in keeping ourselves safe,” she said, “and I am sure that our Senate CUPS (Campus Utilization, Planning and Safety) Committee will continue their work monitoring this for us.”
Kear identified ethically incorporating artificial intelligence — generative and other forms — into Pitt teaching and research as another key priority for understanding and implementation, noting that she and several other Senate members are serving on the Ad Hoc Committee on Generative AI in Research and Education convened by the provost’s office and the Office of Research.
“As a faculty body, we still need to have a deliberative discussion on the responsibilities of free speech on our campus,” Kear said, noting she is examining the best way to accomplish this and incorporate it into other nascent efforts. Early this semester, the Senate Admissions, Aid, and Affairs committee plans to hear about changes arising from the Supreme Court’s affirmative action, race-based admissions process decision and how that affects Pitt.
The Senate is continuing communication meetings with the Union of Pitt Faculty as members explore how best to work together, she said, and plans to start quickly on elections to choose search committee members for the next provost. Faculty should expect to receive a Read Green email about this on the first day of the semester.
“With new leadership there is a great opportunity to refresh perspectives on new and perennial issues — to gain a new way of looking at things — and I look forward to working with our new chancellor (Joan Gabel) and new interim provost (Joe McCarthy) this year,” Kear said. “I love the energy that our students bring to campus, and I love being part of the New Student Convocation that officially welcomes the first-years. It’s a privilege and a great way to kick off the academic year.”
Shannon O. Wells is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at shannonw@pitt.edu.
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