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Accolades & Honors

University Center for Teaching and Learning Hosts Regional Faculty Symposium

The University Center for Teaching and Learning hosted more than 250 regional and international professionals at the second annual Pittsburgh Regional Faculty Symposium, which was held on Pitt’s campus on March 11.

The symposium drew registrations from faculty from universities and colleges in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New York, Kentucky, Massachusetts and Ontario.

“The symposium was the first of its kind here on Pitt’s campus, and brought together talents and expertise from across the entire spectrum of higher education,” said Erik Arroyo, director of academic support services for the Teaching Center.

The daylong conference consisted of 35 interactive sessions, networking opportunities and a keynote address by Sarah Rose Cavanagh, associate director of the D’Amour Center for Teaching Excellence at Assumption College. Thirteen different Pitt faculty and staff members were involved in the symposium’s planning or in hosting a session.

Cynthia Golden, director of the Teaching Center, said that this regional collaboration created the potential to bring new ideas, partnerships and teaching strategies to Pitt campuses. “It was an honor for the University Center for Teaching and Learning to host the Pittsburgh Regional Faculty Symposium. The Pitt faculty we work with not only break new ground in research, they are leaders and innovators in effective teaching,” said Golden.

Added Arroyo, “If each of the attendees are in the position to impact 20 students, and they left the symposium with one new idea or approach or strategy, then this symposium has the potential to positively impact over 5,000 students enrolled in college right now.”

The event was organized by the Teaching Center and supported by the Colleagues in Connection, a regional professional development collaborative, and the Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education.