Announcements

Data Science Task Force Seeks Feedback on Report
The Pitt community is invited to comment on the report’s goals and specific actions by Friday, Dec. 11.

Call for Artists: What Does Black Lives Matter Mean to You?
Pitt invites artists throughout Western Pennsylvania to submit art for the outdoor exhibition, “Don’t Look Away: Because Mattering is the Minimum,” which will be erected on the Pittsburgh campus this winter. The deadline to submit is Dec. 1, 2020.

Second Step: Developing a Business Plan
Learn all you need to know about operational and production planning, conducting market research and creating financial spreadsheets to attract funding for your business.

First Step: Mechanics of Starting a Small Business
Begin exploring the size of your market and what marketing tools you’ll need to attract customers, learn about business structures, access helpful resources, learn about available funding options and understand what you need to formally establish your business.

Partnerships of Distinction Award Nomination Due Dec. 1
Additionally, the deadline for Community Engaged Scholarship Forum workshop and poster submission proposals has been extended to Dec. 11.

Call for Proposals for Mentoring and Advising Summit
Advisors, mentors and coaches from the Pitt community are encouraged to submit their proposals to lead a workshop or idea session by Dec. 3.

Teaching Surveys Open Until Nov. 29
Research has shown that the most effective way to receive quality feedback through increased response rates is to communicate the importance of the survey process to students. Here are five tasks that faculty can do today.

Human Resource, Payroll Systems Transition Begins Monday, Jan. 4
Employees and student workers received information about the launch of Pitt Worx, a modernized, user-friendly cloud-based system.

5 Tips for Faculty to Encourage Teaching Survey Responses
With new tools and resources supporting Flex@Pitt teaching and learning, student feedback is critical. Here are five ways for faculty members to receive quality feedback.

Personalize Your Campus Departure Strategy
Pitt’s COVID-19 Medical Response Office teamed up with Pitt IT to build a chatbot tool that tells people the safest way to shelter in place before departing campus, based on their personal experience with COVID-19 this term. Access the chatbot via Single Sign On—and if you’re curious, read the CMRO’s full recommendations.

Provost to Host Faculty Town Hall on Thursday, Nov. 19
On Thursday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m., faculty are invited to join a town hall hosted by representatives across the University. It will be available on Zoom and on YouTube Live.

Honors College Dean Search Begins with Virtual Open Forum
The provost’s office will commence the search for the next dean of the University Honors College with an open forum via Zoom on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 1:30 p.m.

Snuff Out Cigarettes with the Great American Smokeout
This American Cancer Society event provides a chance for smokers to begin their journey leading to a smoke-free life.

#BlackLivesMatter Spring 2021 Course
In this spring 2021 course, #BlackLivesMatter: Topics in Black Rhetoric, explore the various ways that the Black Lives Matter movement makes meaning, connects or disrupts past approaches to Black liberation struggles, and engages institutional politics in the U.S. and beyond.

Take Italian this Spring
The Italian Program is pleased to offer a variety of classes in both English and Italian for undergraduate students in all schools at Pitt.

Apply for a Great Job as a Peer Tutor
The Dietrich School’s Study Lab is looking for academically successful students (GPA 3.0 or better) to serve as peer tutors in biological sciences, chemistry, economics, physics and statistics.

Community Engaged Scholarship Forum Proposals Due Next Friday
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to submit proposals that align with tracks and themes for the third-annual event: basic needs, civic participation, digital access and inclusion, education, health equity, criminal justice reform, and relationships and our social fabric.

Students Urged to Be Vigilant for Fraudulent Job Scams
Pitt IT and Student Affairs have tips for spotting fraudulent job scams and instructions for what to do if students see a suspicious email.

Pitt IT, UPMC Partner on Global Wi-Fi Connectivity Across Institutions
Employees from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC’s hospitals in the Oakland, Shadyside, Lawrenceville and Uptown neighborhoods can now use log-in credentials from their home institution’s network to connect to the internet at either organization’s facilities.

Exhibit to Celebrate Black Experience Seeks Submissions
Artists throughout western Pennsylvania are invited to submit works that answer the question, “What does the phrase Black Lives Matter mean to you?” The deadline is Dec. 1.