[INTRO MUSIC]
Hello! My name is Joe McCarthy, and I am the University of Pittsburgh's Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor.
For the past three years, I've had the privilege of serving as Pitt's chief academic officer, but my connection to the University goes back much further. I've spent my entire career at Pitt, beginning as a faculty member in the Swanson School of Engineering.
During my time here, I've had firsthand experience in seeing and benefiting from the outstanding teaching, learning, and discovery that happens in every corner of our great University.
As provost, my office is responsible for advancing the University's academic mission and supporting excellence across all five campuses. Together with my team, we work to strengthen the undergraduate and graduate student experience, support our faculty in attaining their career goals, and ensure that Pitt continues to have a positive impact on the Commonwealth, the region, and the world as we prepare graduates to thrive in an ever-changing environment.
As we begin this academic year, our priorities remain centered on creating opportunities for success for every member of our community. We continue to strengthen the academic support available to our students by enhancing advising, expanding opportunities for experiential learning, and ensuring that students have the resources they need to succeed in their academic journeys from the very first day at Pitt all the way through graduation.
For example, one of the most significant initiatives is the implementation of a shared advising model across the entire Pittsburgh campus. We're working closely with every academic unit to create a more consistent advising experience while preserving the unique expertise of each school.
This work also reflects our commitment to the Plan for Pitt and our continued focus on improving student success, retention, and post-graduation outcomes.
We're also expanding access to innovative learning opportunities through the Center for Excellence in Digital Education. Also known as Pitt EDGE, this center advances the University's vision for online, hybrid, and continuing education. By partnering with schools across the University, Pitt EDGE develops innovative academic programs that expand access for learners and respond to the evolving needs of today's workforce.
On the faculty side, we're continuing to further our commitment to faculty advancement through an increasing menu of professional development resources.
Our faculty are the foundation of Pitt's excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship, and their success in turn creates opportunities for our students and ultimately strengthens our entire University.
That's the beauty of the interconnected and collaborative academic ecosystem that we've created here at Pitt. By investing in our faculty, we're strengthening the educational experience for every student across the University, and we're hoping to build a better community for all of us.
Through the Office of Faculty Advancement and Leadership Development, we're investing in faculty at every stage of their careers. From mentoring and professional development to leadership opportunities, we're creating an environment where faculty can grow, innovate and lead.
I'm also mindful that the higher education landscape is evolving quickly, and Pitt aims to be a leader in this changing world. For instance, with Pitt's strength in STEM, humanities, and social sciences, we have an opportunity to be at the forefront in the conversation about artificial intelligence with a thoughtful, human-centered approach.
That's why we've created the Hub for AI and Data Science Leadership, or HAIL. HAIL brings together expertise from across the University to advance education, research, and the responsible application of AI across all disciplines.
Rather than simply teaching AI tools, HAIL is focused on preparing our students, faculty, and staff to use these tools responsibly, ethically, and effectively, while keeping an eye on how we continue this intentional focus on positive human impact as AI evolves.
By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, HAIL will help ensure that Pitt remains at the cutting edge of AI while keeping people at the center of innovation.
Across all the efforts I've mentioned here, collaboration and synergy are key to our work together. The priorities that I mentioned represent just a few of the ways we're building on Pitt's momentum. Together, we'll continue to advance our mission of academic excellence, positive impact and expanded opportunity as we prepare our students, faculty, and the entire university for a bright future.
Hail to Pitt!
[OUTRO MUSIC]