University Council on Graduate Study

The University Council on Graduate Study (UCGS) develops basic standards, regulations, and policies applicable to all fields for graduate instruction and research.

UCGS reviews, evaluates, and makes recommendations to the provost concerning proposals for new post-baccalaureate degree and certificate programs throughout the University after such proposals have had prior review and approval by the appropriate people within the school.

UCGS keeps informed regarding general developments affecting graduate education.

Learn more about the Organization of Graduate Study at the University of Pittsburgh.

Meeting Dates

UCGS meets monthly September through May. For a proposal to be reviewed at the monthly UCGS meetings, it must be submitted and reviewed by the Graduate Studies team at least 11 working days in advance of the meeting. However, it is at the discretion of the Graduate Studies Team to determine if the academic program proposal can be added to a particular date's meeting agenda.

Refer to the list below for scheduled meeting dates in AY25-26.

Meetings times are on Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. unless otherwise indicated.

Academic Year 2025–2026

  • September 9, 2025
  • October 21, 2025
  • November 11, 2025
  • December 2, 2025
  • January 13, 2026
  • February 10, 2026
  • March 10, 2026
  • April 14, 2026
  • May 12, 2026
  • June 9, 2026

Membership

View the current roster of UCGS members and the areas they represent.

UCGS also has subcommittees on Graduate Procedures and Graduate Student Affairs.

UCGS Committee Membership
2025-2026 UCGS Membership
NameArea RepresentedFaculty/Student/Staff
Daniel AbusuampehSchool of Social WorkGraduate Student
Johnson AdenugaDietrich School of Arts and SciencesOther Trainee
Abdulmohsen AlroumiSchool of Health and Rehabilitation SciencesGraduate Student
Carla Baumel NgSwanson School of EngineeringFaculty
Dylan BaxterSchool of Dental MedicineOther Trainee
Yousra BensoudaSwanson School of EngineeringGraduate Student
Denise Michell BergdoltSchool of BusinessGraduate Student
Bryan BrownSwanson School of EngineeringFaculty
Jeanine BuchanichSchool of Public HealthFaculty
Chandra CareySchool of Health and Rehabilitation SciencesFaculty
Myeong-ga ChoSchool of NursingGraduate Student
Panos ChrysanthisSchool of Computing and InformationFaculty
Luke CondraSchool of Public and International AffairsFaculty
Linda DeAngeloSchool of EducationFaculty
Michael DickeySchool of Health and Rehabilitation SciencesFaculty
Ying DingSchool of Public HealthFaculty
Gerard Dorve-LewisSchool of EducationGraduate Student
Kerry EmpeySchool of PharmacyFaculty
Arjuman GhaziSchool of MedicineFaculty
Amanda GodleyOffice of the ProvostExecutive Administrator
Michael GunzenhauserSchool of EducationFaculty
Rachelle HaynikSchool of Public and International AffairsGraduate Student
Jonathan HelmOffice of the ProvostSenior Administrator
Stephanie HoogendoornOffice of the ProvostStaff
Tija JacobSchool of MedicineFaculty
Christina KazarovSchool of PharmacyGraduate Student
Zena KesselmanOffice of the ProvostGraduate Student
Saleem KhanSchool of MedicineFaculty
Andrew KochSchool of BusinessFaculty
Peng LiuDietrich School of Arts and SciencesFaculty
Neepa MajumdarDietrich School of Arts and SciencesFaculty
Dobrawa NapieralaSchool of Dental MedicineFaculty
John O'DonnellSchool of NursingFaculty
Robert ParkerSwanson School of EngineeringFaculty
Suzanne PritzkerSchool of Social WorkFaculty
Ketki RainaSchool of Health and Rehabilitation SciencesFaculty
Andrele Brutus St. ValSchool of LawFaculty
Courtney SyskowskiOffice of the ProvostStaff
Jonathan WoonDietrich School of Arts and SciencesFaculty
Victoria WyantSchool of Public HealthGraduate Student
UCGS Subcommittees

Graduate Faculty

(UCGS only)

This committee will consider the definitions of graduate faculty and adjunct graduate faculty, potential mentor training requirements, conditions under which graduate faculty status can be revoked and the process for appointment to graduate faculty.

Guidance on Graduate Mentoring and Advising

(UCGS only)

This committee will update the University’s guide to graduate mentoring and advising (titled Elements of Good Academic Advising) and make recommendations for University-wide mentor/advisor training and support. 

Advanced Standing Credits

(with PACUP)

This committee will consider transfer credit maximums and other issues related to transfer credits including block transfers. 

Academic Program Structure and Dual Degrees/Majors

(with PACUP)

This committee will discuss academic program structures such as ARCOs, credential overlap, stackable programs and how many credits can count for two programs concurrently. 

Academic Probation/Suspension

(with PACUP)

This committee will consider the criteria by which students are placed on academic probation or suspended/dismissed for academic reasons and the process for each.

Course Repeat/G Grade

(with PACUP)

This committee will consider regulations regarding G grades (similar to incomplete grades), the conditions under which students can repeat a course, and how repeated courses appear on the student’s transcript.

Meeting Minutes

The approved minutes of recent council meeting are posted below.

To request archived documents from past years, please contact graduate@pitt.edu.

UCGS Meeting Minutes

Minutes of 2024-2025 Meetings of Council

Minutes of 2023–2024 Meetings of Council

Doctoral Mentoring Awards

The Provost’s Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring annually recognizes outstanding mentoring of graduate students seeking a research doctorate degree. Up to four awards are made each year.

See eligibility requirements, selection procedures and selection criteria in the Mentoring Award Guidelines.

View past recipients of the Provost's Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring »