At Pitt, we are committed to enriching every undergraduate’s academic experience with transformative opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive without increased financial burden or time to degree.
To further this ambitious goal, the Office of the Provost and Academic Leadership Team has convened a task force comprised of faculty, advisors, staff, and students from across all schools and campuses.
Learn more about the work of the task force in the Gen Ed Task Force Overview, including key objectives, motivations and opportunities.
- Task Force Membership
Name Title Area Represented Bobby Ackerman Assistant Director, Strategic Planning and Analytics University Center for Teaching and Learning Liz Adams Director of Advising and Student Success David C. Frederick Honors College James Baldwin Vice President of Enrollment Management University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Emily Bennett Manager of Experiential Learning School of Computing and Information Carrie Benson Director of Prevention & Education Office of Institutional Engagement and Wellbeing Mary Besterfield-Sacre Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Nickolas A. DeCecco Professor, Director of the Engineering Education Research Center Swanson School of Engineering Luis Bravo Assistant Director for Academic Affairs, Center for Latin American Studies University Center for International Studies Betty Braxter Associate Professor, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education School of Nursing Christopher Coat Associate University Registrar Office of the University Registrar Luke Condra Associate Professor and Associate Dean School of Public and International Affairs Kevin Conley Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Michael Davila Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Margarita Delgado Creamer Teaching Assistant Professor College of General Studies Allyson Delnore Executive Director for Academic Affairs University Center for International Studies Lorraine Denman Teaching Professor Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Derek Fischer Senior Director for Undergraduate Studies and the College of General Studies Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences David Fitz Associate Professor of Political Science, Interim Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and at Titusville William Garrison Teaching Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies School of Computing and Information Nancy Gauvin Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement; Assistant Professor School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Ed Giles Director of Academic Advising Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Adrian Gonzalez Director of Undergraduate Advising School of Public Health Sayre Greenfield Professor of English University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Mike Gunzenhauser Professor and Senior Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs School of Education Jill Harvey Director of First Year Advising Swanson School of Engineering Adriana Helbig Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and CGS, Associate Professor, Department of Music Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Wes Hiers Director, Law, Criminal Justice & Society, Administration of Justice, and Legal Studies College of General Studies Dave Hornyak Assistant Dean David C. Frederick Honors College Jacqueline Horrall Vice President for Academic Affairs University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Max Jensen Assistant Professor of Spanish & Comparative Literature University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Toya Jones BASW Program Director and Assistant Professor School of Social Work Hillary Koller Director Pitt Global Experiences Office Sera Mathew Director, Equitable and Inclusive Teaching University Center for Teaching and Learning Denise McCloskey Associate Vice Provost for Business Administration Office of the Provost Melissa Micco Deputy Controller Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor/Chief Financial Officer Sarah Moeller Senior Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning School of Business Lindsay Onufer Senior Teaching and Learning Consultant and Program Manager University Center for Teaching and Learning Rachel Parkes Director of Advising School of Computing and Information Caro Pirri Assistant Professor of English Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Melanie Reyes Senior Project Manager School of Dental Medicine Elizabeth Richey Teaching Assistant Professor of Psychology Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Kevin Riley Academic Advisor School of Business Stephen Robar Director of Environmental Studies Program, Director of International Affairs Program, Associate Professor of Political Science University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Mary Sacre-Besterfield Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Nickolas A. DeCecco Professor, Director of the Engineering Education Research Center Swanson School of Engineering Brett Soltysiak Curricular Innovation Manager, Undergraduate Studies Office of the Provost John Stoner Teaching Professor and Undergraduate Advisor Faculty Assembly – SEPC Sybil Streeter Director of Undergraduate Advising, Psychology; Teaching Associate Professor, Department of Psychology Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Molly Swagler Assistant Vice Provost for Enrollment and Executive Director of Enrollment Outreach Office of Admissions and Financial Aid Ryan Sweeney Associate Director Career Center Belkys Torres Associate Vice Provost for Curricular Innovation Office of the Provost Liann Tsoukas Director of Undergraduate Studies and Teaching Professor, Department of History Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Patty J Wharton-Michael Associate Professor, Communication University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Brenda Whitney Teaching Professor, Director of Undergraduate Studies - Composition Program, Department of English Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Michael Wood-Vasey Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Physics and Astronomy Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Ada Youk Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Associate Professor School of Public Health Andrea Zito Assistant Dean, Student Engagement School of Education - Curricular Design Working Group
The Curricular Design Working Group is composed of faculty, staff, alumni, and student leadership; charged with exploration, data collection, benchmarking, engagement, ideation, designing and building a standardized Gen Ed curriculum.
Name Title Area Represented Luis Bravo Assistant Director for Academic Affairs, Center for Latin American Studies University Center for International Studies Betty Braxter Associate Professor, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education School of Nursing Michael Davila Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Margarita Delgado Creamer Teaching Assistant Professor College of General Studies Lorraine Denman Teaching Professor Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences William Garrison Teaching Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies School of Computing and Information Nancy Gauvin Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement; Assistant Professor School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Sayre Greenfield Professor of English University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Adriana Helbig Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and CGS, Associate Professor, Department of Music Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Wes Hiers Director, Law, Criminal Justice & Society, Administration of Justice, and Legal Studies College of General Studies Max Jensen Assistant Professor of Spanish & Comparative Literature University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Sera Mathew Director, Equitable and Inclusive Teaching University Center for Teaching and Learning Melanie Reyes Senior Project Manager School of Dental Medicine Kevin Riley Academic Advisor School of Business Stephen Robar Director of Environmental Studies Program, Director of International Affairs Program, Associate Professor of Political Science University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Brett Soltysiak Curricular Innovation Manager, Undergraduate Studies Office of the Provost Sybil Streeter Director of Undergraduate Advising, Psychology; Teaching Associate Professor, Department of Psychology Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Patty J. Wharton-Michael Associate Professor, Communication University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Brenda Whitney Teaching Professor, Director of Undergraduate Studies - Composition Program, Department of English Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Michael Wood-Vasey Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Physics and Astronomy Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Ada Youk Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Associate Professor School of Public Health Andrea Zito Assistant Dean, Student Engagement School of Education - Operational and Implementation Working Group
The Operational/Implementation Working Group is composed of experts and students charged to provide advice to and run scenarios-based analysis for the Design Working Group on the challenges/opportunities for implementing their proposed vision.
Name Title Area Represented Bobby Ackerman Assistant Director, Strategic Planning and Analytics University Center for Teaching and Learning James Baldwin Vice President of Enrollment Management University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Carrie Benson Director of Prevention & Education Office of Institutional Engagement and Wellbeing Christopher Coat Associate University Registrar Office of the University Registrar Kevin Conley Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Derek Fischer Senior Director for Undergraduate Studies and the College of General Studies Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Ed Giles Director of Academic Advising Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Adrian Gonzalez Director of Undergraduate Advising School of Public Health Jill Harvey Director of First Year Advising Swanson School of Engineering Dave Hornyak Assistant Dean David C. Frederick Honors College Hillary Koller Director Pitt Global Experiences Office Melissa Micco Deputy Controller Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor/Chief Financial Officer Sarah Moeller Senior Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning School of Business Rachel Parkes Director of Advising School of Computing and Information Elizabeth Richey Teaching Assistant Professor of Psychology Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Molly Swagler Assistant Vice Provost for Enrollment and Executive Director of Enrollment Outreach Office of Admissions and Financial Aid - Administration and Assessment Group
The Administration and Assessment Group comprises experts and students charged with anticipating, planning, and executing revisions to academic policies/procedures to realize the vision of the task force. This body will also propose the permanent structure for oversight, administration, and assessment of the Gen Ed Curriculum.
Name Title Area Represented Liz Adams Director of Advising and Student Success David C. Frederick Honors College Emily Bennett Manager of Experiential Learning School of Computing and Information Mary Besterfield-Sacre Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Nickolas A. DeCecco Professor, Director of the Engineering Education Research Center Swanson School of Engineering Luke Condra Associate Professor and Associate Dean School of Public and International Affairs Allyson Delnore Executive Director for Academic Affairs University Center for International Studies David Fitz Associate Professor of Political Science, Interim Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and at Titusville Mike Gunzenhauser Professor and Senior Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs School of Education Jacqueline Horrall Vice President for Academic Affairs University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Toya Jones BASW Program Director and Assistant Professor School of Social Work Denise McCloskey Associate Vice Provost for Business Administration Office of the Provost Lindsay Onufer Senior Teaching and Learning Consultant and Program Manager University Center for Teaching and Learning Caro Pirri Assistant Professor of English Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences John Stoner Teaching Professor and Undergraduate Advisor Faculty Assembly – SEPC Ryan Sweeney Associate Director Career Center Liann Tsoukas Director of Undergraduate Studies and Teaching Professor, Department of History Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
Review the detailed timeline for the task force's efforts.
- Summer 2023
Initiate Dialogue with Council of Deans and Leaders Across Schools/Campuses/Faculty Senate/Administration
- Identify immediate motivations, challenges, opportunities not yet addressed.
- Discern appropriate steps to solicit additional feedback.
- Propose action plan for Gen Eds Reform.
- Discern representatives for formal working groups.
- Collect existing information regarding recent efforts toward Gen Ed Review across schools/campuses.
Attend Trainings and Meetings on Gen Eds Reform
Prepare Project Management Needs & Initial Communication Strategy & Materials
- Connect with OTP and UMC Communication Experts for Storytelling and Engagement Sessions
- Create accessible online platforms and dedicated email address for working groups and broader community to access information, share feedback, connect with one another, work collaboratively.
Propose Gen Ed Task Force
The Task Force will consist of 3 different bodies to ensure representation, transparency, communication, ideation, and collaboration across schools, campuses, and support units Pitt-wide. We will develop guiding principles for each working group to focus tasks, process management goals, and expectations to inform the work of each group. All will include a variety of voices representative of our many schools/campuses and stakeholders, including students, faculty, advisors, administrators, alumni (see Appendix A for additional information).
- General Education Design Working Group: comprised of faculty, staff, and student leadership; charged with exploration, data collection, benchmarking, engagement, ideation, designing and building a standardized Gen Ed curriculum.
- Gen Ed Implementation Working Group: comprised of experts (Registrar, CFO, Admissions, Advisors, OTP Academic Affairs, Career Center, Pitt Global, CTL, Data Analytics, UMC) and students; charged to provide advice to and run scenarios-based analysis for the Design Working Group on the challenges/opportunities for implementing their proposed vision.
- Gen Ed Administration & Assessment Group: comprised of experts (Policy Management, OTP Academic Affairs and Faculty Affairs, PACUP, UMC, CTL, Admissions, Faculty Senate Committees) and students; charged with anticipating, planning, and executing revisions to academic policies/procedures to realize the vision of the taskforce; this body will also propose the permanent structure for oversight, administration, and assessment of the Gen Ed Curriculum.
- Year 1: Academic Year 2023-24
Convene, Charge, and Communicate with Gen Ed Task Force
Gen Ed Task Force:
- Comprised of 3 Working Groups: Design; Implementation/Operation; Administration and Assessment
- Establish Guiding Principles, Project Goals with each Working Group
- Engage and Discovery with all Stakeholders: leverage existing committees/ department meetings already scheduled where the GE Task Force members can get invited to inform and collect initial input.
- Collect and Analyze Pitt Curricular Data
- Collect and Review Stakeholder Feedback
- Year 2: Academic Year 2024-25
- Conduct Benchmarking of Peer Institutions
- Explore, Design, Propose Prototypes for Feedback
- Year 3: Academic Year 2025-26
- Engage and Discuss Prototypes with all Stakeholders
- Propose Curricular Model and Student Learning Outcomes per Community Feedback
- Proposal Approval Process
- Year 4: Academic Year 2026-27
Design the Implementation, Communication, Administrative, Assessment and Faculty/Staff Training Strategies
Timeframe Milestone May 2026 Task Force retreat (May 8); retreat feedback incorporated into Implementation Plan. June 2026 Implementation Plan shared with senior leadership for review and comment.
Assessment Manager starts and is onboardedSummer 2026 Credit-hour recommendation finalized; course tagging methodology proposed; regulatory framework drafted.
Final GELO nomenclature, competencies, and outcomes document complete.
Committee charters and Faculty Fellows Program guidelines finalized; ad hoc committee recruited. Faculty Assembly motion language drafted; FA vote target ~September 15.
Brand strategy complete; program name and visual identity in development.Fall 2026 Assessment framework piloted; curriculum maps drafted.
Pilot advisor training cohort launched.
Project Manager position posted.
GECC and GEAC proposed; charters approved. Framework and Implementation Plan approved.Fall 2026–Spring 2027 HIPs inventory complete; hub/office proposal finalized; Experiential Learning Director hired. Spring 2027 University-wide advisor and faculty training; website and communications soft launch.
Executive Director and Experiential Learning Director in role.Summer 2027 Final systems testing; incoming class preparation; full communications launch. Fall 2027 New General Education Program launches for incoming class. - Year 5: Academic Year 2027-28
Launch Pilot Year of new Gen Ed Program
A Note on Phased Enrollment:
As the University works toward a Fall 2027 program launch, the new General Education curriculum will be open exclusively to incoming first-year or transfer students in term 2281 and thereafter.
Continuing students—sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled prior to Fall 2027—may complete existing general education requirements at the discretion of their home school or campus through exceptions processes developed by dean’s offices.
This approach will allow advisors, faculty, and the General Education Task Force to manage the transition thoughtfully, identify and address implementation challenges at a manageable scale, and ensure that all students—whether on the new or legacy curriculum—receive consistent, high-quality advising and support throughout the transition period.
By centering student learning goals and outcomes, we can show students how completing required general education coursework leads to the acquisition of foundational competencies necessary to succeed in upper-division courses.
Two new committees are being formed to shape and maintain the quality and coherence of the general education program, as well as to provide assessment, supplementing existing curricular committees and processes.
The task force offers several ways to get involved, such as participating in engagement sessions, surveys, and focus groups to training and education opportunities.
Keep an eye on what's happening through related news coverage.
Find additional resources such as meeting documents, presentation slides, reports, support resources, and recommended reading material. Resources will be added as it becomes available.
Reach us at generaled@pitt.edu.