General Education Reform Task Force

Task Force Membership 

The Task Force membership list below is organized by project team.

Assessment

• David Fitz, Associate Professor of Political Science, Interim Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and at Titusville
• Michael Gunzenhauser, Professor and Senior Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs, School of Education
• Stephanie Hoogendoorn
• Lindsay Onufer, Senior Teaching and Learning Consultant and Program Manager, University Center for Teaching and Learning
• Elizabeth Richey, Teaching Assistant Professor of Psychology, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
• Brett Say, Assistant Director of Surveys, Office of the Provost
• Leo Schumann, Director of Action Research, Office of the Provost
• Taylor Thomas, Assessment Manager, Office of the Provost
• Lisa Votodian, Survey Assessment Manager, Office of Measurement and Evaluation of Teaching, University Center for Teaching and Learning

Curricular Mapping

• Mary Besterfield-Sacre, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Nickolas A. DeCecco Professor, Director of the Engineering Education Research Center, Swanson School of Engineering
• Betty Braxter, Associate Professor, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, School of Nursing
• Christopher Coat, Associate University Registrar, Office of the University Registrar
• 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
• Steven Sachs, Assistant Professor, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Swanson School of Engineering 
• Will Slaughter, Associate Professor, Swanson School of Engineering 
• Michael Wood-Vasey, Professor and Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

Experiential Learning

• Karin Asher, Associate Dean for Student Engagement and Professional Development, Division of Student Affairs 
• Emily Bennett, Manager of Experiential Learning, School of Computing and Information
• Kevin Conley, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
• Margarita Delgado Creamer, Teaching Assistant Professor, College of General Studies
• Jamie Ducar, Associate Vice Chancellor, Engagement and Community Affairs, Office of Engagement & Community Affairs
• Toya Jones, BASW Program Director and Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
• Hillary Koller, Director, Pitt Global Experiences Office
• Gretchen Natter, Key Initiatives Manager for the Dean of Students for Student Affairs, Division of Student Affairs 
• Frits Pil, University of Pittsburgh Distinguished Service Professor; Professor of Organizations and Entrepreneurship; Research Scientist, School of Business
• Josie Rush, Senior Teaching Consultant, University Center for Teaching and Learning
• Carissa Slotterback, Former Dean and Professor, School of Public and International Affairs
• Brett Soltysiak, Curricular Innovation Manager, Undergraduate Studies, Office of the Provost
• Oksana Stalczynski, Director, Dietrich Global Experiences, Global Experiences Office
• Sybil Streeter, Director of Undergraduate Advising, Psychology; Teaching Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
• 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
• Ada Youk, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Associate Professor, School of Public Health

Faculty Leadership

• Adriana Helbig, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and CGS, Associate Professor, Department of Music, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
• Jackie Horrall, Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
• Max Jensen, Assistant Professor of Spanish & Comparative Literature, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
• John Radzilowicz, Director, Pedagogy, Practice, & Assessment, University Center for Teaching and Learning
• John Stoner, Teaching Professor and Undergraduate Advisor, Faculty Assembly – SEPC

Regulations and Procedures

• Carrie Benson, Director of Prevention & Education, Office of Institutional Engagement and Wellbeing
• Kelsey Cole, Director, Student and Career Services, School of Education
• James Baldwin, Vice President of Enrollment Management, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
• Alicia Davin, Director of Advising, School of Nursing 
• Derek Fischer, Senior Director for Undergraduate Studies and the College of General Studies, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
• Bill Garrison, Teaching Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, School of Computing and Information
• Ed Giles, Director of Academic Advising, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
• Brenda Whitney, Teaching Professor, Director of Undergraduate Studies - Composition Program, Department of English, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
• Andrea Zito, Assistant Dean, Student Engagement, School of Education

General Education Learning Goals and Outcomes (GELOs)

• Luis Bravo, Assistant Director for Academic Affairs, Center for Latin American Studies, University Center for International Studies
• 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
• Lorraine Denman, Teaching Professor, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
• Sera Mathew, Director, Equitable and Inclusive Teaching, University Center for Teaching and Learning
• Caro Pirri, Assistant Professor of English, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
• Melanie Reyes, Senior Project Manager, School of Dental Medicine
• Patty Wharton-Michael, Associate Professor, Communication, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

Advising

• April Belback, Vice Provost for Student Success, Office of the Provost
• Jill Harvey, Director of First Year Advising, Swanson School of Engineering
• Adrian Gonzales, Director of Undergraduate Advising, School of Public Health
• Rachel Parkes, Director of Advising, School of Computing and Information
• Kevin Riley, Academic Advisor, School of Business
• Jason Russell, Director of Honors Advising and Student Services, David C. Frederick Honors College 
• Devin Ulm, Interim Director of First-Year Advising, Swanson School of Engineering 

Marketing and Communications

• Bobby Ackerman, Assistant Director, Strategic Planning and Analytics, University Center for Teaching and Learning
• Louise Sciannameo, Associate Provost for Strategic Communications, Office of the Provost
• Molly Swagler, Assistant Vice Provost for Enrollment and Executive Director of Enrollment Outreach, Office of Admissions and Financial Aid

Past task force members included: 

• Liz Adams, Director of Advising and Student Success, David C. Frederick Honors College
• Michael Davila, Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
• 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
• 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
• Stephen Robar, Director of Environmental Studies Program, Director of International Affairs Program, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford

Working Group Participants Archive

During its initial stages, the Gen Ed Task Force included working groups dedicated to three specific areas: Curricular Design, Operation and Implementation, and Administration and Assessment. Task Force representatives for each group are compiled below. 

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

• UERU Spring 2023 VP Meeting
• Institute for General Education and Assessment 2023

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 onboarded
Summer 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. 

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the University of Pittsburgh's General Education (Gen Ed) Reform initiative. These FAQs are meant to help students, faculty, and staff understand the purpose, structure, and goals of the reform. 

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.