Provost's Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Programs Meeting Minutes
December 16, 2025
The minutes from October 28, 2025, meeting were approved.
Academic Program Proposals
Modify the major in Hospitality Management leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford proposed modifications to the existing Hospitality Management major leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. The proposed modifications reduce the overall number of credits required for the major from 75 to 62 credits and significantly revise the curriculum. The revisions eliminate redundancies between hospitality and business courses, including Legal Issues in Hospitality/Business Law and various information systems courses. The revised curriculum includes 9 core hospitality courses with a new required internship component and 9 elective courses. The modifications allow the program to be managed by a single faculty member while eliminating redundancies and reducing overhead costs. The program currently enrolls 12 full-time majors, 8 students in the minor, and 9 students in the ARCO within Business Management.
PACUP reached consensus to recommend this proposal to the Provost for consideration.
Modify five majors in the Department of Biological Sciences leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
The Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences proposed modifications to five existing majors in the Department of Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Ecology and Evolution, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology. The proposed modifications update the number of credits for undergraduate lab courses to align with the University's credit hour policy. The department created a new two-credit introductory biology lab course that fulfills pre-health admission requirements in one semester instead of two, and a new two-credit intermediate biology lab course that provides enhanced authentic research-based lab experience. The modifications update co-requisite courses to enhance student degree customization options and offset credit increases in lab courses. For the Biological Sciences major only, students will be required to earn a grade of C or higher in the seminar course in writing (BIOSC 1010). The changes accommodate transfer students and maintain flexibility through minimum credit specifications. All labs remain authentic research-based, and the Biochemistry major maintains accreditation requirements from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
PACUP reached consensus to recommend this proposal to the Provost for consideration.
Presentation
General Education Task Force Update
Associate Vice Provost for Curricular Innovation Dr. Belkys Torres provided an update on General Education Drafting Days. The General Education Reform Task Force was convened in 2024 to review and update student learning outcomes, which were last reviewed approximately 20 years ago. The task force has reviewed general education reform both internally and externally to reframe and realign institutional agendas. Stakeholders were invited to attend drafting days and provide feedback via feedback forms. A draft General Education framework is being developed.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 PM.
Attendance
Members Attending: Brian Batell (Dietrich – Natural Sciences), Betty Braxter (SON), Jonathan Chitiyo (UPB/UPT), Dawn Drahnak (UPJ), Deborah Good (CBA), Jonathan Helm (Office of the University Registrar), David Hornyak (Frederick Honors College), Paula Janikowski (OTP – Staff), Logan Johnson (UPG), Toya Jones (SSW), Kathy Kelly (SHRS), Adam Lee (OTP – PACUP Chair), Denise Schiff (Pharm), Sybil Streeter (SEPC), Belkys Torres (OTP), Liann Tsoukas (Dietrich – Social Sciences), Kelly Wagner (DenMed), Ada Youk (SPH)
Members Absent: Mary Besterfield-Sacre (SSOE), Luke Condra (SPIA), Lorraine Denman (Dietrich – Humanities), Kylie Engdahl (UPB/UPT), Ryan Felesky (UPJ – student), William Garrison (SCI), Brandon Grace (Pittsburgh SGB – student), Adriana Helbig (Dietrich School – CGS), Matthew Miscio (UPG – student), Michelle Sobolak (SOE)
Guests: Dr. David Fitz (UPB – Interim Vice President & Dean of Academic Affairs), Dr. Ken Wang (UPB – Chair, Division of Management and Education), Lynette Campogiani (UPB – Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management), Dr. Valerie Oke (Dietrich – Teaching Professor and Assistant Chair, Department of Biological Sciences), Dr. Kristen Butela (Dietrich – Teaching Professor and Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Biological Sciences)