Provost’s Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Programs
September 24, 2024, 3:00-4:30 p.m., 817 Cathedral of Learning
Minutes
Members Attending
Mercy Akanmu (Pittsburgh Campus – SGB – Student), Brian Batell (Dietrich – Natural Sciences), Mary Besterfield-Sacre (SSOE), Betty Braxter (SON), Nicole Cecchini (SEPC), Luke Condra (GSPIA), Lorraine Denman (Dietrich – Humanities), Nicola Foote (Frederick Honors College), William Garrison (SCI), Deborah Good (CBA), Adriana Helbig (Dietrich School – CGS), Jonathan Helm (Office of the University Registrar), Paula Janikowski (OTP – Staff), Kathy Kelly (SHRS), Adam Lee (OTP – Chair), Matthew Miscio (UPG – Student), Camren Price (UPB/UPT – Student), Denise Schiff (Pharm), Belkys Torres (OTP), Liann Tsoukas (Dietrich – Social Sciences), Tessa Twyman (UPJ – Student), Don Ulin (UPB/UPT), Kelly Wagner (DenMed), Ada Youk (SPH)
Members Absent
Dawn Drahnak (UPJ), Toya Jones (SSW), Martha Koehler (UPG), Michelle Sobolak (SOE)
Guests
Stephen Luft (Dietrich), Victoria Green (DenMed)
Announcements/Discussion Points/Updates
Introductions and New Members
Mercy Akanmu – SGB – Pittsburgh Campus Student Representative, Brian Batell – Dietrich – Natural Sciences, Luke Condra – GSPIA, Lorraine Denman – Dietrich – Humanities Representative, William Garrison (SCI), Matthew Miscio – Served Spring Term 2024 – technically not new – first full year – UPG Student Representative, Camren Price – UPB/UPT Student Representative (from UPB), Belkys Torres – Office of the Provost, Tessa Twyman – UPJ Student Representative
Overview of PACUP
Policy AC 52 Provost’s Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Programs establishes the membership and responsibility of PACUP.
Adam Lee – Chair – PowerPoint Presentation that he noted he will share the presentation with PACUP members.
Academic Planning Proposals
Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences: establish a major in Korean leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree
Stephen Luft attended to give a brief overview of the proposal and answer questions from PACUP.
The proposed major is in response to student interest and aims to provide students knowledge about Korean culture and history and comprehensive training in the Korean language. The non-language courses will allow students to study Korean cultural history, traditional and modern literature, creative and performing arts (including film), as well as contemporary Korean popular culture. The language courses will provide students with training in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in the Korean language in ways that lead to successful inter-cultural communication. A Korean major will increase students' opportunities for global learning in the classroom, allow students to apply more coursework from study abroad in Korean towards their degree, and will increase opportunities for global learning outside of the classroom.
PACUP was supportive.
School of Dental Medicine: establish a major in Dental Hygiene to be offered hybrid leading to the Bachelor of Science degree
Kelly Wagner (PACUP member) and Victoria Green attended to give a brief overview of the proposal and answer questions from PACUP.
The proposed major in dental hygiene leading the Bachelor of Science degree will be offered in a hybrid format. The dental workforce landscape, coupled with increased interest in dental hygiene programs, suggests that the hybrid program is positioned to capture a new student group with college experience, a willingness to enter the dental workforce, and in need of a more flexible learning environment. It will target adult learners who may be looking for a career change or wanting to expand beyond a current healthcare role. If implemented, the University of Pittsburgh would become a leader in the hybrid delivery of dental hygiene programs, with no other program currently in existence. As the largest metropolitan area in the Appalachian region, Pittsburgh serves as an educational and healthcare hub to many rural locations. The program aims to graduate highly skilled practitioners who provide the highest quality, evidence-based patient treatment; preventive dental health education; community service; and who are committed to lifelong learning and the promotion of dental research to advance the profession.
PACUP was supportive.