University Council on Graduate Study Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 14, 2024
The minutes from the February 2024 meeting were approved (20 in favor).
Academic Program Proposals
Establish a joint program from the existing MD and MBA degrees between the School of Medicine and the Katz Graduate School of Business.
The Katz Graduate School of Business and the School of Medicine proposed to establish a joint degree program between the existing Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Medical Degree (MD). Students will complete the first two years of medical school, then one year working towards the MBA in Katz, and then complete the final two years of medical schools, with 12 credits counting towards both degrees. The program will enroll up to 5 students per year.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend to the Provost that the proposal be approved. Members present voted in favor of recommending approval to the Provost (16 in favor; 6 abstain – abstentions represent members from the School of Medicine and Katz Graduate School of Business).
Establish a new online major in Speech-Language Pathology leading to a Master of Arts degree in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences proposed an online major in Speech-Language Pathology leading to a Master of Arts degree. The online program will require 63 credits, which is slightly higher than the in-person version of the program. The online program will seek separate accreditation and will have its own budget and teaching faculty. The program will prepare students to become licensed practitioners across educational and healthcare environments, with candidacy for the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the America Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend to the Provost that the proposal be approved. Members present voted in favor of recommending approval to the Provost (19 in favor; 2 abstain).
Establish a certificate in Periodontics and Implant Dentistry in the School of Dental Medicine.
The School of Dental Medicine proposes to establish a Graduate Clinical Research Program in Periodontics and Implant Dentistry certificate. The 28.5 credit certificate can be completed over
a twelve-month period. Most of the students enrolled in the program will be foreign-trained dentists and dental specialists who seek to further their education in the United States. The program provides a pathway for students, upon completion, to apply for a Commission on Dental Accreditation accredited residency program and/or apply for a faculty position at the University of Pittsburgh or other universities in the country.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend to the Provost that the proposal be approved. Members present voted in favor of recommending approval to the Provost (22 in favor; 2 abstain).
Modify the overall number of credits in the Public and International Affairs major leading to the Masters of Public and International Affairs degree within the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.
The Graduate School of Public and International Affairs proposed a modification to the existing Public and International Affairs major leading to the Masters of Public and International Affairs (MPIA) degree. The proposed modifications include a reduction to the overall number of credits required for the degree from 48 to 36 as well as a significant revision of the curriculum. The modifications will both improve the curriculum being taught while increasing accessibility by reducing cost and time to degree. The school also hopes to see a 20% increase in enrollment over the next three year.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend to the Provost that the proposal be approved. Members present voted in favor of recommending approval to the Provost (23 in favor; 1 abstain).
Establish a certificate in Global Sustainable Development in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
The Graduate School of Public and International Affairs proposed to establish a 12-credit certificate in Global Sustainable Development in partnership with the University Center for International Studies (UCIS). This proposal is also endorsed by the School of Public Health. The certificate will provide master’s seeking students at GSPIA and across the University of Pittsburgh the opportunity to learn about sustainable development without having to pursue the Master of International Development degree.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend to the Provost that the proposal be approved. Members present voted in favor of recommending approval to the Provost (23 in favor; 1 abstain).
Announcements
Registration of Undergraduate Students for Graduate Courses
A conflict was discovered between the Graduate and Undergraduate catalogs pertaining to the registration of undergraduate students for graduate courses. The Graduate catalog states, “undergraduate students who need fewer than 30 credits to complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree and who intend to continue to student toward an advanced degree may be permitted during their final term to register for graduate courses which will later apply toward a graduate degree.” Whereas, the Undergraduate catalog states, “undergraduate students who need fewer than 15 credits to complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree and who intend to continue to student toward an advanced degree may be permitted during their final year to register for graduate courses which will later apply toward a graduate degree.”
UCGS records show that this change was discussed and approved in October 2019, but it was discovered that PACUP did not review and approve the modification. Thus, the modification of this regulation was never fully approved. The proposed modification will be reviewed by both PACUP and UCGS. In the interim, the statement in the Undergraduate catalog shall serve as the correct guideline and the statement in the Graduate catalog will be revised to reflect the same information as the Undergraduate catalog.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 PM.
Attendance
Guests: Lisa Alfredson (GSPIA), Luke Condra (GSPIA), Sara Dickey (Dental Medicine), Sara Moeller (Katz), Jason Rosenstock (Medicine), and Charles Sfeir (Dental Medicine)
- Katz Graduate School of Business - Rebecca Badawy
- Swanson School of Engineering - Bryan Brown
- School of Public Health - Jessica Burke
- School of Computing and Information - Sai Vivek Vivek Chava
- School of Pharmacy - Jacob Cuyler
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences - Mark DeRuiter
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences - Michael Dickey
- School of Education - Gerard Dorve-Lewis
- School of Medicine - Brooke Dresden
- Katz Graduate School of Business - Dennis Galletta
- Office of the Provost - Chair - Amanda Godley
- School of Education - Michael Gunzenhauser
- Office of the Registrar, Observer - Jonathan Helm
- School of Medicine - Saleem Khan
- School of Medicine - Robin Lee
- School of Medicine - Wendy Mars
- Graduate School of Public and International Affairs - Erica Owen
- School of Social Work - Helen Petracchi
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences - Ketki Raina
- School of Dental Medicine - Nadine Robert
- Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences - Pernille Roege
- School of Nursing - Elizabeth Schlenk
- Office of the Provost - Jennifer Walker
- School of Dental Medicine - Christine Wankiiri-Hale
- Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences - Jonathan Woon
- School of Public Health - Ada Youk