Does anyone have any insights to the stepping down and search for new provost and deans? Pitt is my daughter’s first choice but trying to have as much info as possible before committing.
@class2022parent https://www.pitt.edu/provostsearch There is some addtl info there about who is in the running for Provost and the process of searching for the next Provost which seems currently underway - townhalls were in Feb. I am not exactly sure how that role over the entire university - would exactly affect my kids experience day to day. Chancellor Gallagher has a list of people he recommends for the role - I recognized Dr. Schroff, current head of the BioE dept. He is excellent - and as much as I would hate (and my dd would be disappointed) for him to possibly be recognized and promoted out of Swanson…it speaks to the excellence that sits within the university to take on these open positions. They don’t have to look far for great candidates.
As far as Dean Holder stepping back into faculty - if there was a juicy story there, I didn’t hear it. Reading the job description for the position that is posted online - http://provost.pitt.edu/initiatives/searches/swanson-school-engineering-dean-search - he did an excellent job with all of the responsibilities. (eg not leaving because of failure or pressure but leaving on a high note afaik). Personally I have had kids in Swanson since 2011 - final of the 3 kids will graduate next yr (or maybe a yr later if she gets one of the coops she’s interviewing for - knock wood) and I have had no issues or questions with the program and the faculty. Not entirely sure how overall University Provost would affect my kid, or how the Dean would impact day to day. It’s a large university with tons of excellent faculty, one single position or person cannot impact that trajectory in my mind.
But I do congratulate you in your tenacity on researching everything!! Kudos - it sounds like something I would’ve done!!
Thanks - good info! I agree, I am not sure it would impact unless indicative of a larger issue which it does not seem to be. I am a bit cautious after research/learning of issues at a couple schools that were on the original list and not well known without some “digging”!
@class2022parent wanted to update you - Dean of Engineering was named today http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/News/2018/Dean-James-Martin-Announcement/
Thank you!