STAY AT THE WORLD’S BIGGEST SANDCASTLE THIS SUMMERWith over 1,000 courses in 100 departments, Summer Sessions is an opportunity to make the most of summer vacation. Pre-freshmen are welcome to get a jump start on their studies through our Summer Institutes, which are 7-credit blocks ofentry-level courses during 6-week Summer Session II, June 20 – August 1. Lists of individual summer courses, categorizedby level of study, may be viewed at www.cas.pitt.edu, and Arts and Sciences course descriptions are located atwww.fcas.pitt.edu/course_descriptions/BrowseCourses.html. Register for courses at www.solutions.pitt.edu/summer. If your

son or daughter will be spending the summer vacation with us at our fabulous resort, the Cathedral of Learning, here’s somehot fun in the summertime:

D A T E S T O R E M E M B E R

March 11 University's observance of Spring Holiday (University closed)March 16 Spring Term deadline to submit Monitored Withdrawal forms

to Dean's OfficeMarch 17 Fall Term Registration and Add/Drop begins; first two days

reserved for seniorsApril 1 Deadline to apply for August 2005 graduationApril 22 Last day for Spring Term undergraduate day classesApril 25-30 Final exam period, Spring Term ends April 30May 1 Commencement; Deposit deadline for new freshmenMay 2 First registration deadline for Summer Sessions 6 Week 1, for

all Summer Sessions deadlines, scroll through the AcademicCalendar at www.pitt.edu/~registrar/cal0405AcdCal.htm

May 30 University’s observance of Memorial Day (University closed)Academic Calendar is at:http://www.pitt.edu/~registrar/cal0405AcdCal.htm

A&S Policies, Procedures, Appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(412) 624-6480Academic Resource Center . .(412) 648-7920 Academic Support Hotline . . . .(412) 624-2052Advising Center . . . . . . . . . . . . .(412) 624-6444Associate Dean’s Office . . . . . .(412) 624-6480Career Services . . . . . . . . . . . . .(412) 648-7130Counseling Center . . . . . . . . . . .(412) 648-7930 Disability Resources and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(412) 648-7890Financial Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(412) 624-7488Housing, Dining, Student IDs . .(412) 648-1100Office of Experiential Learning (412) 624-6828Parking, Transportation and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(412) 624-8612

Registrar, Transcripts, Grades .(412) 624-7600Residence Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(412) 648-1200Student Records, Graduation .(412) 624-6776Summer Sessions . . . . . . . . . . .(412) 624-6600Student Health Service . . . . . . .(412) 383-1800Study Abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(412) 648-7413TTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(412) 383-7355University Honors College . . . .(412) 624-6880Visiting Pitt?http://www.pitt.edu/~oafa/lodging.htmlhas lodging information.

Find out more about what’s happeningaround campus by visiting Pitt Magazine at:

http://www.umc.pitt.edu/pittmag/and The Pitt News at:

http://www.pittnews.com/.

P

U S E F U L C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N{ more info on the Site Index: www.pitt.edu}

• PITT ARTS, www.pittarts.pitt.edu has student discounts to summerevents and shows

• CitiParks Cinema in the Parks and recreation:www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us

• Venture Outdoors into scenic Western PA, www.wpfi.org

• Three Rivers Arts Festival’s free concerts, arts market, and more:www.artsfestival.net

• Kennywood, one of America’s best theme parks:www.kennywood.com

• Sandcastle water park: www.sandcastlewaterpark.com

Nonprofit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDPittsburgh, PAPermit No. 511

University of PittsburghArts and SciencesUndergraduate Studies140 Thackery HallPittsburgh, PA 15260

U N I V E R S I T Y O F P I T T S B U R G HTHE PITT

SPRING 2005

U N I V E R S I T Y O F P I T T S B U R G H A R T S A N D S C I E N C E S

P R I D Eso reads the inscriptionon the iron gate thatarches across theCathedral of LearningCommons Room hallway. At the end ofthis term, some of ourArts and Sciences stars,your sons and daughters,will graduate - sparklingaway from the Schooland the campus. We wishthem success, intellectu-al excitement, and happiness in their futureendeavors! As we proud-ly celebrate these Springgraduates, we arealready preparing forrenewal. The class of2009 will be on campusfor registration andadvising sessions arestarting in just a fewweeks. They come withnew ideas, new aspira-tions, and a fresh view ofwhat our School ought tobe. My staff and I arethrilled to meet you, ournew families, and to discover your sons anddaughters! They will bethe new stars on ourcampus, and we areready to see them shine.

Every new student bringsnew ideas that helpimprove our School.

Every new faculty mem-ber’s original researchcontributes to the cur-riculum of tomorrow.Every new staff membershares fresh thoughts onhow to improve our one-on-one care for yoursons and daughters. Butwhile the students, scholars and staff areever-changing, one basictenet remains the same:the School of Arts andSciences is committed toprovide a liberal arts andpre-professional educa-tion for undergraduatestudents that is ground-ed in scholarly excellenceand that gives studentsthe knowledge, under-standing, analytical tools,and communication skillsthat they need to becomereflective citizens withina diverse and rapidlychanging world.

Albert Einstein said, "Wecan't solve problems byusing the same kind ofthinking we used whenwe created them." Wethus are committed thateach student be able toform an independentopinion grounded inknowledge, to use this

Here is the eternal spring,for you, the very stars of

Heaven are new —

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

knowledge of difference to under-stand others, and to contextualizethe present and future innovationsby understanding the past. Ourpurpose, which we undertake withthe utmost resolution, is to equipstudents with the foremost liberalarts knowledge by consistentlydeveloping our curriculum, facultyand facilities to be the most cutting-edge possible. A newlyrevised Film Studies major, a renovated Chemistry building andthe addition of renowned MellonProfessor of History DonnaGabaccia are just a few recentexamples of how Arts andSciences maintains its promise toprovide a high quality and relevant education of our time.And, as families of Arts andSciences students, we value youas our active partners in support-ing our students, your sons anddaughters, to meet the demandsof college life and beyond.

Congratulations to our May 1graduates, Happy Spring, andHail to Pitt!

- Dr. Regina Schulte- Ladbeck,Associate Dean forUndergraduate Studies

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ALL ABOARD THEARC The Academic Resource Center (ARC) has officiallymoved to its new home in the Gardner Steel ConferenceCenter! A&S now has a one-stop-shop for all students to expand their skills and study strategies in order to perform to their maximum. The new ARC has a wonderful meeting space, computers, areas for one-on-one tutoring, evening hours and, in the nearfuture, expanded peer tutoring for more subject areas.

Gail Austin, Associate Director, shares the center’s purpose and mission: “The Academic Resource Centerserves as an excellent resource for students who want toenhance their academic and study skills. Tutoring is oneof our most popular services, generally used by studentswho are doing well in courses. Too often people operateunder the misconception that tutoring is only prescribedfor students who are struggling in their courses. To the

contrary,studentswho seekout tutoringare oftenhigh achievingstudents whowish to maintain highstandards. All students wouldbe better served if they adopted this study strategy andused ARC tutoring services on a regular basis.” TheARC, at its new location in the Gardner Steel ConferenceCenter at the corner of Thackeray and O'Hara Streets, isopen 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday; 8:30a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Friday. Call (412) 648-7920 for moreinformation.

Akshar Abbott, a junior workingtoward a triple major in BiologicalSciences, Religious Studies, andPolitical Sciences, is working on hisdream to implement healthcareinfrastructure in the developingworld. Through his ReligiousStudies and Political Sciencemajors, Akshar is acquiring insightsinto others’ cultural and politicalframeworks, thereby gaining criticalknowledge to support his pursuit tobring medical expertise to theworld’s most needy.

For the past two years, Akshar hasbeen working with the Srikiran Institute of Ophthalmology, in Kakinada, India in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Akshar assisted efforts to upgrade equipment sterilization, obtain an eye surgery laser, and equip two of the hos-pital’s eye clinics for

children. Right now, he is building ahospital endowment and is workingwith USAID to establish a solararray as the hospital’s stable energysource. While recently visitingKakinada, Akshar was on a train theday the tsunami hit. When hereturns to Kakinada in December,he anticipates meeting a people inserious need.

Akshar is from New Delhi, India,and grew up in Morgantown, WestVirginia. He came to Pitt throughthe University Honors College, andhis UHC entrance interview includ-

ed international development and healthcare as two hot

topics – topics that have since come to fruitionfor Ashkar in his stud-ies and in the com-munity. Akshar will graduate in April 2006 and is looking forward to medical

school.

Making a difference with THE LIBERAL ARTS

When you think about college courses, what might come to mind are good old standards such as College Algebra. But what about coursessuch as Germany Today or Westerns and Samurai Films? (See “ClassicClips” at www.cas.pitt.edu/pitt/index.php) While professors teach courses pertaining to their particular areas of expertise, new coursesare constantly evolving. When creating a new course, faculty developcourse proposals to fit not only their areas of expertise but also thedepartment’s curriculum, requirements for majors and minors, and theoverall philosophy of the A&S curriculum.

Course development is not a quick, simple process. For example, a newundergraduate course is being shaped right now by a collaborativeteam of faculty and graduate students from the Department of Historyand the Global Studies Program. After these initial eight people hammer out the proposal draft, additional faculty members will alsoreview the proposal. The new course proposal must then pass inspection by the Department of History’s Curriculum Committee, Artsand Sciences Undergraduate Council, Arts and Sciences Council, andthe Arts and Sciences Planning and Budget Committee, to name a fewhoops. The whole process could take a year or two. Proposals for newmajors, minors, or certificates go even further by requiring theProvost’s approval. Recent changes to the A&S curriculum include theintroduction of a new Slavic Studies major and a new course sequencefor the Women’s Studies Certificate.

If developing new courses, majors, or certificates take so much timeand effort, why bother? Because in today’s ever-changing world, contemporary ways of thinking, teaching and learning quickly becomethose of the past. For example, one of the two most common vocationsfor History majors is teaching, yet many of today’s high school historyteachers are not adequately trained to meet the increasing demand toteach a more global world history. As part of its commitment to preparestudents for the teaching of global history, Donna Gabaccia, MellonProfessor of History, summed up the Department of History’s mission:“We train regional specialists who have global reach.” She stated, “I’mcommitted to the idea that the best introduction to study of history forundergraduate students is an introduction to the contemporary world.”

First Experiences in Research is adynamic undergraduate researchprogram offered by the Office ofExperiential Learning (OEL).Undergraduates partner withresearch faculty in the humanities,social sciences, and natural sciences and participate directly onthat faculty member’s researchteam. These one-on-one relation-ships help students see what itwould be like to be a neuroscien-tist, archaeologist, or art historian.This spring, approximately 60undergraduates participated in theprogram, receiving the benefit ofpriceless mentorship and earningdirect experience as they exploredroles they have always dreamed of becoming.

Undergraduate research is onecomponent of an array of opportu-nities for students to learn throughexperience. OEL offers studentsopportunities to learn outside theclassroom by participating inresearch, internships, teaching andcommunity service-learning that isrelated to their fields of study.These critical experiences give students first-hand insights into theskills required in their future professions. Margaret Heely,Director of the OEL, describes itsmission: “Experiential learning isan opportunity for students to taketheir learning beyond the class-room. Students are then able tointegrate their learning from theseexperiences with their academicstudies to make their undergradu-ate experiences richer and moremeaningful to them.” To find outmore about OEL, visit their websiteat www.pitt.edu/~oel.

First Experiencesin Research

Shaping the

Curriculum

Announcements & Reminders> The Sophomore Honors reception for students, which was postponed this past fall,

will be held on March 23, 2005 in the William Pitt Union Ballroom.> For those students graduating on May 1, please check with your department for

graduation receptions.> Congratulations to those who made the Dean’s list this fall! There were 2,666 full

time undergraduate students who earned a 3.5 or better.> A reminder to your daughter or son that all students receive free admission, with

Pitt student ID, to the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, and to theMattress Factory and Andy Warhol museums.

> Congratulations to the undergraduates honored at the February 28, 2005 HonorsConvocation. Student Jessica Heath addressed her fellow scholars.

> 347 full-time undergraduate students from fall term earned a 4.0 and received a $50Book Center gift certificate, courtesy of the Office of the Associate Dean forUndergraduate Studies and the Wilma Binder Zeder Fund. U N I V E R S I T Y O F P I T T S B U R G H A R T S A N D S C I E N C E S