Newsroom
A message to the Pitt community from Chancellor Joan Gabel on September 12, 2023.
A message to the Pitt community from Chancellor Joan Gabel on October 10, 2023.
Like many of you, we grieve as violence has erupted in Israel and Gaza. We condemn the terrorist attacks, destruction, and tragic loss of life. We acknowledge the history and complexity of this conflict and recognize that members of our university community are deeply impacted by this. Resources exist across campus to provide support and care.
Our colleagues in Student Affairs have proactively reached out to student leaders and to individual students from the region, and Dr. Emiola Oriola, Director of the Office of Inclusion and Belonging, and Associate Dean of Students for Community and Inclusion Gretchen Carlson Natter are connecting with students, organizations, and our association of chaplains and local faith leaders.
We also recognize that some of our faculty and staff are affected by these tragic events, and we want to remind you of the University resources available for individuals through LifeSolutions. LifeSolutions is the University’s faculty and staff assistance program, and it provides a variety of personalized care services, including 24/7 support.
On Monday, September 11, flooding decimated the coastal city of Derna and its surrounding areas. Thousands have perished or been reported missing. We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life, and we offer our condolences to the families of those impacted throughout the region.
Care Managers are available to students who need support during this time and they can be reached at PittCares@pitt.edu.
Our thoughts are with those impacted by the recent earthquake in Morocco. We extend our condolences to those who have suffered devastating losses and offer our support to members of the University community who fear for the well-being of their friends and family in the affected region.
If you would like support during this time, we have resources and services to offer. Students can reach out to PittCares@pitt.edu to connect with a Care Manager.
For those interested in donating to assist with efforts in Morocco, numerous avenues exist to provide relief to those impacted by the earthquake including:
Our thoughts are with those impacted by the recent earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. We extend our condolences to those who have suffered devastating losses and offer our support to members of the University community who fear for the well-being of their friends and family in the affected region.
If you would like support during this time, we have resources and services to offer. Students can reach out to PittCares@pitt.edu to connect with a Care Manager.
For those interested in making a donation to assist with efforts in Türkiye and Syria, the organizations below are among those providing aid.
In recent months, a growing number of individuals across Iran—many of them university students—have spoken out about advancing women’s rights.
At the University of Pittsburgh, we view institutions of higher education as uniquely positioned to elevate individual ideas and voices; tackle urgent issues; and foster open, productive discussions. Within this environment, we understand the importance of supporting the safety and well-being of our community members. These very values have shaped—and will continue to shape—our direct outreach to Pitt students, faculty and staff members from Iran or impacted by the events in Iran.
At the same time, it’s important for our Iranian classmates, colleagues, and their supporters to know that they are not alone, that resources are available, and that the Pitt community is standing by their side during these challenging times. For anyone impacted: Please consider the resources below and do not hesitate to reach out if you or someone you know is in need.
Mental Health Support
- University of Pittsburgh Counseling Center
- Any student interested in receiving support at the University Counseling Center should utilize the Drop-In Service between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you are in distress, please contact 412-648-7930 at any time to speak directly with a clinician.
- University of Pittsburgh Faculty and Staff Assistance Program
- Life Solutions, through the University’s Office of Human Resources, provides 24-hour crisis support at 1-866-647-3432.
- Office For Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
- Pitt's Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion can help students, faculty and staff navigate supportive services at the University. Please call 412-648-7860 or email diversity@pitt.edu
Academic Support
- For undergraduates: Many schools and colleges have specific services for their students. Check with your advisor on what services are available or view options online.
- For graduate students: Academic support is available through your school or college. Contact your advisor for more information.
Additional Support
Dear Pitt Community Members:
As you know, in recent months, protesters across Iran—many of them university students—have taken to the streets in support of women’s rights.
Here at the University of Pittsburgh, we believe in human rights for all people. Universities must be spaces where people engage in open discussion and inquiry, make their voices heard, and advocate for the change they want to see in the world.
We understand that this is a difficult time for our Iranian community, and we will continue to reach out to these members directly and offer Pitt resources and support as needed.
Sincerely,
Ariel Armony, Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs
Amanda Godley, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies
Joseph McCarthy, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies
As the University of Pittsburgh continues to expand its global impact, an unprecedented 12 concurrent U.S. Department of Education awards will support teaching, research and learning about five different world regions, key world languages and overarching global themes. All six of the University Center for International Studies’ (UCIS) global and area studies centers have been chosen to receive both National Resource Center grants and Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowships by the federal government. These competitive awards place Pitt among the nation’s leaders in international and area studies and will bolster the work of Pitt faculty and their students with over $11 million in funding for the next four years.
The designation of these centers as National Resource Centers (NRC) will galvanize the reputations of the Asian Studies Center, Center for African Studies, European Studies Center, Center for Latin American Studies, Global Studies Center and Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies. NRC funding will allow all six centers to maintain and expand existing programming, broadening the University’s student and community engagement and offering crucial global perspectives. Current center initiatives include teaching foreign language and area studies courses, offering study abroad opportunities to students, showcasing the vibrant immigrant communities of Pittsburgh and bringing international visitors and academic research to Pitt.
Dr. Ariel Armony, Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs and Director of UCIS, said, "We are very excited that the excellent work done by all of Pitt's global and area studies centers is recognized at this level. This is a historical achievement. The unprecedented number of awards places Pitt in a top group of global institutions that offer the best international research and learning experiences to all students."
The six centers also have concrete plans for expanded programming moving forward, including advancing initiatives to promote diversity, inclusion and equity within area studies; supporting course development to foster essential skills to students engaging in international careers; developing a consortium of colleges and universities across Appalachia to expand access to foreign language and international studies courses; and increasing the teaching of endangered and less commonly taught languages such as Quechua (an indigenous language of South America), Irish Gaelic, Twi and Slovak.
As the centers receive support for their educational missions, Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) funding will directly support Pitt students as they seek to become proficient in less commonly taught languages and deepen their knowledge of related regions. Target languages include Portuguese, Arabic, Russian and Swahili, among others. FLAS funding will finance as many as 280 graduate and undergraduate students with academic year and summer fellowships over the next four years.
Starting in the spring of 2023, students will be encouraged to apply for FLAS funding through the UCIS website. FLAS scholarships will be available for both the academic year and summer term.