University of Pittsburgh: Senate Council discusses deans, Titusville

University of Pittsburgh

"...After Gallagher concluded his report, Frank Wilson, president of the University Senate Council, began discussing next week’s Senate Plenary — an annual event focusing on a pressing topic pertinent to each academic year. According to Wilson, this year’s plenary will focus on open educational resources like PDF textbooks. Pitt’s Student Government Board passed a resolution in mid-January calling for the University to adopt open educational resources — classroom materials published under open license. This would make textbooks and other classroom materials available for free or at little cost. SGB has been working alongside the Senate Council to achieve the resolution. “The students, of course, have made sure that [open educational resources] became an issue for us,” Wilson said. “I think at this point, the forces are coming together and it makes a lot of sense.” Concluding his report, Wilson said the goal of the plenary — scheduled to take place next Tuesday — is “something that we’ll be able to build upon.” The plenary will feature a panel of Pitt faculty, including Vice Provost Nathan Urban...."