When several student leaders at the University of Pittsburgh attended an open meeting on the school's strategic plan, they all agreed that something felt wrong.
“Me and several other students realized that students hadn’t been included in a meaningful way in the development of this plan, and that we sense that other stakeholders such as the board of trustees were prioritized even though these decisions will have tremendous impact on the lives of students,” said Pitt senior Sage Lincoln.
“The Plan for Pitt: Making A Difference Together” was unveiled Sept. 17 to university community members. It seeks to build on the University’s accomplishments and reputation as a world-class university, according to Pitt’s website.
But students weren't consulted, Lincoln said.
In a letter to Pitt Chancellor Patrick Gallagher, members of student groups Free the Planet and Americans for an Informed Democracy wrote, “We would like to give a student perspective on (the plan’s) creation and give suggestions on how to best move forward together as a university on the implementation of the plan.”
According to Lincoln, the university held a only few open meetings where people could give feedback, but they were held in very large rooms and didn’t target students. Officials also invited several student leaders to a “very vague” meeting offering free food, she said. Once there, the students were shown four videos, covering topics such as technology and diversity in preschools, and then discussed what they watched.
“They weren’t given any real implications that this was feedback for the strategic plan of the university. They weren’t asked to really think about issues that address students or student needs,” said Lincoln.
The university did not immediately respond.
“We’re hoping that this was just an oversight of the university,” Lincoln said. “They realize what an important part of the university students are and that this strategic plan largely revolves around students and so I remain optimistic that they’ll take our best interest in mind and try to actively engage us more."
