University of Pittsburgh

“Joan ta gabel and edward j. Grefenstette have a business relationship (one is on the board of directors of the other's employer).”

“Yes. Under the commonwealth act of 1966 (the "act"), twelve of the trustees are designated as commonwealth trustees. Four are appointed by the governor, with advice and consent of two-thirds of all members of the senate. Four are appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate. Four are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.”

“Prior to the may 6, 2025 meeting of the audit committee of the board of trustees, a copy of the draft irs forms 990 and 990-t for fiscal year 2024 was distributed to each committee member. At the may 6th meeting, the controller of the university reviewed both forms with the audit committee. Voting members of the committee include outside directors, while nonvoting members include senior university administrators as well as student, faculty, and staff representatives. The review included a discussion of each significant section of the two forms, highlighting relevant changes in required reporting and any significant variations from previous filings. Committee members were free to ask questions and provide feedback. Subsequent to the audit committee's review, a copy of form 990 was made available to each member of the entire board of trustees and also made available for public inspection.”

“The university requires that all members of its board of trustees promptly disclose potential or actual conflicts of interest as they arise, as well as annually complete a disclosure questionnaire. Disclosures are submitted through the university's office of the secretary, reviewed by the university's office of university counsel and provided to the board chairperson and the chairperson of the governance and nominating committee for review and possible action. The governance and nominating committee of the board of trustees oversees trustee compliance and advises, when necessary, on managing any potential or actual conflicts. Trustees generally are required to refrain from participation on matters related to any conflict. The university also requires that employees, including its officers, disclose transactions and proposed transactions as they arise with the university, as well as annually complete a conflict of interest statement. All disclosures required of university employees are made to the next higher administrator in the employee's supervisory line (in the case of the university's chancellor, such disclosures are made to the board chairperson). The recipient reviews such disclosures for real, apparent or potential conflicts of interest and then recommends and initiates any necessary actions. Employees are prohibited from exercising any university decision-making authority or from exerting influence concerning any organization or transaction in which they or a related party have a personal interest.”

“The board of trustees, by resolution of june 13, 1991 (amended june 19, 1992), established the compensation committee as a standing committee of the board. The compensation committee is authorized to determine the chancellor's compensation, including fringe benefits and perquisites. Upon the recommendation of the chancellor, the compensation committee also determines the compensation, including fringe benefits and perquisites, of the officers of the university, except assistant and associate treasurers and secretaries. The compensation committee is comprised of the chairperson of the board, the chair of the budget committee of the board, and other trustees. No trustee serving on the compensation committee has a conflict of interest with respect to the chancellor's or officers' compensation arrangements. To assist the compensation committee in meeting its responsibilities, the services of a global professional services firm are used for compensation consulting and market research. That firm provides the compensation committee with compensation data from a group of comparable u.s. Universities.the officers' compensation is benchmarked against these institutions. Minutes of the compensation committee's meetings are maintained in the office of the secretary of the board of trustees. Access to minutes of all public meetings of the board of trustees and its committees are available to the public.”

“All relevant documents, including the conflict of interest policy and audited financial statements are made available to the public via the university's web site and/or by request.”

“The university has a whistleblower and document retention and destruction policy. However, the policies have not been adopted by the board of trustees.”

“Non periodic changes in benefit plans 59,213,272.”