Pitt Sustainability is conducting a Literacy and Culture Survey to gage the Pitt community’s knowledge, practices, opinions, and preferences when it comes to sustainability on our campus. Data collected from the survey will be used to guide the Pitt Sustainability Team’s decisions in creating and implementing future offerings related to sustainability opportunities and challenges. 

The survey is open to students, faculty, and staff, takes approximately 15 minutes to complete, and those who choose to complete it will be entered to win a $50 gift card from the University Store on Fifth.

We are excited to announce that Housekeeper Tiara Arnold is the recipient of the 2020 PittSustainability Award for her work to ensure that surplus food from the Amos Starbucks is recovered and donated through the student group Food Recovery Heroes and 412 Food Rescue to community members in need. Thanks to Tiara’s efforts, over 800 pounds of surplus food from campus have been donated to local hunger-fighting agencies since November 2019. 

Tiara will receive an award made from reclaimed wood and a $250 gift certificate to The University Store on Fifth in recognition of her commitment to sustainability on campus. We are so grateful for her dedication to end food insecurity in our community! 

 As you know, we have adjusted our campus dining offerings to ensure that the Pitt community continues to have access to healthy, delicious options during this time. Carry-out dining is available for students staying in campus housing during this period. Dine-in services are unavailable due to a statewide requirement.

Quick Zone in Litchfield Towers, open Monday - Sunday 7:30am - 8pm, is offering the following daily specials this week:

Monday, April 6

Breakfast: Breakfast Sandwich with Tater Tots and Fresh Fruit Cup

Lunch: Fresh Buffalo Wings with Classic Buffalo Sauce or Dry Ranch Seasoned, Celery & Blue Cheese

Dinner: Thai Red Curry Bowl with Shaved Chicken, Fresh Vegetables, Rice Noodles, Coconut Thai Red Curry Sauce

Tuesday, April 7

Breakfast: Breakfast Sanwich with Tater Tots 

Lunch: Gyros Topped with Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion, and Tzatziki

Dinner: Meatball with Stuffed Shells, Broccoli, Basil Garlic Tomato Sauce, and Breadsticks 

Wednesday, April 8

Breakfast: Breakfast Sandwich with Tater Tots 

Lunch: Shredded Chicken or Ground Beef Tacos with Roasted Corn, Peppers, Onions, Refried Beans, and Spanish Rice 

Dinner: Herb Roasted Chicken with Scalloped Potatoes and Roasted Corn 

Thursday, April 9 

Breakfast: Breakfast Sandwich with Tater Tots

Lunch:  Classic Buffalo or Ranch Seasoned Chicken Wings with Celery and Ranch Dressing 

Dinner: Roastd Garlic and Herb Turkey Breast with Stuffing, Fresh Veggies, Mashed Potatoes, and Gravy 

Note: All meals include a bottle of water, can of soda, or fountain drink. 

Quick Zone accepts Dining Passes, Dining Dollars, Panther Funds, cash or credit!

You can’t survive on toilet paper alone. We’ve compiled a list of local Oakland restaurants that are still providing delicious carry-out and/or delivery services below. Please note that hours of operation and services are subject to change. We encourage you to check each business' website for updates on their hours of operation, adjusted menus, and more.

Jimmy Johns

Noodles & Co

Forbes Gyro

Piada Italian Street Food 

Rita's

Oiishi Bento

Sciuillis Pizza

Lotsa Pizza

Pittza Pizza

Roots Natural Kitchen

Dunkin'

Chick-n-Grille

Night Market Gourmet

Sushi Fuku

Hello Bistro

Hilton Garden

Salud Juicery

Fuku Tea

Milkshake Factory 

Primanti Bros 

In keeping with public health guidance, University facilities are not open to the general public at this time. Stay up to date with the operating capacity of Pitt's facilities by visiting emergency.pitt.edu.

Panther Central, located in the Litchfield Towers Lobby, will transition to limited hours of operation starting Thursday, March 19. Assistance will still be available 24/7 via phone at 412-648-1100.

Panther Central Express located in Sutherland Hall will be closed until further notice.

Walk-ins are not available at this time. To make a request or schedule an office visit, please reach out via phone at 412-648-1100, email at panthercentral@pitt.edu, or chat on www.pc.pitt.edu.

Panther Central’s Modified Hours of Operation
Thursday, March 19 & Friday, March 20: 8am – 10pm
Beginning March 23: Monday – Friday: 8am – 6pm
Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Modified Dining Schedules

Your health and safety are a top priority. As the University transitions to a virtual learning environment for the remainder of the 2019-2020 spring semester, we have adjusted our campus dining offerings to ensure that the Pitt community continues to have access to healthy, delicious options during this time.

Carry-out dining is available for students staying in campus housing during this period. Dine-in services are unavailable until March 30 due to a statewide requirement.

• Forbes Street Market 

  • Bruce Hall: Monday - Sunday - 7:30 AM - 9 PM

  • Accepts: Dining Dollars, Panther Funds, cash or credit

• Quick Zone - Towers

  • Litchfield Towers, Lower Level: Monday - Sunday - 7:30 AM - 8 PM

  • Accepts: Dining Passes, Dining Dollars, Panther Funds, cash or credit

All other Dining locations are closed. Please note that current Dining Dollars will not roll over to the next semester. Current meal plans will expire on April 26.

Please note that locations and hours are subject to change. 

Academic Term Dates

At this time there are no plans to modify the end date of the spring semester nor change the start date of any of the summer sessions. As needed, flexibility will be granted to faculty in conveying final term grades, as well as to departments with respect to certification of graduation requirements.

Financial Aid

Effective, Monday, March 16, to protect the health and safety of our community, the front door to the financial aid wellness center in Thackeray Hall will not be open for any face-to-face visits. However, it’s important to note that the office is fully functioning remotely. We look forward to continung to serve students and their families through every other means possible, including phone and email. The office will be answering phones as usual Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. EST +1 (412)-624-7488 (Choose option 2.). Due to the anticipated high volume of calls, your quickest response to a question is through email: finaid@pitt.edu. 

Commencement

At this time, the University has decided to postpone all of this spring's commencement ceremonies. New dates for in-person ceremonies will be scheduled and announced once circumstances allow and with enough notice for graduates and their families to return to campus for the celebration. For additional information, visit the official commencement site. 

Health and Wellness Services

The Student Health Service, as well as the University Counseling Center will remain operational. Online and digital services and resources will be made available.

If you have a concern about your health or are manifesting symptoms, please call your healthcare provider at home or the Student Health Service (412-383-1800).

On-Campus Events

All on-campus events that exceed 25 participants will be cancelled through the end of the term. When possible, virtual engagements will replace in-person gatherings.  

Campus Recreation

Campus recreation facilities will operate on a restricted schedule. The schedule will be posted here once finalized.

Disability Resources

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an academic accommodation, please contact Disability Resources and Services (412-648-7890). Students who are currently established with DRS are encouraged to contact their disability specialist should they require assistance.   

Student Workers

Students who return home and are thus unable to work at their on-campus jobs, or students who are uncomfortable returning to campus to work, will continue to be paid through the end of their employment period, according to their standard work schedules. We encourage students to return home and speak with their supervisors. For additional details, visit emergency.pitt.edu.Study Away and Study Abroad Programs

All spring and summer study abroad and study away programming had been canceled.

Pitt’s Study Abroad Office will be in contact with affected students and faculty, and Jeff Whitehead (whitehead@pitt.edu) is the point of contact for study abroad and study away programing. In addition, Pitt Global Operations Support, and particularly Global Operations Support Manager Ian McLaughlin (ian.mclaughlin@pitt.edu), is available to provide additional guidance.

Immigration Status of International Students

Changing the instructional environment at Pitt will NOT affect international students’ current standing as enrolled students. Pitt's Office of International Services is in contact with the University's international students and scholars. All immigration-related questions should be directed to the Office of International Services. Delo Blough (delo.blough@pitt.edu) is the point of contact for matters pertaining to Pitt's international population.

Housing and Dining Proration Guidelines

Move out date March 12 – March 20:
36% proration of housing charges and remaining/unused portion of meal plan charges

Move out date March 21 – April 3:
30% proration of housing charges and remaining/unused portion of meal plan charges

Move out date April 4 – End of Semester (April 26):
No proration

Maggie & Stella's, The Pitt Shop (Forbes Ave.), The Pitt Shop at the Pete, and The University Store on Fifth are closed until further notice. 

Services have been updated to support essential campus needs. 15A, 40A and BSP2 routes will continue to operate at this time. View the shuttle schedule and more information at Pitt Shuttles.

With the University moving to distance learning through the end of the spring term, we are asking your assistance in making the move out process as easy as possible for you and all members of the Pitt community. To aid in this process, you have been assigned a date and time to retrieve your belongings and vacate your on-campus residence.

View your move out date and fill out the move out form by following the steps below. Your participation is a critical part of this process.

To complete the Spring 2020 Check Out Form:

1.       Log on to your account at my.pitt.edu

2.       Click the My Resources tab and choose Panther Central.

3.       Click Housing Applications and Information on the right-hand side of the page.

4.       Choose Spring 2020 Housing Information.

6.       Under Housing Information, find the Check Out Form and click Proceed to the Form.

7.       Complete the Check Out Form.

We will have move out stations open and staffed to assist you from 8:00AM – 8:00PM, March 12 – March 20. Limited staff will also be available after this time through the end of the term to assist with student move-out. Students can pick up their belongings until residence halls close on April 26.

Mail Forwarding: Complete this form to forward mail to your home address.

Prorated Housing and Meal Plan Fees: Students who are moving out of the residence halls by April 3, 2020 will receive a pro rata reduction of housing and meal plan fees on their student account. These changes will be reflected in the eRefund bank account you have designated in PittPAY after you complete the move-out process.

As you prepare to leave campus, here are prorated housing and meal plan fees:

Students: 

Mail and package forwarding services are available on Pitt’s Mailing Services website. Complete the online form to forward mail and packages to your current address.If you have not completed a forward request, mail and parcels remain available for pick-up at Panther Post in the Towers Lobby. Satellite mail locations are closed at this time - Mail from these locations has been forwarded to Panther Post in Towers.

If you have any questions, please contact Panther Post at 412-648-1156 or email mailserv@bc.pitt.edu.

Faculty & Staff: 

Campus Mail manages the collection and delivery of all University correspondence, a service available to all departments. We continue to receive and sort mail as an essential service to the Pitt community. Due to extensive campus building closures, mail is being held for pick up at the campus mailroom and is no longer being delivered at this time. To schedule a pick up for your department’s mail, please contact the Campus Mail office at 412-624-6500 or email mailserv@bc.pitt.edu. Pick up services are available Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM, located at 7500 Thomas Blvd. Suite 151. You will be required to show your University ID.

Packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, UPS and FedEx are now being delivered directly to the campus mailroom. If a package is received for a building that is open, Campus Mail will deliver it. If a building is closed, Campus Mail will notify the recipient and hold packages in the mail room for pick up.

PantherExpress Order Delivery

Many suppliers ship orders by U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and FedEx, which will be delivered as outlined above.

Packages delivered by individual suppliers with their own delivery fleets (i.e. SUPRA/Office Depot, Matheson Gas, and Access) will still be delivered to the mailing address used at the time of ordering. Departments must coordinate receipt of those deliveries directly with the supplier.

PantherExpress is working to allow a limited number of items to be shipped to your home. Visit the PantherExpress website for more information and updates.

Picking Up Your Mail 

You can pick up your departmental mail from the University of Pittsburgh Faculty and Staff Mailroom, Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM. You will be required to show your University ID.

Address: 

University of Pittsburgh
Mailing Services, Suite 151
7500 Thomas Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15208

Directions: 

If you are traveling on Thomas Blvd. with Westinghouse Park on your left, please be advised that GPS and MapQuest directions usually do not acknowledge that you cannot proceed straight down Thomas Blvd. because there is a complex at the three-way intersection. You must turn right onto North Lexington Ave. and then make a left onto Meade Street. Continue down Meade Street to the traffic light and turn left onto Braddock Ave. Then, make a left onto Thomas Blvd., which is next turn from Braddock Ave.

If you are traveling from the Parkway area, the closest major intersection is Braddock Ave. and Penn Ave. You will turn left onto Thomas Blvd. from of Braddock Ave. and 7500 is the last building on the right-hand side. 

Drive past the loading docks and enter through the double doors at the back of the building. Ring bell for admittance.

If you are a guaranteed student for the 2020-2021 Academic Year, you are given a Housing Selection Index Number (e.g. “lottery number”) that will be used if you choose to participate in the online Housing Selection process.

Please follow the below instructions to view your Housing Selection Index Number online:

1. Go to https://my.pitt.edu. Log on using your University username and password. If you do not have this information, you can call the Technology Help Desk at 412-624-HELP for information on how to obtain your username and or password.
2. Once you gain access to the website, click on My Resources and choose Panther Central from the dropdown menu.
3. Click the Housing Applications and Information link on the right side of the page.
4. In Ask Cathy, click Meal Plan Changes and Lottery Numbers to view your lottery number.

Once you have viewed your Housing Selection Index Number (lottery number), please review the following documents:

• Instructions for Completing the Housing Application - This is the MOST IMPORTANT step in the process.
• Housing/Dining Services Contract -This is to keep for your records.
• 2019-2020 Room and Board Rates - These rates are for your reference; they are subject to change for the 2020-2021 Academic Year.

The Housing Selection Processes and Deadlines Booklet can be viewed here. This booklet explains the process and all upcoming dates and deadlines for the housing application and selection process.

Please Note

There are two different Selection schedules for the 2020-2021 Academic Year.

1. General Room Selection schedule is located on pages 6 and 7 of the Selection Book.
2. Suite and Apartment-style Selection is a bid process based on lottery numbers. Starting this year, this process is now online. Bid winners will be posted both online and at Panther Central at 1PM on February 13, 2020. At this time, bid winners will receive an online selection schedule that will notify them of when they are able to go online and select their suite/apartment for next year.

To keep your housing guarantee valid for next year (2020-2021), you must submit your completed Housing Application online by February 1, 2020.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Firefox and Chrome are the preferred web browsers for the Housing Application. Do NOT use Internet Explorer.
• Turn off all popup blockers. This is different than simply “allowing popups.”
• Do not refresh your web browser once you begin the application process.
• Read each step of the application carefully. When asked to enter any information, do not add spaces before or after your text.
• Text boxes that ask for your “University ID” are requesting that you enter your seven-digit PeopleSoft number.

Selection Information Sessions

Please join us in the Sutherland Hall lobby tonight, Tuesday January 7th from 7-9pm for an information session on housing selection. Stay tuned for additional upcoming sessions!