Have a question about your Panther Card or Panther Funds? Look for the answer below or contact Panther Central. We're at your service.
Registered students are eligible for cards one month prior to the start of a given term. (i.e. for Spring - December 1, for Summer - April 1 and for Fall - August 1)
Staff must be currently employed by the University and Faculty must have an active contract.
As an active student registered for the fall or spring term, your card will remain valid for a predetermined time. The amount of time will be based on the department or program with which you are registered. The expiration date will be printed on your Panther Card. If you are a registered summer student only, your card is valid through August of that year.
For faculty, your Panther Card will remain active per your departmental contract and will expire upon your contract end date. For staff and tenured faculty, your Panther Card will remain active for five years pending active employment.
Your card’s expiration date will be amended based on your change of relationship with the University. Change in enrollment status, graduation, expiration of contract and/or termination from the University will change your card's expiration date.
You should always have your Panther Card with you while you are attending the University. Your card identifies you as a current student, staff or faculty member. It gives you access and privileges to libraries, computer labs, your residence hall, your meal plan, buses, and shuttles.
Because your picture is on your Panther Card, no one except you can present your card for Panther Funds purchase.
You should, however, report a lost or stolen card immediately through my.pitt.edu. Search for "Lost Card Inactivation". Your card will be automatically deactivated.
If you lose your Panther Card, Panther Central will issue you a temporary replacement. This temporary ID will give you access to only your meal plan. Panther Central will provide you with an emergency lockout code to enter your building and room. When you find your Panther Card, return the temporary card to Panther Central. If you don't find your lost card, we will issue you a new Panther Card. You must pay a $30 replacement fee each time you receive a new Panther Card.
Yes. Panther Funds are accepted at all University dining locations, including Starbucks coffee carts and Einstein Bros. Bagels. When you present your Panther Card, inform the cashier of your preferred payment: Dining Pass, Dining Dollars, or Panther Funds. Dining Passes are accepted only at Market Central, Market To-Go, and The Perch at Sutherland.
No. Panther Funds are only used for purchase of food, beverages, merchandise, and services at participating locations on and off campus.
All students, faculty, and staff members must turn in their expired ID to receive a replacement ID at no charge. Expired IDs will be treated in a similar fashion as lost IDs. If the expired ID is not turned in at the time of reissue, the replacement will cost $30. The reason for this policy is that renewed IDs will have the same identification number as the expired ID. If we do not retrieve the expired ID, we must assume it is lost. Therefore, we must issue a new card with a unique 2P number.
There are internal costs for manufacturing University ID cards. The University does not charge you for your initial ID. However, any IDs that the University has to replace due to loss or damage is charged to the customer.
No. Do not punch a hole in your Panther Card. You will damage the wiring inside the card, potentially deactivating the bus chip, proximity chip, and/or the magnetic charge. If your card has been intentionally damaged, you will have to pay a $30 replacement fee.
If your ID is confiscated, Panther Central can work to obtain the confiscated ID card. If a replacement ID is needed immediately, a new card will need to be purchased for $30.
The customer may be required to pay for that ride. The customer should come to Panther Central with the 4-digit bus number and route number. With this information, the customer can complete a Pittsburgh Regional Transit Refund Request form. Panther Central will review the claim and if warranted, refunds will be given in the form of Panther Funds. Refunds may take 5-7 business days. No Cash Refunds will be issued.
Your photo can be uploaded via https://apps.fis.pitt.edu/pcidphotos/.
All students, faculty and staff are eligible to submit a photo. However, only newly admitted students and newly hired faculty and staff will have their Panther Cards preprinted prior to pick-up. Remember to wait to receive a confirmation email from Panther Central before coming to pick up your Pitt Panther Card. Your confirmation email will explain if your photo was accepted and verify your status with the University.
Newly admitted students who will begin taking classes in the Fall, can submit their photo on or after August 1. If you're an incoming first-year registered for New Student Orientation, you can submit your photo two weeks before your session. You will receive your card on Day 1 of your session.
Newly hired faculty members need an active contract with the University to submit a photo and receive a Panther Card. Panther Central cannot preprint your Panther Card prior to your contract being activated.
Newly hired staff members can submit photos on or after their hire date.
There is no need to follow up with Panther Central after you submit your photo. You will receive a confirmation email from Panther Central once your photo has been reviewed.
Panther Central will email your University account once your photo has been accepted or if your photo has been rejected.
Your Panther Card typically will be ready for pick-up within 24 hours of receiving your “accepted” email from Panther Central. Panther Card pick-up is in Panther Central, which is located in the Litchfield Towers Lobby. If more time is needed to print your Panther Card, you will be emailed directly at your Pitt email account.
Please Note: Only newly admitted students and newly hired faculty and staff are eligible to have their Panther Cards preprinted. All other customers can submit their photo, but will have their Panther Cards printed upon arrival at Panther Central. Remember, all customers should wait for a photo confirmation email from Panther Central prior to going to the office.
No. Only YOU can pick up your Panther Card.
Yes. You can certainly upload a new photo at any time, but keep in mind that there is a replacement fee. Additionally, please remember that you will need to exchange your old Panther Card for your new one.
Your first Panther Card is free, as well as any required reprint (i.e. Panther Card has expired). However, all other reprints of your Panther Card will cost $30. You will also need to exchange your old Panther Card in order to have a new one printed. (The exception is if your card was lost/stolen).