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Facilities, Services, and University Policies



  • Child Development Center
    The University Child Development Center, located at 635 Clyde Street, serves faculty, staff, and students of the University by providing quality early childhood education/child care for children ranging in age from six weeks through six years. The program is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. There is a full-day kindergarten available. A nutritionally balanced meal program is provided.

    The program is staffed with professionals who design and implement plans based on their knowledge of early childhood education and development and on the strengths each child has exhibited and individual learning styles. Children interact with the professionals and each other in mutually respectful environments where all areas of children's "work" are represented. (412) 383-2100.


  • Computer Curriculum Inquiry Center
    The Computer Curriculum Inquiry Center (CCIC), located on the fourth floor of the Forbes Quadrangle, (412) 648-7560, provides access to a broad array of current educational curriculum materials so that students and faculty may review, evaluate, and become familiar with the materials used for instruction in different subject matter fields in area school districts. The center also contains examples of curriculum guides for curriculum research and analysis by faculty and students.


  • Drug-Free Workplace/Drug-Free Schools Policy
    The University of Pittsburgh prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance on University property or as part of any University activity. Faculty, staff, and students of the University must also comply with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the possession and consumption of alcohol.

    Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action within 30 days, including, but not limited to, a warning, written reprimand, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, and/or mandatory participation and successful completion of a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program approved by an appropriate health or law enforcement agency.

    Any University employee paid from federally funded grants or contracts, or any student participating in any federally funded or guaranteed Student Loan Program, must notify the University of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring at the University or while engaged in University activities.


  • English Language Institute
    The University of Pittsburgh English Language Institute offers courses in English for non-English speaking students at the University of Pittsburgh, as well as for students who plan to enroll at other universities. The program offers a wide range of courses in English as a second language so that the student acquires sufficient skills in English to be able to follow academic studies in an American university. International students who have graduated from secondary school are eligible for these courses. Placement is based upon English proficiency tests administered upon arrival at the Institute. Interested students should write to: English Language Institute, Department of General Linguistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.

    Admission to the English Language Institute does not constitute admission to an academic program at the University of Pittsburgh.

  • Faculty-Student Relationship Policy
    The University's educational mission is promoted by professional relationships between faculty members and students. Relationships of an intimate nature (that is, sexual and/or romantic) compromise the integrity of a faculty-student relationship whenever the faculty member has a professional responsibility for the student. The University prohibits relationships between a faculty member and a student whose academic work, teaching, or research is being supervised or evaluated by the faculty member.

    If an intimate relationship should exist or develop between a faculty member and a student, the University requires the faculty member to remove himself/herself from all supervisory, evaluative, and/or formal advisory roles with respect to the student.

    Definition Note: In this policy, the definition of "faculty member" refers to anyone appointed by the University as a teacher, researcher, or academic administrator, including graduate and undergraduate students so appointed.


  • Graduation
    Candidates are expected to appear in person at commencement exercises to receive their degrees; however, diplomas will be mailed.


  • Health Service
    The Student Health Service, located in Suite 500 of the Medical Arts Building, 3708 Fifth Avenue, provides Pittsburgh campus students with outpatient health care. Services provided include general medicine, allergy injections, dermatology, orthopaedics, a pharmacy, x-ray facility, and on-site laboratory. Health educators provide programs and information that emphasize preventive approaches toward health care. Family planning and gynecology services are also offered for students seeking education, counseling, and medical services. Full-time students are assessed a health fee on their invoice. Part-time students may elect to purchase the health fee during the add/drop period each term or session. All others may pay a fee-for-service at the time of the visit. The fee covers all services offered by the Student Health Service except certain elective procedures, injuries, and medication. Students are encouraged to acquire hospitalization insurance for emergency and inpatient medical care. Appointments are necessary for most services, although walk-in services are available from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, during fall and spring terms. Hours may vary during the summer term, and the Health Service is closed on weekends and major holidays.


  • Health Facilities
    The hospitals of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center are adjacent to the Pittsburgh campus. Emergency health problems can be treated in their emergency rooms, and excellent medical and surgical care is available for serious illnesses. However, such services are not covered by the University Student Health Service fee. Each student should also carry personal health and accident insurance to cover such expenses.

    The psychological counseling services offered by the University Counseling and Student Development Center are described in a later section. The Clinical Psychology Center, sixth floor of Old Engineering Hall, offers a number of services, including individual counseling of limited durations designed to help with problems or concerns that might require professional assistance.

    The Dental Clinic of the School of Dental Medicine, located on the first floor of Salk Hall, provides comprehensive dental care at reasonable rates.


  • Health Insurance
    Direct pay medical insurance plans are available to students through various health insurance care providers. The available plans are designed to provide insurance benefits for services not offered at the Student Health Service, as well as hospitalization and emergency care. Applications and product information are available at the Student Health Service, Suite 500, Medical Arts Building, 3708 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. (412) 383-1800.

    Teaching assistants, teaching fellows, graduate student assistants, and graduate student researchers with eligible academic appointments may elect a Highmark SelectBlue managed care health insurance plan with the beneficial features of a health maintenance organization and the flexibility of traditional insurance. The University will cover the cost of individual membership. Coverage is available for eligible spouses and dependents by paying the difference between the Individual and Spouse/Dependent Options through a monthly payroll deduction. In addition, teaching assistants, teaching fellows, graduate student assistants, and graduate student researchers with eligible academic appointments may elect dental or a combined dental/vision plan if they elect the available SelectBlue coverage. The University does not cover any of the costs of the dental or dental/vision plan; payments are made through payroll deduction.

    Students supported by fellowships and traineeships may be eligible to purchase SelectBlue membership by paying the full cost of the coverage through a monthly deduction. Information about this payroll deduction plan can be obtained in the Office of Human Resources, 200B Craig Hall. (412) 624-7000. More information on these plans is available online at http://www.hr.pitt.edu.


  • Housing
    Unlike many large cities, Pittsburgh has a number of pleasant residential neighborhoods with private homes that have been converted to apartments. Many graduate students live in Oakland, where the University is located, or in the surrounding communities of Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Highland Park, and Mt. Washington. All these areas are within walking or easy commuting distance of the University. Bus transportation in the city of Pittsburgh is excellent.

    While there is no residence hall on campus for graduate students in the fall and spring terms, on-campus accommodations are available for the summer term. Rates are available upon request from the University Housing Office, which is located in the Litchfield Tower's Main Lobby. Limited housing for full-time graduate students is available from the Property Management department, Graduate Housing, Ruskin Hall, at (412) 683-1460.

    Off-campus Housing. For the Roommate Matching Service and some listings of non-university owned housing, contact Housing Resource Center at (412) 683-1460.

    Undergraduate. The University of Pittsburgh Housing Services, the Food Services Office, and the Office of Residence Life share the responsibility of providing an enriching and full living experience for over 5,000 resident students. The Housing Office, located in the Main Lobby of the Litchfield Towers, is responsible for all housing facilities, room assignments, and all other operating functions of the residence halls. The Food Service Office, located in the Towers Lobby, is responsible for all meal plans and the operation of the cafeterias on campus. The Office of Residence Life, located in the Tower C Lobby, provides a capable and supportive staff to promote living/learning communities within a pleasant and satisfying environment.

    Housing facilities consist of double and single rooms in the Litchfield Tower's; single, double, triple, and quad rooms in Holland Hall, four- to eight-person suites in the Schenley Quadrangle; single and quad rooms in Lothrop Hall; double rooms in Forbes Hall; and double and four- and six-person suites in Sutherland Hall. In addition, special interest areas are attractive to students who desire a program focus. Rates are available upon request from the Housing Office.

    On-campus housing is limited to undergraduate students during the fall and spring terms. The housing contract is written for two terms only at the beginning of the academic year and for one term at midterm of the academic year. If the contract is not returned by the specified due date, housing cannot be assured. The contract may not be terminated prior to the second term except for specified legal reasons as stated in the contract. Any student who withdraws for these reasons or for special considerations must submit documented evidence to the Housing Office in order to receive any credit for the room and board charges (if applicable). The room key and meal ticket/University ID must be released to the Housing Office upon the student's withdrawal. The $200 prepayment, netted from the second term of the contract, may be retained.

    All resident students must select a meal plan, and first-year resident students are required to select meal plans specified by the Food Service Office. For further information, contact the Food Service Office at (412) 648-2172.


  • Immunization Policy
    The University requires the immunization of all incoming freshmen against measles, mumps, and rubella, as a condition of attendance at the University of Pittsburgh. Incoming freshmen must provide to the University Student Health Service documentation of immunization that includes the month, day, and year that the immunizations were administered. Completed immunization forms must be kept on file in the Student Health Service.

    Exemptions may be granted based on a written statement from a physician that the immunization may be detrimental to the health of the student or on a student's objection to immunization on religious grounds or on the basis of a strong moral or ethical conviction similar to a religious belief. However, if an outbreak of measles, mumps, or rubella occurs, the State Health Department may exclude students from classes who do not provide proof of immunity to these diseases.


  • Institute for International Studies in Education
    The Institute for International Studies in Education (IISE) serves as a catalyst for internationally oriented activities in the School of Education. IISE works primarily with education faculty and students, while also collaborating with arts and sciences departments, other professional schools, and area studies programs in the University Center for International Studies. The primary goal of IISE is to encourage and facilitate international scholarship in education by faculty and students. In addition, IISE coordinates international development in projects involving participant training and technical assistance, as well as helps develop University and school curriculum with international content. IISE also offers a Symposium Series featuring internationally oriented educational researchers and other educators.


  • Institute for Practice and Research in Education
    The Institute for Practice and Research in Education provides professional development opportunities to educational and other professional personnel. These include credit or non-credit courses scheduled primarily during summer term, as well as workshops, conferences, and seminars held throughout the year.


  • International Area Study Programs
    Graduate students in any program in the School of Education may participate in the certificate program of Asian Studies, Latin American Studies, Russian and East European Studies, and West European Studies. These certificate programs characteristically require up to two terms of course work related to the geographical area of interest of which the major portion must be in a school or department other than the School of Education. The certificate programs are taken concurrently with a degree program in the School of Education, but usually extend basic degree requirements modestly. Students must be admitted to a graduate degree program in one of the departments of the School of Education prior to arranging for an area study program.

    Tuition remission scholarships and research grants are available on a competitive basis to students in some of the area studies programs. Those interested should contact the director of the appropriate area study program in the University Center for International Studies.


  • International Management Development Institute (IMDI)
    The International Management Development Institute is a unit of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and offers an extensive array of management training programs. Representative topics include human resource management and development, budgeting and financial management and analysis, quantitative techniques and computer applications for administrators, managing information, project management, and policy analysis. Seminars and short courses are organized in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish. Faculty in Education, particularly those in the Department of Administrative and Policy Studies, serve as instructors in these seminars and short courses, while Education students with international interests may take course work in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.


  • Judicial Affairs
    The coordinator and staff are responsible for the operation of an internal system of governing bodies that adjudicate complaints or grievances initiated through the Student Code of Conduct. The Office of the Coordinator of the University Student Judicial System is in 738 William Pitt Union, (412) 648-7918.

    Other University policies may more appropriately apply to a given grievance or avenue of redress.


  • Learning Skills Center
    The Learning Skills Center offers both individual and group help to students wishing to improve their reading, mathematics, or other study skills. (412) 648-7920.


  • Maximizing Adolescent Potentials Program (MAPS)
    MAPS is a research, public service, and training program to prevent drug and alcohol problems and promote mental health among children and adolescents. MAPS is located in 5D21 Forbes Quadrangle, phone (412) 648-7196.


  • Microcomputer Research Support Laboratory
    The Microcomputer Research Support Laboratory (MRSL) provides support for the research mission of the School of Education. The MRSL provides graduate students, faculty, and staff in the School of Education with the hardware, software, and expertise to produce professional research papers, term papers, theses, and dissertations. The staff offers assistance and instruction to all School of Education users. A variety of software, such as word processing, data base management, graphics, statistical analysis, and bibliographic data base management, are available, and seminars are offered regularly to inform students, faculty, and staff about new as well as existing software packages and their applications in education and research. The lab is located in 5L03 Forbes Quadrangle, (412) 648-8095.


  • New Student Programs
    The coordinator and a student staff are responsible for conducting orientation programs for incoming freshmen and transfer students. The coordinator is also responsible for institutional compliance with the Consumer Information Act, which mandates that complete and accurate information for students be made available regarding the University and its programs.

    Contact may be made on the seventh floor of the William Pitt Union, or by calling (412) 648-7913.
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