Web site: http://technology.pitt.edu/
Computing Services and Systems Development (CSSD) is the comprehensive service center for the University of Pittsburgh's computing support and systems development environment. A number of those services provided by CSSD are detailed below. For a full discussion of CSSD's services, consult the Web page listed above.
Campus Computing Labs
CSSD operates six primary computer labs on the Pittsburgh campus, providing students with access to Intel, Macintosh, and UNIX workstations and an array of software applications needed to fulfill the demands of students' academic endeavors. The six computing labs are located at 1077 Benedum Hall, G27/G62 Cathedral of Learning, 1E01 Posvar Hall, First Floor Hillman Library, 230 David Lawrence Hall, and C114 Sutherland Hall. The 230 David Lawrence Hall lab is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For hours of operation for all campus computing labs, please call (412) 624-5061.
Network Authorization Accounts
All enrolled students are eligible for a network authorization account (NAA). The NAA will permit a student to establish a user ID and a password to provide access to the University's network resources, a Mulberry E-mail account, the Internet/WWW, the University Library System's PITTCAT system, and a printing allowance at the campus computing labs. All students who wish to use the University computing resources, including the ability to access their schedules and grades online or to shop at the e-Store, must have a network authorization account. Accounts are issued at any of the campus computing labs. Password re-set and other account modifications must be made
between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the Accounts Office at the 230 David Lawrence Hall lab. Please contact the CSSD Help Desk at (412) 624-HELP (624-4357) for assistance with accounts.
Network Port Connectivity
Students can access the University's network from home with their network authorization account and a modem through the remote access modem pool. Please contact the CSSD Help Desk at (412) 624-HELP (624-4357) for assistance.
Computer Consulting Services
CSSD has a staff of skilled information technology (IT) professionals who are available to help troubleshoot problems 24 hours a day, seven days a week. CSSD consultants are available to help with problems such as network connectivity, software difficulties, or even hardware malfunctions. Please call the CSSD Help Desk at (412) 624-HELP (624-4357) for assistance.
Computer Sales and Digital Certification
University of Pittsburgh students, faculty, and staff have access to the e-Store, an online retail provider of hardware, software, and peripherals, for their computing needs. Shopping at the e-Store requires a network authorization account and a digital certificate ID. Please see the e-Store's Web site at http://e-Store.pitt.edu/ for University-recommended computer systems and for instructions on obtaining a digital certificate. Call the CSSD Help Desk at (412) 624-HELP
(624-4357) for more information.
Computing Workshops and Training
CSSD offers Quickstart classes, a series of short courses designed to orient new and experienced users to the University's network, the Mulberry E-mail environment, and the selection of software applications available in the campus computing labs. CSSD also offers a selection of Java and Microsoft certification courses for students. For additional information and a schedule of classes, please see the CSSD Workshop site at http://www.pitt.edu/~workshop or call the CSSD Help Desk at (412) 624-HELP (624-4357).
Network Services
The Network Services area of CSSD is responsible for the development and maintenance of the University's information technology network supporting voice, video, and data. The backbone of the University-distributed computing services is PittNet, a network based on Ethernet technology that serves the diverse communications needs of the entire University community. For additional information, please see the Network Services site at http://technology.pitt.edu/network/index.html or call (412) 624-4357.
Research and Academic Support
A number of centers at the University support teaching, research, and academic skills for graduate students in a variety of fields. Those centers are detailed below in alphabetical order.
Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering
The Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering is a leading center for research in biology and bioengineering. The center's headquarters, a new 80,000 square foot building located in a high-technology business park near the University, houses 100 researchers actively pursuing projects in the center's main programs in applied enzomology, cell culture, biomaterials, gene therapy, and artificial organs. The center's goals include training new generations of scientists; accelerating the process of innovation in biotechnology and bioengineering; and providing assistance to the industrial community through industrially supported applied projects.
For more information on the center, call (412) 383-9700 or see the center's Web site at http://www.pitt.edu/~biotech/ .
Center for Instructional Development & Distance Education (CIDDE)
The Center for Instructional Development & Distance Education (CIDDE) was established to strengthen the instructional development and support services available to faculty and teaching assistants. The Center enables faculty to identify and use technology and other instructional resources available to them.
CIDDE provides faculty and teaching assistants with a primary contact point for many of the instructional services they need, and it also assists in developing and supporting distance education programs and courses. CIDDE also hosts an orientation for new TAs each fall and provides ongoing training seminars for teaching assistants wanting to develop their teaching skills. For more information, visit CIDDE at 4227 Fifth Avenue (Masonic Temple), call (412) 624-3335, or visit CIDDE's Web site at http://www.pitt.edu/~ciddeweb/ .
Center for Philosophy of Science
The Center for Philosophy of Science promotes scholarship and research, encourages scholarly exchanges, and fosters publications in the philosophy of science as well as in the philosophically informed history of science and related fields. The center is dedicated to bridging the gulf between the sciences and the humanities by helping to develop and disseminate a philosophical understanding and appreciation of the sciences. The center pursues its mission not only locally and regionally, but also nationally and internationally. The center sponsors a visiting fellows program, an annual lecture series, a number of colloquia and workshops, and a variety of other programs. Like other centers at the University of Pittsburgh, the Center for Philosophy of Science is a unit for research rather than teaching. For more information on the center, visit the center in room 817 of the Cathedral of Learning, or on the Web at http://www.pitt.edu/~pittcntr/ .
English Language Institute
The English Language Institute (ELI) provides credit-bearing English as a Second Language (ESL) courses for students admitted to the University's degree programs, as well as intensive instruction in ESL for people who need to meet proficiency requirements to enter a university. Credit courses are offered in speaking, writing (including the research paper), and reading/vocabulary. Through the School of Engineering, a technical writing for ESL graduate course is provided. During the summer, the ELI offers five-week ESL programs for students entering MBA and MPIA graduate programs. Non-credit courses cover reading, writing, listening, speaking, and grammar. For more information, call (412) 624-5901, E-mail elipitt+@pitt.edu, stop by room 2816 Cathedral of Learning, or visit the Institute's Web site at http://www.eli.pitt.edu .
Institutional Review Board
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is charged with overseeing and approving all research at the University involving humans as subjects. For more information on the IRB's policies and practices, call (412) 692-4370 or see the IRB's Web site at http://www.ofres-hs.upmc.edu /irb/irb.htm.
Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC)
The Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC) is a multidisciplinary research center whose mission is to understand and
improve learning by children and adults in the organizational settings in which they live and work: schools, museums, and other informal learning environments, and workplaces.
Fields of research include: processes of learning; learning in schools and museums; education improvement; education policy and practice; learning and technology; and learning and work. For more information, visit the center's Web site at http://www.lrdc.pitt.edu .
Learning Skills Center
The Learning Skills Center (LSC) offers free learning support services for University of Pittsburgh students, staff, and faculty. The math component provides tutoring for the University's introductory math courses and individual consultation for improving study strategies and confidence in math. Individual and group study skills services are available through the study skills component. In the study skills workshop, students learn, discuss, and practice strategies for improving textbook reading, lecture note taking, memory, time management, and test performance. Individual appointments can also be made for general study skills, for suggestions on how to study specific subjects, or for help in reducing test anxiety.
Supplemental Instruction groups are conducted by the LSC for traditionally difficult introductory courses to give students the opportunity to learn and practice effective study strategies while studying the content of the course. The reading component provides diagnostic services, individualized programs in comprehension and vocabulary, and speed reading workshops.
For more information, contact the center at (412) 648-7920, room 311 William Pitt Union (open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and some weekday evenings), or see http://www.lsc.pitt.edu .
Office of Measurement and Evaluation of Teaching (OMET)
The Office of Measurement and Evaluation of Teaching (OMET) provides services to the University community related to student evaluation of teaching, the scoring of objective classroom tests, the administration of paper-and-pencil and computer-based admission and certification examinations, and consultation regarding research design and analysis. Instructors teaching a class, lab, or recitation can receive student feedback about their teaching by completing a request form that is available in both their respective departments and in G-39 CL (call 624-6147 for information). Information about test scoring and administration is available in G-33 CL (call 624-6440). OMET's Web site is located at http://www.pitt.edu/NewPittInfo/omet.html#stu .
Office of Research
The Office of Research is charged with administrative responsibility for all University research and related activities involving extramural sponsorship. The Office of Research serves as both a center of advocacy for research and related activities and a facilitator of the research environment. The functional areas supported by Office of Research staff include information services on potential sources of funding, project and proposal development assistance, and grants and contracts administration for both pre-award and selected post-award tasks. All funding proposals submitted by University personnel must be transmitted to and reviewed by Office of Research staff to assure adherence to internal and external policies and procedures. For more information on the office's services, call (412) 624-7400, visit 350 Thackeray Hall, or see http://www.pitt.edu/~offres/ .
University Center for International Studies (UCIS)
The University Center for International Studies (UCIS) is the central coordinating and support mechanism for the international activities of the University of Pittsburgh. As a University-wide center, UCIS supports multidisciplinary programs of research and instruction in international and area studies, linking departments and schools of the University. It connects the University with private and public sector institutions, other universities, and institutions in other countries to strengthen the University's international dimension of teaching, research, and public service. UCIS aids students in their acquisition of international knowledge through certificate programs, study abroad programs, curriculum developments, and seminars; assists faculty in their international research, teaching, and service; and develops and manages international programs and projects. The center offers graduate certificate programs through its four area studies centers (Asian Studies, Latin American Studies, Russian and East European Studies, and West European Studies), all of which are designated by the federal government as National Resource Centers. Area studies certificates give evidence of language proficiency and area knowledge, which students find useful for international careers or for advanced degrees with a focus in a particular world area.
For more information, contact UCIS at 4G Posvar Hall, (412) 648-7390, or http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/index.html .
University Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR)
Established in 1972 to carry out basic and applied social science research, the University Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR) is a focal point for collaborative interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary studies. Faculty from the University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the professional schools participate in UCSUR's research programs. More than 60 federal, state, and local agencies, and foundations support the basic and applied research of the Center.
UCSUR is the major survey research facility at the University of Pittsburgh. The center provides opportunities for faculty collaboration in the development of research projects. It also provides state-of-the-art survey research facilities and other services to assist in formulating and executing research projects; information and technical services for local governments, community groups, and educational institutions; and primary and secondary data acquisition and analysis.
UCSUR is a Pennsylvania State Data Center research affiliate responsible for helping local academic institutions, businesses, governments, and other organizations in Southwestern Pennsylvania access and analyze U.S. Bureau of the Census data.
For more information on UCSUR, call (412) 624-5442 or see http://www.pitt.edu/~ucsur/ .
Writing Center
The Writing Center, located in the University's English department, offers tutoring assistance for students who need help with their writing in any class. Tutors will help solve writing problems with students but will not edit or write text. Students may drop in any time, but it is best to call for an appointment. The Writing Center is open Monday through Friday and also has some evening hours. For more information, call (412) 624-6556, stop by room 501 Cathedral of Learning, or see http://www.pitt.edu/~englweb/writecent.html .
Services for New Teaching Assistants
The University has a variety of support mechanisms for new teaching assistants to help them develop and improve their teaching skills. Each fall, the Center for Instructional Development & Distance Education (CIDDE) hosts an orientation for new TAs. The program includes required workshops led by experienced TAs and faculty on promoting academic integrity and creating an inclusive classroom. Elective workshop topics address issues such as teaching in labs, teaching recitations, and dealing with difficult situations. A panel of professors and students describe the University's undergraduate population to new TAs. For registration information, call (412) 624-6671. CIDDE also publishes a Teaching at Pitt handbook that includes helpful information for new TAs.
Also, CIDDE and the Office of Measurement and Evaluation of Teaching (OMET) provide further training and evaluation for teaching assistants (see above for detail on CIDDE and OMET).
Housing
Pittsburgh has a number of pleasant residential neighborhoods with private homes that have been converted to apartments. Many graduate and professional students live in Oakland, where the University is located, or in the surrounding neighborhoods of Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Highland Park, and Mount Washington. All of these areas are within walking distance or easy commuting distance of the University. Public bus transportation is widely available and is free (inside Allegheny County limits) to University students.
Ruskin Hall is the only residence hall on campus for graduate students. It is designated as living space for graduate students studying medicine, law, or other health-related professionals. Students interested in Ruskin Hall should contact the Property Management Department (see below).
Housing Resource Center
The Housing Resource Center provides assistance to students, staff, and faculty in identifying, renting, leasing, or purchasing suitable living accommodations. The Housing Resource Center provides the following: information on University-owned apartments; an apartment-roommate matching service; a sublet service; maps of Pittsburgh and surrounding areas; rental tips; campus shuttle schedules; free local telephone service to contact landlords; and listings of apartments inspected and approved by the City of Pittsburgh. Call (412) 624-6998, visit the office at 127 North Bellefield Street, or see http:/ /www.pitt.edu/~property/hrc.html.
Property Management
The Department of Property Management manages several off-campus apartment buildings near the University for students, faculty, and staff. For more information on the buildings and how to make a rental application, call (412) 624-9900, visit the office at 127 North Bellefield Avenue, or see http://www.pitt.edu/~property/pm.html .
Student Resources
The University is committed to providing a high quality of life for its students and towards that end supports a variety of offices and activities designed to aid students in realizing their potential and having a fulfilling campus life.
Affirmative Action
In addition to its work with developing, implementing, and monitoring the University's affirmative action program, the Office of Affirmative Action is responsible for receiving, investigating, and mediating complaints from any members of the University community who believe they have been discriminated against or harassed on the basis of their race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era. Individuals may request information and advice anonymously if they wish. The privacy of all parties will be respected. The office is located in room 901 of the Cathedral of Learning and the phone is (412) 648-7860. See http:/ /www.hr.pitt.edu/general/Affirm.htm for further information on the office's services and the University's affirmative action policy.
Athletics
The University offers a variety of opportunities for students to participate in athletics on the intramural and club levels as well as oncampus facilities for group sports and individual exercise.
Varsity Sports
The University offers nine varsity sports each for men (baseball, basketball, cross country, diving, football, soccer, swimming, indoor and outdoor track, and wrestling) and women (basketball, cross country, diving, gymnastics, soccer, swimming, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, and volleyball). For tickets, scheduling, or other information about these sports, call (412) 648-8200 or visit the Pittsburgh Panthers Web site at http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com .
Intramural and Club Sports
New outdoor playing fields are available behind the renovated Cost Sports Center. Call (412) 648-8210 for more information or visit the intramural program's Web site at http://www.pitt.edu/~soeforum/hpred/intramuals/Imexperi.html .
Sports clubs offer participation in a wide array of sports such as cycling, crew, hockey, and rugby. Contact the Student Organization Resource Center at 119 William Pitt Union, (412) 624-7116 for a complete list of sports clubs, or visit the club site at http://www.education.pitt.edu /intramurals/.
Sports Facilities
There are a variety of sports facilities available for use by individuals and groups. In Trees Hall, there are two swimming pools (call
412-648-8210 for pool information), a weight room, and courts for basketball, racquetball, handball, and squash. The Fitzgerald Field House also has two basketball courts and a 220-yard indoor track (call 412-648-8213 for schedule of available times). The Cost Center has nine indoor tennis courts, and fitness centers are available at Bellefield and Lothrop Halls. Bellefield Hall also has a swimming pool. The new Convocation and Events Center, scheduled to open on the Pitt Stadium site in 2001, will house a large student recreation and fitness center, among other amenities.
Book Centers
The University owns and operates two bookstores on campus: the Book Center and the Health Book Center. The Book Center, located at 4000 Fifth Avenue, carries textbooks for most University courses, as well as a general book selection, school supplies, and sundries such as art supplies, stationery, greeting cards, and calendars. Call (412) 648-1455 or see http://www.pitt.edu/~bookctr/ for more information. The Health Book Center, located at 3527 Forbes Avenue, carries all course books for the Schools of Medicine, Dental Medicine, Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health. Call (412) 648-8915 or see http://www.pitt.edu/~bookctr/hbc.htm for more information.
Child Care
The University Child Development Center provides care and early childhood education to children of faculty, staff, and students of the University of Pittsburgh. Children range in age from six weeks through six years and participate in a wide range of programs that include full- and part-time infant, toddler, and preschool options and full-day kindergarten. There is a school-age summer program as well. The center serves the University as a laboratory school and the greater community as a model of early childhood excellence. There is a lengthy waiting list and prospective parents are encouraged to put children on that list as soon as possible. It is acceptable to put an unconceived child on the list in the interest of prudent planning. The Center is located at 635 Clyde St. and is open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call (412) 3832100 or see http://www.hr.pitt.edu/ucdc/child.html .
Counseling Center
The University Counseling Center provides free, confidential services to all students. The staff consists of psychologists, psychiatrists, and career counselors. Services include individual counseling, group counseling and the Career Resource Center. Students may come to the center for assistance with problems of an emotional, social, marital, academic, or career nature. The Center is located in room 334 of the William Pitt Union and is open year-round from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with additional hours from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Monday nights during the Fall and Spring Terms. Call (412) 648-7930 for an appointment or see http://www.pitt.edu/~counsel for more information.
Disability Resources and Services
The Office of Disability Resources and Services (DRS) provides a broad range of support and services to assist students with disabilities. Services include, but are not limited to, the following: tape-recorded textbooks, sign language interpreters, adaptive computer technology, Braille copy, and non-standard exam arrangements. DRS can also assist students with accessibility to campus housing and transportation. Contact the DRS at (412) 648-7890 (voice or TDD) in room 216 of the William Pitt Union, or see http://www.drs.pitt.edu/ for more information.
Food Services
The Department of Food Services operates several cafeterias and food courts on campus and administers a meal plan for students, including graduate and professional students. Cafeterias or food courts are located in the following University buildings: Tower A, Tower C, William Pitt Union, Cathedral of Learning, Sutherland Hall, Mervis Hall, Benedum Hall, and Posvar Hall. Call (412) 648-2164 or see http://www.pitt.edu/~food/ for more information.
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center also operates a cafeteria on the 11th floor of Scaife Hall.
Health Care and Student Health Service
All full-time students pay a Student Health Fee each term to cover a variety of services at the Student Health Service, which is located in Suite 500, Medical Arts Building, 3708 Fifth Avenue. The Student Health Service is a multi-service healthcare facility that offers outpatient clinical services, gynecology, and family planning, as well as comprehensive health education programs. Call (412) 383-1800 or see http://www.pitt.edu/~studhlth for more information.
The University of Pittsburgh Pharmacy, located in the same suite as the Student Health Service, offers over-the-counter and prescription medication, often at lower prices than available elsewhere. Call (412) 383-1850 or see http://www.pitt.edu/~pittrx for more information.
Students should have health insurance to protect themselves in the event of illness or injury. Also, some schools may require students to carry insurance as a condition of their enrollment, particularly when students may be in contact with blood-borne pathogens. A direct pay medical insurance plan, underwritten by MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company, is available to students registered at the University for three or more credits. While not a full-coverage plan, this plan is designed to provide a student's basic health care needs, including services not offered at the Student Health Service such as hospitalization and emergency care. Students may enroll in the MEGA plan only during certain enrollment periods. Applications, enrollment deadlines, and further information on the plan are available at the Student Health Service, Suite 500, Medical Arts Building, 3708 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, (412) 383-1800, or by contacting the Office of Risk Management at (412) 624-0621.
Teaching Assistants, Teaching Fellows, Graduate Student Assistants, and Graduate Student Researchers with eligible academic appointments are currently eligible to enroll in a managed care plan. The University will cover the cost of this insurance for these eligible graduate students. Coverage is available for eligible spouses and dependents by paying the difference between the individual and dependent options through a monthly payroll deduction. Students supported by fellowships and traineeships may be eligible to purchase membership in this insurance plan by paying the full cost of the coverage through a monthly deduction.
ID Center
Every student, faculty, and staff member at the University must get an ID card from the ID Center, located in room 107 McCormick Hall. The PittCard is used to access a variety of campus buildings and to take advantage of on-campus services, including libraries, computer labs, student discounts, and the like. The card also affords access to off-campus benefits such as free bus rides on Port Authority Transit (see Parking and Transportation).
To obtain a PittCard, students must have registered for classes, and must present some form of photo identification, such as a driver's license or passport. If a student does not have any photo identification, several forms of signature ID, such as credit or bank cards or a social security card must be presented. Students may also use a birth certificate as a form of non-photo identification.
There is no charge for the initial PittCard. However, there is a $20 replacement fee for lost, stolen, or damaged cards. Call (412) 624-7643 (624-7632 after hours) or see http://www.pc.pitt.edu/pc.html for more information.
International Services
The Office of International Services provides services on matters relevant to international students and scholars. Among the services provided are the evaluation of foreign academic credentials for applicants to the University of Pittsburgh with education outside the United States; the issuance of visa documents; orientation for new international students; counseling on personal, social, and financial matters; information and advising on regulations of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and other government agencies, as well as the processing of documents for enrolled international students for travel and employment. To contact the Office of International Services, phone (412) 624-7120, fax (412) 624-7105, or E-mail ois@pitt.edu. The office's mailing address is Office of International Services, 708 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 152605071.
Parking and Transportation
The University provides a variety of parking and transportation services, both on and off campus, some of which are detailed below. For more complete information, call the University Department of Parking, Transportation, and Services' 24-hour hotline at (412) 6248800 or see http://p-and-t.parktran.pitt.edu/ .
Parking Services
A limited number of parking permits are available for graduate and professional students living in Ruskin Hall and for those students who commute from off-campus. Permits are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Daily student commuter parking is also available in several lots located throughout the campus. No permit is required for these facilities; charges are based on daily or hourly rates. Commuter students may also purchase parking permits at the Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, an off-campus lot connected to main campus by a shuttle. Evening/weekend student parking permits are available to those who do not need to park until after 3:50 p.m. on weekdays. For more information, contact the Parking Office, 204 Brackenridge Hall, (412) 624-4034.
Ridesharing
Daily commuter students can save money by sharing a ride with other students. A free, computerized matching service is available to find names and phone numbers of others interested in sharing a ride. Call (412) 624-0687 for more information.
Pittsburgh Campus Transportation System
University of Pittsburgh students may ride all of the Pitt buses and shuttles for free by showing a valid University ID. In addition, students are permitted two guest riders (space permitting). Buses and shuttles normally have a 25- to 35-minute route. Detailed maps and time schedules are available in the lobbies of many campus buildings, libraries, and residence halls.
Van Call
An on-call Van Call is available from 7 p.m. until 3 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, to transport students from campus to a residence or from a residence to campus. This service is only available for those not on a fixed shuttle route and within the following area around the campus: South—Second Avenue/Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering parking; North—Baum Boulevard; West—Robinson/Craft Avenue; and East—Morewood Avenue. Van Call will also pick up students at the downtown Greyhound bus station on Sundays only. Students may call (412) 6241700 to have the on-call van dispatched to their location.
Port Authority
University of Pittsburgh students may ride any Port Authority bus, incline, or trolley within Allegheny County for free by showing their valid University ID card. Port Authority bus schedules are available at the Transportation Office in Forbes Pavilion, the Parking Office at Brackenridge Hall (room 204), and in the lobby of the William Pitt Union.
Bicycle Registration Program
Registration of bicycles is recommended as a deterrent to theft, to help in the identification of lost or stolen bicycles, and to help the Department of Parking, Transportation, and Services better accommodate cyclists at the University. Registration is free. Bicycle rack parking is also free. Bicycle parking maps, regulations, and safety tips are available from the department. Bicycle lockers may be rented for $40 per term, plus a $10 refundable locker key deposit. Call (412) 624-0687 for more information.
PITT ARTS
PITT ARTS is a program designed to provide the University's students with access to and information about the many cultural institutions in Pittsburgh. The program's Web site gives information about a wide range of events in music, film, theater, visual arts, lectures, museums, and other cultural programming both on campus and in the city at large; it also provides information about volunteering for different cultural organizations in the city. PITT ARTS has programs designed for both resident and commuting students, including providing free access during the Fall and Spring Terms for all University students with a valid ID to several museums in Oakland: Phipps Conservatory and the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History.
PITT ARTS and the Department of Parking, Transportation, and Services also sponsor the Cultural Bus for the convenience of Pitt students every Sunday through the Fall and Spring terms. The Cultural Bus (number 17U) departs from the William Pitt Union, on Bigelow Boulevard, beginning at 12:00 noon. The 17U Cultural Bus takes students to some of Pittsburgh's key cultural destinations, including the Andy Warhol Museum, Heinz Hall, the Senator John Heinz Regional History Center, the Mattress Factory, and the Carnegie Science Center. Schedules are available at the William Pitt Union Parking Office (204 Brackenridge Hall), and Transportation Office, 3525 Forbes Avenue, and online at the Parking and Transportation Web site: http://p-and-t.parktran.pitt.edu/ .
For more information, visit PITT ARTS at http://www.pitt.edu /~pittarts/.
Placement Service
Graduate and professional students should consult with their faculty mentors as well as departmental, program, or school placement services as their primary source for guidelines on career development specific to their discipline. As a secondary resource, the University Placement and Career Services, though mainly designed to assist undergraduates, has a variety of services that may be of use to graduate and professional students.
Placement and Career Services is designed to work with students at each step of the Pitt Pathway, a developmental model for career planning and implementation. Specific services that assist students in implementing their plan and beginning their job search include an oncampus recruiting program, a resume referral service, current job postings posted on the Web site and on job boards, and use of an alumni volunteer database entitled AlumNet. Placement and Career Services helps students establish contact with employers in the fields of business, government, health care, education, industry, and private research. A credential service maintains letters of recommendation files that are sent at the request of the student to prospective employers and graduate schools. PCS also maintains a part-time/summer job database for students interested in temporary or part-time work on and off campus. For more complete information on services provided by Placement and Career Services call (412) 648-7130, stop by room 224 William Pitt Union, or see http://www.placement.pitt.edu .
Public Safety
The Department of Public Safety provides police and security services to the University community. For emergency calls dial 811 from oncampus phones or (412) 624-2121 from off-campus phones. The University of Pittsburgh Police Department's main headquarters is located in G1N30 Posvar Hall. For general information calls (non-emergency), dial (412) 624-4040. For more information on the Department of Public Safety, see http://www.pitt.edu/~police/ .
Sexual Assault Services
The Office of Sexual Assault Services provides individual and group counseling designed to alleviate the trauma associated with sexual assault and sexual harassment. University of Pittsburgh students who have been sexually assaulted or who have experienced some form of sex discrimination are eligible for services. Emergency, medical, legal, and police support are provided. Students are assisted in negotiating course schedule or room changes and in obtaining medical, legal, and counseling resources available to them within the University and local communities.
The peer education program is an integral component of Sexual Assault Services. P.E.E.R.S. (Peer Educators for an Environment Free of Rape and Sexual Exploitation) is a volunteer student outreach program whose mission is to create an awareness of the dynamics of sexual assault on the Pitt campus, promote healthy relationships and effective communication, and reduce the occurrence of sexual victimization.
For more information, call (412) 648-7856, visit 926 William Pitt Union or see http://www.pitt.edu/~saserv , or call (412) 6487844.
Student Government
The Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) is the official umbrella graduate and professional student organization at the University of Pittsburgh. GPSA is made up of graduate student organizations (GSOs) from each of the schools at the University. The purpose of GPSA is to represent both the academic and non-academic interests of all graduate and professional students and to provide student-initiated and student-controlled services. GPSA coordinates efforts with graduate student organizations from the different University graduate and professional schools and provides graduate student representation on key University-wide committees. The GPSA also has a limited amount of funding to support student scholarship, including funding for student travel to academic conferences, for interlibrary loans, and for academic programs sponsored by individual schools within the University. For more information, see the GPSA Web site at http://www.pitt.edu/~gpsa2 .
Student Organizations
Over 250 certified student organizations provide a myriad of opportunities for extracurricular activity. In addition to student government, media, publications, and programming organizations, there are clubs for sports, recreation, performing arts, politics, religion, service, professional and academic pursuits, ethnic and cultural enrichment, and many other specialized interests. A complete list of certified student organizations is available from the Office of Student Activities (140 William Pitt Union, 412-648-7830, or see http://www.pitt.edu/~studact/ ).
Survival Skills and Ethics Program
The Survival Skills and Ethics Program sponsors a series of monthly workshops and activities designed to help train graduate and professional students in the skills necessary for success during and after their time at the University. These skills include the ability to communicate both orally and in writing, to learn and teach, to obtain and keep a job, to manage stress and time, and to behave responsibly. Graduate and professional programs often do not provide comprehensive training in all of these areas; the Survival Skills & Ethics Program encourages the development of mechanisms for assisting graduate and professional students in developing these skills.
For more information on workshops and other services provided by the program, call (412) 624-7098, visit 4K57 Posvar Hall, or see http://www.pitt.edu/~survival/ .
Veterans Services
The staff of the Office of Veterans Services assists veterans, war orphans, and veterans' dependents in obtaining and using their VA educational benefits. In addition to these services, the office implements the VA work-study program. The staff serves as the veterans' representative with the University, the Veterans Administration, and other related agencies. The office is located in room G-3 of Thackeray Hall. Call (412) 648-7885 or see http://www.pitt.edu/~srfsweb/vetPgVetServ.htm for more information.
William Pitt Union
The William Pitt Union, built just over 100 years ago as the Schenley Hotel, has been extensively remodeled and renovated. The union is located across Bigelow Boulevard from the Cathedral of Learning and serves as the focal point for campus activities, student organizations, and the Division of Student Affairs. The union features a recreation center, arcade, food service, information service, art gallery, TV room, dance studio, lounges, meeting rooms, student organization offices, ticket office, dining rooms, and several multi-use spaces for programs. To reach the union's information desk, call (412) 648-7815.
