1. Parents - Get to Know Pitt!
Office of Parent and Family Resources
Sandy Talbott
Parent and Family Liaison
Introductions
Where is everyone from?
How many are first time college parents?
Did everyone stop at the welcome table?
Who arrived yesterday? Attended the Student Affairs Life on Campus last evening?

2. Who is Here? Parents of first time college students?
Parents of transfer college students
Regional Campuses?
Other Institutions

3. Resources for Parents and Families
Transportation
Buses Home for the Holidays
Port Authority
Trains, planes, automobiles
Handbook and Calendar
Public Safety/Pitt Police/ENS
Parent Liaison

4. Resources for Parents and Families
Student Affairs Parent Web site
Webinars
Area Hotels and Restaurants
Newsletters **
Student Health Service – never turned away, but they may have to wait. UCC – on call person each day. Group sessions.

5. **Parent and Family Newsletter
Monthly distribution
Our main form of communication
Advanced notice of upcoming webinars, events, breaks, events
Financial opportunities as they become available
National Scholarships, Book Scholarships

6. Resources for Parents and Families
Parent/Family wait area
Tansky Lounge, WPU
Hillman Library, Cup and Chaucer Lounge
Starbucks - Four within walking distance!
Student Health Service – never turned away, but they may have to wait. UCC – on call person each day. Group sessions.

7. Mail On Campus Off Campus
Each student has a Pitt account and a physical mailbox
Addresses for students
Packages – students get an for pickup
Off Campus
Make sure to empty mailbox
Campus Post Office in Tower B
USPS Post Office on Bouquet Street
1. Talk about students making their own decisions and choices, starting with moving into the dorm. Let your student take control, even if you know that you could make better choices on room arrangements, etc Money management – talk with students NOW about how disposable income will be used over the term. What types of incidentals/expenses are they responsible for? Who is paying for books? If they lose something are they responsible for replacing it? 3. How will your student get up for an 8am class? Parents should talk to students about conditioning their sleep cycle to what will be expected of them in the fall….and getting plenty of rest Talk about laundry instruction this summer and laundry availability at Pitt. 5. Briefly discuss the transition from possibly having their own room at home to living with a roommate, give and take of living with others, being considerate of others, making smart choices about independent living.

8. Get to Know the Area - Pitt Campus www.parents.pitt.edu
Parking
Soldiers and Sailors
Cost Center
Forbes Avenue
Hotels and Restaurants
Pitt Athletics
Campus Map -

9. Get to Know the Area - Pittsburgh
Downtown - Southside - Waterfront
Cultural Center
Penn and Liberty Avenues
Athletics
Heinz Field – football
Petersen Sports Complex – Pitt athletics
PNC Park – Pirate baseball
PPG Paints Arena – Penguin hockey
Highmark Stadium – Riverhounds soccer

10. Student Resources Student Health Service University Counseling Center
Academic Resource Center
Hillman Library
Career Development and Placement Assistance
SORC
Student Health Service – never turned away, but they may have to wait. UCC – on call person each day. Group sessions.

11. Encourage Your Student to Get Plugged In!
Pitt Program Council – weekday and weekend
First Year Experience – weekday and weekend
Activities Fair, Career Fair
Resident Students Association – hall activities
Pitt Serves – volunteer activities
Pitt Arts and Free Area Museums
Student Organization Resource Center
Intramurals / Fitness
PPC, ice skating, Victory Lights run. FYE – Career Fair Groups, Open Mic Nights. Intramurals

12. FERPA Federal Education Right to Privacy Act
Every federally-funded higher education institution in required to protect the privacy of student records
Clear expectations conversations
Waiver, but third party must be on campus to see records.

13. Campus Clarity and SHARE
Campus Clarity ducation/alcoholhaven
SHARE Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Education
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism v/OtherAlcoholInformation/BacktoColleg e_FS_2012.pdf

14. Panther Parent Ambassadors
Custom polo shirt
Assist with summer sendoffs
Tours and special programs
Assist with on-campus programming when convenient
Occasionally write newsletter articles
Register at

15. Upcoming Schedule Classes begin January 4
Sorority and Fraternity Life webinar January 4 from 7 – 8 p.m. Recorded.
Add/Drop Period/Meal Plan Adjustment
2 weeks
Martin Luther King Holiday
Spring Break
March 5 – 12 inclusive
University closed January 2, but new students can move in. Orientation week of activities.

16. Thank you for your Partnership
We want your student to be successful! Thank you for supporting them from home as we support them while they are at Pitt.
Please read the newsletters and view the webinars and our web site to stay connected with the Pitt community.
University closed January 2, but new students can move in. Orientation week of activities.

17. www.parents.pitt.edu parents@pitt.edu
Office of Parent and Family Resources
Sandy Talbott
Parent and Family Liaison
Electronic version is uploaded at parents.pitt.edu under “Parents of First Year Students”