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Get the most interesting and important stories from the University of Pittsburgh.Arrival Survival Smooths Transition to College
Questions?
Complete details for the Pittsburgh campus are available on Arrival Survival’s website and in the handbook.
Email arrival [at] bc.pitt.edu, phone 412-648-2131 or follow @PittArrival on Twitter and Arrival Survival on Facebook for more information.
Move-in at regional campuses
Pitt–Bradford
Begins at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 24. For more information, visit Student Life’s move-in day site.
Pitt–Greensburg
Begins at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 23. For more information, visit Housing and Residence Life’s move-in day site.
Pitt–Johnstown
Begins at 7 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 23. For more information, visit Campus Life’s move-in day site.
Pitt–Titusville
Begins at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 24. For more information, contact Student Affairs at 814-827-4460
“We’ve all been there,” said Giavanna Stephens, co-coordinator of Arrival Survival 2018 and a junior psychology major.
“It’s nice to give that reassurance,” added Alec Loyd, a senior economics major and the move-in program’s co-coordinator.
Where and when
About 4,000 first-year students will experience Arrival Survival as “one of their first interactions with anyone and everyone on campus,” Stephens said. But anyone living in campus residence halls, regardless of class year, is assigned a specific move-in date and time. This is to streamline traffic throughout the week before classes begin.
“What many people don’t understand is that we work with the city to pull this off,” said Loyd. “Shutting down public roads is no small order,” but Bigelow Boulevard between Forbes and Fifth avenues is closed to through traffic to accommodate move-in unloading throughout the week. University Place in front of Nordenberg Hall, Lothrop Street and Ruskin Avenue are also pedestrian-friendly during the day.
First-year students move-in dates:
- Monday, Aug. 20, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Tuesday, Aug. 21, 8 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 22, 8 a.m.–noon
Returning students move-in dates:
- Thursday, Aug. 23, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Friday, Aug. 24, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
After-hours move-in information can be found at Panther Central.
Parking passes with assigned move-in dates and times for each student can be found in students' pitt.edu email accounts. Instructions for logging in can be found here.
Things to remember
For safety’s sake, anyone helping with move-in is required to wear housing-specific wristbands, which can only be obtained by reporting to the correct unloading zone.
Cart stations are available on site at all residence halls, but students and their move-in helpers are encouraged to bring their own handcarts or dollies.
Student volunteers will be in gold T-shirts and staff in royal blue. Ask them anything. Get them to help with the heavy lifting.
Parking passes are valid for one hour. After that, vehicles need to move to long-term parking. Click the map below for information on parking options.
After move-in
When the stuff is settled, plug in to PittNet, download free software or browse technology.pitt.edu for other computing essentials. The Help Desk is open 24/7. Call 412-624-HELP (4357).
Meal plans start on Aug. 20, so check out any of the on-campus dining options. Free pizza, ice cream, water, soda and sports drinks will also be available to hungry movers throughout the week in the Schenley Quadrangle.
Check out New and Transfer Student Orientation events going on throughout the week. Mandatory programming for first-year students begins Wednesday, Aug. 22.
Keeping it green
Pizza is popular but cardboard waste is not. As part of its sustainability efforts, Pitt composts 750 pizza boxes during the week before classes begin. Find out what else the Pitt Green Team, Housing Services, Panther Central and Facilities Management are doing to keep Arrival Survival a near-zero waste event.
