If the following answers do not provide you with the information needed, please contact our office at 412-624-5756 or email our general inbox at pittcares@pitt.edu.
Care Referrals
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When should I submit a Care Referral?
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- A student told you that they are overwhelmed with their classes and it is affecting their sleep, eating habits or daily routine
- A student is experiencing a family emergency and is unsure where to go for support.
- A student’s behavior seems out of character (Ex: They have become more withdrawn and are no longer speaking up during class).
- A student is displaying emotional outbursts.
- A student is facing barriers with accessing basic needs, like food and shelter.
- A student has indicated that they have engaged in self-harm.
- A student has relayed that they are or will be going into treatment.
- A student appears to not be engaged and is having difficulty socially.
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When should I NOT file a Care referral?
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- Emergency or urgent crisis. Please contact 911 or Pitt Police at 412-624-2121 if there is an emergency or immediate intervention is needed. After contacting emergency response services and urgent needs are addressed, we encourage you to submit a Care referral if a student is seeking additional support and follow up.”
- For staff and faculty, when a student discloses sexual harassment, abuse, or violence. Responsible Reporters/Employees must submit a report to the Pitt Concern Connection. Please contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX for more information.
- Academic concerns unrelated to mental or physical wellbeing. This includes being late to classes, poor academic performance, plagiarism, etc that seem unrelated to mental health, lack of basic needs, physical health, or other concerning circumstances. If you would like additional insight, you can reach out directly to the Care and Resource Support Office for consultation/guidance.
- Conduct violations. If a student has violated the Student Code of Conduct, please complete a Conduct referral (attach link) or contact the Office of Student Conduct.
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Who can submit a Care Referral?
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- Students, staff, faculty, parents, and community members are all welcome to submit a Care Referral.
- Do I have to tell the student I am making a referral?
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We strongly recommend telling students that you submitted a Care Referral for them. When a student is unaware that a Care Referral has been submitted for them, they might be confused when they receive our outreach or even think that they are in trouble. Also, students are less likely to engage with our office when they are unaware that a Care Referral was made for them. To avoid confusion and non-engagement, please tell the student that the Care and Resource Support Office will be reaching out to help. If you have concerns about telling the student a Care Referral was submitted, please include your concerns in the referral form.
- My professor said they submitted a Care Referral for me. What does this mean?
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Your professor wanted to provide you with additional support based on a concern you may have shared. A Care Referral initiates a staff member from the Care and Resource Support Office to reach out to you and offer our help. We encourage students to engage with us, but you are not required to respond or engage with our office.
- What happens after a Care Referral is submitted?
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Our outreach typically occurs within one to two business days after a referral is submitted. The referral is routed to a staff member with expertise in the reported concern. The staff member will then reach out to the student through a Care letter sent to the student’s email address. This letter contains an invitation to meet and includes a link to schedule an appointment.
- I got a Care letter in my email inbox. What does this mean?
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A Care letter is your invitation to meet with a staff member from the Care and Resource Support Office. The letter will have a Bookings link to schedule with the designated staff member who can best help address your needs.
Care Managers
- What is Case Management?
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Case Management is a support service for students that helps them navigate challenges that may affect their academic success, well-being, and overall university experience. At Pitt, our Care Managers provide case management and work collaboratively with students to identify needs, connect them with resources, develop action plans, and reduce barriers to success so they can thrive.
Care Managers do:
- Assess student needs and concerns
- Help students develop a plan of action
- Connect students with campus and community resources
- Coordinate support among university departments
- Provide ongoing follow-up
- Assist students in navigating complex university systems
Care Managers do NOT:
- Provide long-term counseling or therapy
- Offer legal advice
- Make academic decisions on behalf of faculty
- Override university policies
- Serve as emergency responders or conduct welfare checks
- How is Case Management different from Counseling Services?
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Counseling focuses on mental health treatment and therapeutic support. Case Management focuses on coordinating resources, problem-solving, reducing barriers, and helping students navigate support systems. Case Managers often collaborate with counseling professionals when appropriate.
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Should I contact the Care and Resource Support Office for an emergency?
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The Care and Resource Support Office is not an emergency resource – if you need immediate assistance, have a safety concern, or feel a welfare check is needed, please reach out to one of these resources 24/7:
- Pitt Police (412-624-2121)
- Resolve Crisis (888-796-8226)
- University Counseling Center (412-648-7930)
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Why did I receive outreach from a Care Manager from the Care and Resource Support office?
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Someone in our community who cares about you, let us know you might be in need of support. When a student is going through a tough time, it can be difficult to know what to do – for the student themselves and community members who want to help. Care Managers help streamline our community’s ability to respond to concerns and support students navigating significant difficulties by connecting directly with students and providing individualized resource referrals and support that is tailored to their unique situation, challenges, strengths, and priorities and helps them to connect with the needed support.
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Am I required to meet with a Care Manager?
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No, it is not required that you meet with a Care Manager if you receive an outreach from our office.
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What can I expect when I am referred to a Case Manager?
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A Care Manager will email you with their calendar booking link and contact information. If we don’t hear from you, we may also send you a text message through Pathways, or give you a phone call.
- Is what I share with a Case Manager confidential?
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Care Managers can offer privacy but cannot offer confidentiality. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a student’s record (including meetings with our office) cannot be shared with non-university employees, and information is only shared with other campus offices on a need-to-know basis. Care Managers must legally report suspected child or elder abuse, suicidal or homicidal ideation, and concerns about sexual harassment and sexual violence. You can always ask for clarification when you meet with us, and we can discuss your support options.
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How do I make an appointment?
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Students can contact the Care and Resource Support Office directly or be referred by faculty, staff, family members, or friends. Appointments may be available in person, virtually, or by phone.
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Do Care Managers excuse absences?
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No, Care Managers do NOT excuse absences. Students should review their course syllabus to obtain a clear understanding of the attendance and tardiness policies for each course, as those policies may vary from professor to professor. Students are encouraged to reach out to their professors or instructors directly about missing class, any missed assignments, and to develop a plan for making up those missed assignments if permitted. It is up to each professor as to how they provide flexibility to students.
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How can faculty and staff support students in distress?
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Faculty and staff can:
- Express concern and listen without judgment.
- Share available campus resources.
- Encourage students to seek support.
- Submit a Care Referral when concerns persist and let the student know to expect an email with an appointment link from a care manager.
- Contact emergency services when immediate safety concerns exist.
- Additional information can be found in the guide to supporting students: UCC_StudentSupportGuide_2024.pdf
- How do I make a referral to a Care Manager?
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Click here to submit a Care Referral. Care Managers review referrals and conduct outreach Monday through Friday between 8:30am and 5pm.
Pitt Pantry
- Where is the Pitt Pantry located?
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The Pitt Pantry is located on the first floor of the O’Hara Student Center.
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Who can use the Pitt Pantry?
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Active Pitt students, staff, and faculty can shop for free at the Pitt Pantry twice a month. No appointment needed. Shoppers can walk-in during posted open hours.
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What food does the Pitt Pantry provide?
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The Pitt Pantry provides shelf-stable foods, fresh produce, and frozen meats as well as hygiene and menstrual products. Specific inventory changes regularly. The Pitt Pantry is a supplemental resource and does not replace the need to go to a grocery store.
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Can I volunteer at the Pitt Pantry?
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The Pitt Pantry regularly relies on student volunteers to serve as Pantry Guides and Shift Leaders. Interested students can email pantry@pitt.edu about open opportunities. Often, there is a waitlist to become a volunteer. Due to space limitations, the Pitt Pantry cannot accept group volunteers.
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How can I support the Pitt Pantry?
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The Pitt Pantry regularly accepts both in-kind and monetary donations. In-kind donations must be unopened and unexpired. Please consult our posted Amazon wish list and most needed items. In-kind donations can be left inside the gray donation bin in the pantry vestibule inside the O’Hara Student Center. To arrange a larger donation drop-off, please email pantry@pitt.edu. Monetary gifts can be made here.
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Do you provide SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) assistance?
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Yes, the Care and Resource Support office helps students to determine SNAP eligibility, complete applications, and dispute rejections.
C.A.R.E. Team
- What is the difference between the Care & Resource Support Office and the C.A.R.E. Team?
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The Care and Resource Support Office is an individual office under the Division of Student Affairs. The Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation (C.A.R.E.) Team is an interdisciplinary team with members across the University that work together to coordinate and streamline support for students.
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Can I refer a student directly to the C.A.R.E. Team?
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No. The Care and Resource Support Office manage incoming referrals and works with the larger C.A.R.E. Team if additional support is needed. If you want to connect a student to resources and support, please submit a Care Referral.
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Can the C.A.R.E. Team complete a Welfare Check?
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No, the general CARE Team cannot be dispatched to complete an in-person Welfare Check. Welfare Checks are completed by Pitt PD. If you would like to place a Welfare Check, please call Pitt PD (412-624-2121)
Thriftsburgh
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Where is Thriftsburgh located?
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Thriftsburgh is located on the first floor of the O’Hara Student Center.
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Who can shop at Thriftsburgh?
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Anyone can shop at Thriftsburgh! We are open to students, staff, faculty, and the Pittsburgh community.
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What does Thriftsburgh sell?
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Thriftsburgh sells second-hand clothing, shoes, and accessories.
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Can I donate my used clothing?
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Yes, Thriftsburgh accepts gently used clothing, shoes, and accessories. Donations may be dropped off during store hours or left in the donation bin outside the Thriftsburgh store. We cannot accept undergarments, pajamas, kids clothing, and clothing that is severely stained or ripped.
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How does Store Credit work?
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When donating your second-hand clothing, shoes, and accessories to Thriftsburgh, you have the option to receive half back the amount in store credit! A Store Associate will review your clothing. You will be given 50% of the value of sellable clothing in the form of store credit to use at Thriftsburgh.
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What is the Annual Reuse Rummage Sale?
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The Annual Reuse Rummage Sale is hosted each August; usually the weekends before and after Welcome Week. The Annual Reuse Rummage Sale sells second-hand clothing, dorm, kitchen, and bathroom essentials to students returning to campus. All items were previously collected during the spring Move-Out Clean-Out event.
Care Advocates
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Who can receive support from a Care Advocate?
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Care Advocates work with any student with experiences involving sexual misconduct. This includes but is not limited to, sexual harassment, sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence.
Care Advocates also work with any student with experiences related to bias, discrimination, or harassment on the basis of:
- Disability
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- National origin
- Ancestry
- Genetic information
- Marital status
- Familial status
- Sex
- Age
- Sexual orientation
- Veteran status
- Gender identity and expression
- How do Care Advocates help?
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Care Advocates are here to help with the decision-making process following sexual misconduct, discrimination, and/or bias. We want to help you navigate how YOU want to proceed.
- If I tell a Care Advocate about my experience with sexual misconduct, discrimination, and/or bias, do they have to report this to Title IX?
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Our Care Advocates are a confidential resource for any student with experiences related to sexual misconduct. This means that reporting sexual misconduct, discrimination, and bias that are NOT life threatening to a Care Advocate does not require a report to be filed with the University and Office of Civil Rights and Title IX.
- Do Care Advocates provide Confidential Services?
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Yes, services are confidential. We honor a student's right to confidentiality, except when specified by law.
- What are Limits to Confidentiality?
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Care Advocates have a duty to warn regarding safety concerns and do not have absolute confidentiality under Federal and State law (Emerich v. Philadelphia Ctr. For Human Dev., Inc., 720 A.2d 1032 (1998); Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California (1976)). This also means that Care Advocates can be subpoenaed in a court of law.
Please see below for instances that limit confidentiality.
Threats to hurt self/ end one's life Threats to hurt others/ end someone else's life Someone else threatening to hurt or end someone’s life Child abuse
- I am in an emergency situation or crisis, what should I do?
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If you are experiencing a crisis or emergency situation, please dial 9-1-1- or Pitt Police at 412-624-2121.
- Is this a free resource?
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Yes! All services are free.
- How do I get in contact with the Care Advocates?
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- Care Advocate Booking page
- Email: careadvocates@pitt.edu
- Care and Resource Support Office Phone Number: 412-624-5756 (M-Fri, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
Horizon Scholars
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What is the Horizon Scholars program?
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Horizon Scholars is a university-wide support program for Pitt students who have experienced foster care, disrupted caregiving, housing instability, or limited adult support. The program provides holistic support through mentorship, resource navigation, academic support, financial wellness education, community-building opportunities, and individualized planning.
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Is this a scholarship program?
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No. Horizon Scholars is primarily a student support and success initiative. While students may be connected to financial resources and opportunities, participation does not automatically include scholarship funding.
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Who can participate in Horizon Scholars?
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Students who have lived experience with foster care, disrupted caregiving, housing instability, or inconsistent adult support may be eligible. The program seeks to support students whose experiences may create additional barriers to college success.
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Do I have to be in foster care to join?
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No. While students with foster care experience are a primary focus, the program also supports students who have experienced other forms of caregiving disruption, housing instability, or limited family support.
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What kind of support can I receive?
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Support may include:
- Academic planning and success strategies
- Resource navigation
- Housing assistance
- Financial wellness education
- Employment and career connections
- Social and emotional support
- Mentorship opportunities
- Community-building activities
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What makes Horizon Scholars different from other student support programs?
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Horizon Scholars is specifically designed to address the unique experiences and challenges of students who have experienced foster care, caregiving disruptions, housing instability, or limited adult support. The program combines personalized support with a coordinated network of campus resources.
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Does joining Horizon Scholars cost anything?
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No. Participation in Horizon Scholars is free for eligible students.
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Do I have to attend every workshop and event?
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Participation expectations may vary depending on the resource or activity. Students are encouraged to engage regularly, but the program is designed to be supportive and flexible.
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Will participation appear on my transcript?
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No. Participation in Horizon Scholars does not appear on a student's academic transcript.
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Can faculty and staff become involved in the program?
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Yes. Faculty and staff may have opportunities to serve as mentors, presenters, workshop facilitators, resource partners, referral sources, or collaborators in supporting Horizon Scholars. Faculty and staff can support students by:
- Creating welcoming and inclusive environments
- Making timely referrals to resources
- Encouraging help-seeking behaviors
- Serving as mentors or supportive adults
- Promoting awareness of available services
- Collaborating with program staff when appropriate
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What should I do if a student discloses foster care experience, housing instability, or limited support systems?
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Listen supportively, thank the student for sharing, and connect them with appropriate campus resources. If appropriate, provide information about Horizon Scholars and the Care and Resource Support Office as potential sources of support.
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How can faculty and staff refer a student to Horizon Scholars?
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Faculty and staff can refer students by connecting them with the Care and Resource Support Office, sharing information about Horizon Scholars, or encouraging students to complete the program interest forms and speak with a Resource Advisor.
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Who should I contact if I have questions about the program?
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Questions about Horizon Scholars should be directed to the Care and Resource Support Office, which coordinates the program and can provide additional information about eligibility, referrals, partnerships, and student support services.