Helpful Tips and Reminders for Parents

The following checklist serves as a guide for parents and guardians. Here are some things to consider before sending your student off to college:

Move-in Day

Please check the Move-In Guide for this year's move-in dates for new and returning students. This guide will answer many of your questions regarding your arrival to campus.

Costs associated with living on campus

In addition to housing & meals costs that are sometimes covered by student loans and/or financial aid, your student will encounter additional costs associated with housing, such as laundry supplies, parking permits, or damage and fine assessments from our office. (NOTE: Monetary fines from our office are sometimes a result of violating policies and damaging the facilities in which they live.)

Medical/Health Insurance

Does your student know how to properly use or access their medical insurance? Oftentimes, college students are still covered under their parents’ policies. Although students may receive basic services in the health center on campus, most students will use an outside medical provider for different reasons.

Property Insurance

The University does not insure students' property and does not assume liability for loss of students' possessions. Therefore, students should ensure the property they bring to campus is covered either through a parent/guardian's homeowner's insurance or by purchasing a plan specifically designed to cover the student's personal property while living on campus. National Student Services, Inc (NSSI) provides students with options for purchasing insurance while living on campus.

University Recesses

Classes are not in session during Thanksgiving, Winter, or Spring recesses. Therefore, you should make necessary arrangements to pick your student up if they do not have a vehicle.  Please check the Calendar of Important Dates for when the halls close and open for this academic year:

Food

Since all residents are required to purchase a meal plan, it may not be necessary for students and/or parents to shop for groceries. However, many students will want to keep some snacks, drinks, and other food on hand in their apartments or rooms. Students who live in the University Court or Academic Village will have an oven and stove, but they are still required to have a meal plan.

Transportation

All residents are permitted to have a vehicle on campus. For students without a vehicle, there are local transportation options available, including bus, taxi, and train service. Check out the Transportation section for more information.

Banking

Does your student have a bank that is located within a reasonable distance from campus? There are several banks in Greensburg, including PNC, First Niagara, and Citizens. There is a PNC ATM machine inside Chambers Hall on the Pitt-Greensburg campus.

Cleaning

Your student will be responsible for the cleanliness of their own room/apartment. Our custodial staff does not clean individual rooms or bathrooms. Make sure you equip your student with the necessary advice and supplies to clean their own room.

Tips for Parents

  • Be reassuring. Your student needs to know that they are doing the right thing by going to college. Reassure your student that he or she is making the right choice.
  • Communicate, but don’t overdo it! Oftentimes parents have the urge to call their student every day. With cell phone use so prevalent today, this is even more tempting. It is essential to keep in contact with your student, but no student wants their parent keeping daily tabs on them. 
  • Send care packages. Even better than sending the occasional text message or greeting card, consider sending a care package. Care packages are a college phenomenon, and your student will love them. Consider making and sending a care package for your student's birthday, holidays, or for finals week. 
  • Be there during the stressful times. College can be a very stressful time in one’s life. Your student may want to vent from time to time, and you can help by simply being there. Listen to your student without making judgment.
  • Encourage. Part of your role as a partner during the college years is to encourage your student. Encourage them to study, to get involved, and to take over their own lives. This means cleaning up after themselves and doing their own laundry. It also means waking up in the morning and actually going to class. You can make sure your student does all of these by encouraging them.
  • Have a discussion about alcohol & drugs. While the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg is not a dry campus, students are still expected to abide by state law and campus policy. This means, among other things, that no underage drinking or drugs and paraphernalia are permitted on campus. We treat violations of our drug & alcohol policy very seriously. Violations of this policy sometimes result in students being removed from the residence halls or suspended from the University. Have a conversation about these repercussions for violating our alcohol & drug policy.
  • Prepare your student. Parents and guardians can be helpful by preparing their students for college. Teach them how to do laundry and about responsible spending. Teach them how to appropriately handle conflicts or problems that might arise. A parent’s first instinct is to intervene in these situations by calling the University. Give your student the advice and tools necessary to handle these problems on their own.
  • Discuss academics. Your student is moving away in order to pursue a degree. It becomes costly if your student does not do well academically. Consider asking generalized questions, such as, “How are your classes?” or “Have you done any interesting projects lately?” This can help open the channels of communication between you and your student. (In regards to student grades, please note that your student will receive his or her grades electronically – they are not sent home to parents. Be sure to discuss with your student his or her progress.)

Alcohol Policy 

As students are held responsible for knowing all of the University's policies. Please encourage them to read the Student Handbook prior to arriving on campus. It outlines the alcohol & drug policy, as well as many other important campus policies.

Online Alcohol and Sexual Assault Prevention Courses

To help students make well-informed decisions regarding alcohol and to provide every student with sexual assault prevention education, new students must complete the online courses prior to arriving on campus. Students will receive an email explaining how to access the course. Students that fail to complete the course will have a hold placed onto their account which will prevent them from receiving grades and registering for classes.