Staff, faculty volunteers needed for student move-in week

By SHANNON O. WELLS

To the typical Pitt student, August move-in time means juggling books, furniture and various belongings, signing forms, making payments, and running errands. To counterbalance this chaotic flurry, University staff work throughout the summer to make sure resources and volunteer help are there to create a smooth Pitt Arrival.

At the beginning of each fall semester, hundreds of volunteers are needed to greet thousands of incoming students while helping to steer them, their parents, friends and belongings to where they need to be. This year is no exception.

“This mammoth effort wouldn’t happen without the help of hundreds of Pitt Arrival student and staff volunteers who will be checking in, providing moving carts, answering questions, assisting Pitt community members and more,” said Julie Bannister, assistant vice chancellor for auxiliary services. “In years past, the University has had a high of approximately 600 student and 75 staff volunteers.”

Faculty and staff who want to volunteer can click here to sign up and learn more about Pitt Arrival. "Staff (and faculty) can choose the day(s) and time(s) they are available to serve as an official ‘Welcome To Pitt’ greeter," Bannister explained. Tasks include distributing carts, handing out parent/helper wristbands and welcome gifts.

Also, the Ship2Pitt program continues to be offered this year. This provides pre-paid UPS Ground shipping labels (available online) for five boxes for students living in university-owned housing to ship to campus before their arrival. Once cleared through a security scan and sorted, packages will be delivered directly to each student’s room.

Details on the number of helpers allowed per student are being finalized and will be shared online prior to Pitt Arrival move-in.

To exercise precautions during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers and students are asked to follow Pitt’s health rules, including face coverings consistent with Centers for Disease Control guidelines. University members exempted from the requirement to provide vaccination proof are required to take part in regular COVID-19 testing. Symptomatic testing is recommended for all individuals exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms regardless of vaccination status or known exposure. Visit coronavirus.pitt.edu for information and updates.

Welcome Week, the traditional time for all new first-year, transfer and commuter students to familiarize themselves with the Pitt campus, will be held Aug. 20 to 29, with First-Year arrival occurring Aug. 20-22.

Students are encouraged to select events in the still-to-come schedule that fit their interests. Welcome Week also includes several required programs for students that cover important topics about health and safety, diversity and inclusion, and the transition into the college environment.

Shannon O. Wells is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at shannonw@pitt.edu.

 

Have a story idea or news to share? Share it with the University Times.

Follow the University Times on Twitter and Facebook.