Welcome to Pitt, future Panthers! As you embark on this exciting journey, we're thrilled to introduce you to incredible IT perks designed to support your academic and campus life. From staying connected to accessing helpful tools, Pitt IT has you covered. Here’s a guide to the tech benefits awaiting you.

Get Online Anywhere, Anytime

No matter where you are on campus, you can stay connected with Wi-Fi. Whether you’re in a lecture hall, lounging on the lawn, or relaxing in your residence hall, staying connected is a breeze. Pitt has two wireless networks: MyResNet for the residence halls and PittNet for everywhere else.

MyResNet

Living on campus? You’re in for a treat! Each residence hall is equipped with MyResNet, a high-speed network that allows you to connect all your devices to your own personal area network. Whether you’re streaming your favorite shows, linking your smart devices, doing homework, or video chatting with family, MyResNet ensures a fast and reliable connection.

PittNet

When you step out of your residence hall, you can connect to the PittNet network anywhere else on campus. And we mean anywhere! Every academic building, every administrative building, every recreational facility ... PittNet is even available in the most popular outdoor locations and on Pitt shuttles. (See all the locations where you can get Wi-Fi.)

Essential Software at Your Fingertips

Say goodbye to software expenses! Pitt IT provides dozens of apps to help you get work done, from niche academic programs that may be required for a class to basic productivity apps that everyone can use. See all the apps available to you from the Software Download Center, and the free mobile apps you can download from the Pitt App Center. Our most popular titles include the following:

Microsoft 365

All Pitt students receive a license for Microsoft 365. This includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more, ensuring you have all the tools you need for assignments, presentations, and collaboration. It also includes 5 TB (yes, terabytes) of OneDrive cloud storage (no need to shell out for extra Google storage) and access to Teams for IMing others at Pitt or for having video calls.

Adobe Creative Cloud

Students can also register for an Adobe Creative Cloud license for courses or extracurricular activities. This account includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, Acrobat, and many more! For those who only need to use an Adobe app occasionally, the full suite is available in the Computing Labs.

Zoom Videoconferencing

Forget about the dreaded 40-minute limit. With your Pitt Zoom account, you can host unlimited meetings, making it perfect for group projects, virtual study sessions, or catching up with friends and family. Simply log in with your Pitt credentials through the single sign-on feature.

LinkedIn Learning Account

Build your professional network by connecting with alumni, potential employers, and industry professionals through a LinkedIn profile. Then, set yourself up for career success from day one by learning in-demand skills with LinkedIn Learning courses through your University-sponsored account. Connect your LinkedIn Learning and LinkedIn profiles to add completed courses to your profile!

Computing on Campus

Whether you live on campus, commute from home, or live in a nearby apartment, Pitt IT has the facilities you need to complete your work.

Printing with PittPrint

No need to get a printer when printing on campus is so easy. There are over 70 printers on campus when you need hard copies of your assignments, notes, or research papers. Pitt students are allotted PittPrint funds that each semester, allowing hundreds of double-sided, black-and-white copies per term.

Virtual and Physical Computing Labs

Need specialized software for your courses? Looking for a quiet place to study or get online between classes? Need a place to charge your laptop or phone? The Student Computing Labs are here for you! On-campus labs offer Mac and PC machines and all the software the University offers in a quiet, distraction-free environment. There are also printers, charging stations, and collaboration spaces.

When you’re off campus, turn your personal device into a lab computer through the Virtual Computing Lab. Work wherever you can get online. When connected to the Virtual Lab, you can access all the apps, speed, and compute power of a lab machine. This is especially helpful when your personal device doesn’t have the storage or computing power to run many apps locally.

Support When You Need It

Technical issues? No problem! The Pitt IT Technology Help Desk is here to assist you with any tech-related queries or problems. Staffed by live Pitt IT staff, you’ll get the expert help you need promptly and efficiently. You can contact the Help Desk at any time by phone, email, live chat, or by submitting a help ticket. If you need hands-on help with issues like loading software, eliminating viruses, getting your device set up, or troubleshooting a problem, stop by a Drop-In Support location!

Connect to Pitt

These fantastic IT perks are just the beginning of your incredible journey at Pitt. Make the most of these resources to enhance your academic experience, stay connected, and prepare for a successful future. Welcome to the Panther family—we’re excited to see what you’ll achieve! Hail to Pitt!

-- By Haree Lim, Pitt IT Student Blogger