Students often turn to their instructor first when they have a question — even one that’s more technical than academic. Here’s your guide to digital resources available this semester, so you can send them in the right direction, quickly and with confidence.
🖥️ If They Need Hands-On Help
Drop-In Support offers hands-on help for personal devices, no appointment needed. If a student is looking for support connecting to Wi-Fi or installing software necessary for their coursework, Drop-In Support is a good place to start.
- Where: University Store on Fifth and Hillman Library, room G65.
- What’s covered: Wi-Fi setup, Pitt Email configuration, Microsoft 365 installs, password issues, general troubleshooting.
- What’s not covered: Hardware repair — for that, the separate University Store Repair Center offers free diagnostics as a separate service.
Hours shift seasonally, so check current hours by location. If an issue arises outside of these hours, you can always submit a ticket to the Technology Help Desk.
💻 If They Don’t Have the Right Device
Not every student arrives with reliable, up-to-date technology, and that gap can affect their ability to succeed. If a student discloses they don’t have reliable access to a computer, there are some options available that can help get them connected.
- Technology Loaner Program: Includes a Student Chromebook Loaner option for short- to medium-term device gaps. This service is a bridge, not a permanent fix, but it can keep a student from falling behind while they sort out something more permanent.
- Computing Labs: Open to anyone with a University Computing Account, with computers, printers, and scanners on hand — a good option for a student who just needs a machine for a couple of hours.
- Virtual Computing Lab: The same lab software available in person, but accessible remotely from any device, 24/7. Useful if a student’s own computer doesn’t have the capacity to run something your course requires.
- Computer Discounts for Students: If a student is ready to buy rather than borrow, Pitt has negotiated student pricing through Dell’s Member Purchase Program and Tech on Fifth at the University Store, plus Apple offers education pricing for current and newly accepted students.
🎓 If Coursework Calls for Specialized Software
If you’re designing a syllabus for next term and your course leans on a specific software tool, your students may already have free access to it with their Pitt credentials. The Software Download Service provides nearly 70 licensed titles, from statistical packages to specialty engineering tools. These tools are already vetted, so you and your students can rest assured you’re downloading a secure version.
📝 If There’s No Tool for That (Yet)
If a student — or you — has a piece of software in mind that Pitt doesn’t currently offer, you can Suggest New Software for Pitt Digital Computing Labs. Faculty sponsorship is required for any student requesting new software, and deadlines vary by term.
🔒 If AI Comes Up in Your Course
If you’re incorporating generative AI into your classroom in any way, you may want to encourage your students to use Pitt’s secure options. Generative AI @ Pitt allows students, faculty, and staff to access enterprise-grade AI tools. That means conversations won’t be used to train external models, and personal or academic data stays protected. Unlike free tools, no prompt or upload will be used to train a future model. That means there’s no risk of a student’s work popping up in someone else’s chat.
🔵 Ready When You Need It
The next time a student comes to you with a tech question, you’ll have a good idea of what resources they already have access to. Curious to learn more about the digital services available at Pitt? Digital.pitt.edu and services.pitt.edu are great places to continue exploring — happy browsing!
— Pitt Digital
