University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown

Parents' Guide

Getting Ready for the Real World is an adventure, and college is certainly a big step in this adventure.

This Parents’ Guide is the first step in preparing you for your child’s education at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

As with any big step, this one may come with emotions ranging from apprehension and self-doubt to excitement and a new sense of independence and growth. We are here to provide your son or daughter with a great experience at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and we don’t want you to feel left behind. In fact, we want to include you every step of the way. We are here to ensure that all of your questions are answered before the difficult decision of choosing a college is made. 

The Parents' Guide may serve as a resource. We encourage you to read it and hope that you’ll continue to keep the lines of communication flowing between your home and our campus. 

There are many opportunities for you to explore Pitt-Johnstown. If you have additional questions or have not yet visited Pitt-Johnstown, we would love to have you as our personal guest. You may arrange a campus visit or call with questions. You can take a guided tour with a current Pitt-Johnstown student, talk one-on-one with an Admissions Counselor, or speak to any faculty member. You can even have your student sit in on one of our college classes.

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Connected

The first year is crucial for students and their families. If the transition from home and high school to college is smooth, students are more likely to be successful and to stay in school.

Difficult transitions may cause students to perform below their potential, and in extreme situations, to drop out. Constructive support from the college and the family helps to ease the transition. The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown focuses significant attention on assisting students in their transition.

Academic

The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown enjoys an excellent reputation in all of its academic programs. New students benefit from personalized attention, a small average class size, and a dedicated faculty acting in partnership with them throughout their entire college career.

In addition to the personal touches, Pitt-Johnstown has also invested in the technology of higher education. You’ll find first-class educators taking advantage of the best of today’s technology.

Housing

College means more than just the academics. After all, when a student chooses a college, it becomes a home away from home for the next four years. We know that nothing can replace the comforts of home, but we would like to think that Pitt-Johnstown would be a close second. In fact, the residence halls and campus facilities are common reasons that many students give for choosing us.

We are very proud of our campus. We strongly encourage anyone who is interested in Pitt-Johnstown to come for a visit. Once here, we can show you what we have to offer, including housing. A college campus becomes a student’s second home. It makes good sense to have a look around first.

Support

You’ve spent nearly two decades watching out for your child. And while you will continue to do so, we at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown would like to help.

At the same time, we want to encourage our students to become independent and mature adults able to function in society and on their own. It’s a fine line to walk. Finding the proper balance of support and freedom is a challenge. Our job is made easier when students are able to ask for help when needed.

Safety

You have spent a lifetime keeping your children safe, and now sending them off into the unknown can make you feel a little uneasy. The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown makes every attempt to assure the safety of our students.

Every college campus, like every community, has some safety concerns. We recognize this, and take an active role when it comes to campus safety. We are proud to say that our efforts are paying off. Our track record in the area of safety is impressive. Perhaps more important than statistics, it is the opinion of our students when asked, that they feel very safe on campus — even late at night.

Freshman

We encourage our students to explore the wider world outside of the classroom. We are proud of the fact that a high percentage of our admitted students come to us with a proven track record of extra-curricular activities and community service. We encourage all of our students to continue with their involvement.

Financial

College is a huge investment of time, money, and energy. At Pitt-Johnstown we want to ensure that our students have the best possible college experience, and get the most out of their investment.

laptop and book on desk

Campus Banking

Pitt-Johnstown students may use the Somerset Trust Company’s convenient on-campus bank branch, located in the Student Union. The bank offers a Student Advantage Checking Account and on-campus ATMs located in the Student Union and the Living-Learning Center. There are five branches in the neighboring communities and more than 10 ATMs within a 15-mile radius of campus.