Pitt-Johnstown faculty and staff are welcome to eat in any of the campus’ retail locations. All locations accept MasterCard, Visa, or Mountain Cat Cash (which is cash added to your ID card through the Business Office) for payment (Chartwells is a cashless operation). Employees can also enjoy chef-prepared meals in the campus dining hall, known as PJ's Restaurant, using the Mountain Cat Employee Meal Plan or credit card. PJ's features 7 different stations including allergen-free, plant-based, pasta and pizza, and made-to-order selections from a variety of ethnic cultures. A complete list of all campus dining options is available here. You can also view PJ's daily menus at the Dine on Campus web page or via the Dine on Campus app. Dine on Campus also offers nutritional information and a list of ingredients for all menu items.
Mountain Cat Employee Meal Plan
The Mountain Cat Employee Meal Plan is available to all full- and part-time faculty and staff wishing to dine in PJ's or utilize the Meal Exchange program. Meals can be purchased in blocks of 8 for $80 and can be used during any meal period in PJ’s. The plan offers considerable savings over paying the walk-in rates (breakfast: $10.75, lunch $14.75, dinner $15.75). The Mountain Cat Employee Meal Plan can also be used to purchase lunch at the PITT-nics on the Patio held over the summer. Here’s how it works:
- Once purchased, meals will be added to your account via your ID card.
- To use a meal, simply swipe your ID card upon entry into PJ's or swipe it at any retail location where a meal exchange is available
- One meal can be used per dining period (take-out meals are not available from PJ's). Breakfast: 7:30-10 a.m. | Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Dinner: 4-7 p.m. | Brunch: Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 a.m.-2 p.m.
- The meals can be used only by the employee/ID card holder. No guests or family members are permitted to use meals on the plan.
- Students, including those employed by the University, are not eligible to participate in this plan.
- The Mountain Cat Employee Meal Plan cannot be used to buy items in any of the Chartwells retail locations except for a meal exchange where available.
- Unused meals will not expire as long as the faculty or staff member is actively employed at Pitt-Johnstown.
- Meals have no retail value.
Employee Appreciation Week - January 19-23, 2026
Chartwells is showing its appreciation for all you do with a free meal during, "Employee Appreciation Days.” A free meal will be added to the accounts of all current full-and part-time faculty and staff for use during the week.
To access your meal, simply present your ID card to the attendant when you enter PJ’s and enjoy the all-you-care-to-eat options at each of the stations. In a hurry? Use your free meal to purchase a meal exchange from any retail location and eat on the run! (Meal exchanges require downloading and using the Transact Mobile Ordering app.)
Any employee purchasing a Mountain Cat Employee Meal Plan between January 19 and 23 will receive an Appreciation Days Bonus of 2 additional meals AND a Go Green! container for free.
Go Green!
Employees who enroll in the Mountain Cat Employee Meal Plan receive one free "go green" container. The Go Green! program provides a free, reusable take-out container that can be filled with your favorite items from PJs and then taken back to your office or wherever you wish to eat. When you want to Go Green! again, simply bring your used container and exchange it for a sanitized one. The Go Green! meal replaces the meal normally eaten in PJ’s and is not an additional meal. There is a $10 charge to receive a new container without returning your old one.
Purchasing the Plan
The Mountain Cat Employee Meal Plan can be purchased via credit/debit card on Campus Services (look for the Mountain Cat Employee Meal Plan module). Please allow up to one full business day for meals to be available on your account.
Meal Exchanges
Meals included with the Mountain Cat Employee Meal Plan can be used for meal exchanges (the menu is available online). All meal exchanges must be ordered via the Transact Mobile Ordering app. For instructions on how to purchase a meal exchange with the Employee Meal Plan, click here.
Mountain Cat Cash
Mountain Cat Cash turns your Mountain Cat ID card into a debit card that can be used in all of the Chartwells dining locations. Cash is added to your card through the Business Office and can be used with a swipe of your card. For more information, visit: www.johnstown.pitt.edu/MtnCatCash.
Checking your Balances
Employees can view their meal and Mountain Cat Cash balances on the Transact e-Accounts portal. The portal will also display transaction histories for both meal swipes and Mountain Cat Cash. You can also view balances on the Transact eAccounts app, which is available for both IOS and Android devices.
Questions?
Contact Housing and Dining Services (upjmeals@pitt.edu).