Safety

University of Pittsburgh Police 

The University of Pittsburgh Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency providing 24-hour protection for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. In addition to receiving the same training as their municipal police counterparts, officers are required to have bachelor’s degrees—rare for a police force—so that officers know what it’s like to be a student. Additionally, police officers complete cultural awareness training that includes antibias for law enforcement, racial profiling, implicit bias, LGBTIQ+ issues, investigating hate crimes, civil rights, and community policing.

In an emergency, call 412-624-2121. For a nonemergency, call 412-624-4040.

Emergency Notification Service And Crime Alerts 

The University’s Emergency Notification Service (ENS) provides Pitt students, faculty, and staff with critical information in the event of an emergency using voice, text, and e-mail channels. The University of Pittsburgh Police Department issues a crime alert when a serious, unresolved crime is committed on or adjacent to campus; the crime creates a threat of immediate physical harm to students, faculty, or staff; the likelihood of repetition is such that a report is necessary to aid in the prevention of similar occurrences. ENS and crime alerts are separate alerts.

To subscribe to receive text and voice message alerts, log in to pi.tt/alerts.

Environmental Health And Safety 

The Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) has expertise in best practices and safety in the laboratory. EH&S offers safety training on multiple topics, including your off-campus living arrangement.

Resources, the training schedule, and an anonymous concern reporting form are available on the website. 

SafeRider 

SafeRider provides safe transportation during the evening and early morning hours when special, nonemergency needs arise for graduate students to get across campus, such as from an office to a parking lot. Information on hours of operation, boundaries, and requesting a ride are available on the website.

Title IX

Title IX protects graduate and professional students (as well as all members of the University community) from sexual or gender-based misconduct, including discrimination, harassment, and assault. The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance recognizes that graduate and professional students face very specific challenges because of their unique roles in the University community. The Title IX office provides targeted training and education. 

If you need information on counseling, health, or related services, the Title IX staff can provide referrals to both on- and off-campus providers. 

If you need a change in your academic schedule, a No Contact Order with another Pitt affiliate, or other accommodations, Title IX staff can assist you.

If you want to file a formal complaint with the University or the University of Pittsburgh Police Department, Title IX staff can walk you through the available options and provide you with contacts in the appropriate offices.

We encourage all members of our community to report incidents of sexual harassment or misconduct. If you prefer, you can anonymously report an incident using the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion incident report form, which goes directly to the Title IX coordinator.

If you need additional resources or aren’t sure where to start, find more info at Resources and Support Services, e-mail titleixcoordinator@pitt.edu or call 412-648-7860.

External Resources

Pittsburgh Action Against Rape 

Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) is dedicated to assisting victims of sexual abuse and ending sexual violence in Allegheny County. Their experienced, trained counselors and advocates provide services that are completely confidential. Helpline counselors and staff are available to talk with survivors, their families and friends, and providers about sexual violence. The helpline also can connect individuals to in-person support at emergency departments and police stations.

Victims often experience depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. PAAR provides individual counseling, group counseling, and wellness series for adults. The wellness workshops are meant to be a place to explore different self-care practices while connecting to others in a safe environment.

The 24-hour helpline is 1-866-END-RAPE (363-7273). 

Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh 

The Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh is more than an emergency shelter for women experiencing domestic violence and their children. It also is a safe harbor that provides specialized care and support for women who have experienced all types of intimate partner violence, from physical to emotional, through emergency shelter, legal advocacy, a 24-hour hotline, support groups, and more.

The 24-hour hotline is 412-687-8005.