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This policy affirms Point Park University's commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and the pursuit of diversity. Point Park University does not discriminate on the basis of: sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, age (40 years and over), ancestry, individuals with disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, height, weight, genetic information, marital status, caregiver status or familial status and such discrimination is prohibited in the administration of any of its educational programs, activities or with respect to employment or admission to the University’s educational programs and activities.

This policy is in accord with local, state and federal laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and the Pittsburgh Human Relations Act. Inquiries regarding these regulations and policies, or complaints, should be referred to Point Park’s vice president of human resources at phone number 412-392-4727, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both. Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to Point Park University’s Title IX Coordinator, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both. Point Park University’s Title IX Coordinator is Stephanie Stark Poling, sstarkpoling@pointpark.edu, 412-392-3980, 201 Wood Street, Student Center, Room 104(A), Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

Point Park University’s Title IX nondiscrimination policy and grievance procedures can be located at: https://www.pointpark.edu/studentlife/titleix/index.
 
Reports of violations of this policy, including reports of conduct that may constitute sex discrimination, or complaints of sex discrimination under Title IX can be filed via the Incident Reporting Form online at pointpark.edu/incidentreport and will be processed by the University Office of Compliance and Integrity. Complaints may also be emailed to oci@pointpark.edu.

Point Park University’s Centers for Learning and Student Support (CLASS) provide academic support for students seeking help in their coursework. CLASS is located on the 5th floor of West Penn Hall.

CLASS offers both online and on-ground assistance through four distinct learning centers:

  • The Tutoring Center provides assistance with many courses offered each semester and is located at West Penn Hall 517.
  • The Writing Center offers support with writing assignments for any course. And is located at West Penn Hall 516.
  • The Math Center can help with all things math and is located at West Penn 519.
  • The Academic Coaching Center offers one-on-one recurring appointments for students who need support with navigating the academic responsibilities for the semester. Coaches can provide guidance on effective study strategies, such as organization, time management, note-taking techniques, and exam preparation. The Academic Coaching Center is located at West Penn 520 - 522.

NOTE: CLASS makes a reasonable effort to meet the academic-support needs of students in a wide variety of courses. However, we may not be able to honor every request due to limited staff availability or inability to locate a qualified tutor.

In alignment with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (1977), the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), as well as their subsequent amendments, Point Park University honors the needs of our disabled students and provides access supports to eligible students. Beyond accommodation, Point Park University is committed to creating and fostering environments where all enrolled students have the same opportunity to engage with and be successful on our campus. Access is a community project, and Point Park aims to create and sustain structures and assign responsibilities that ensure progress towards our collective commitment to accessibility.

The University Advising Center, located on the 5th floor of West Penn, is dedicated to assisting students in achieving their goals by providing clear academic guidance, connecting them to campus resources, and being a support up through graduation. Academic Advisors assist students with various academic processes and monitor degree progress to ensure timely graduation. The University Advising Center also works closely with undecided students to help them explore majors that match their career and personal interests. The UAC is a hub where all undergraduate students are welcomed whether they have an appointment or need immediate assistance. You can also reach them by calling 412) 392-8153. The Center serves as a bridge to many other departments, guidance and support.

Other ways the Center assists students:

  • Transitioning to college life
  • Registering and scheduling classes
  • Learning to navigate PointWeb, the vital web portal for student information
  • Determining an academic plan
  • Utilizing accessibility services and resources
  • Obtaining a tutor and writing support
  • Completing student forms
  • Discussing summer classes
  • Improving study skills
  • Finding a work-life balance
  • Being a bridge to other departments, guidance, and support
Each Point Park undergraduate student who has declared a major is assigned to a faculty member within their field of study who serves as a professional and scholarly mentor. Faculty mentors are the student's primary resource for discussing current trends in their industry, graduate school options, internships and career opportunities, professional networking and more.
The UAC urges strong partnerships with faculty to create a positive Point Park experience for all students. While faculty serve as professional mentors, academic advisors monitor students’ academic path to graduation and all aspects of registration.
On behalf of the entire Point Park University community, we remind students that it is important for you to take care of yourself this semester. Your well-being is essential for your ability to achieve your academic goals and overcome challenges that life can bring.
 
There are many helpful and free resources available on campus and an important part of the college experience is learning how to ask for help. The University Counseling Center maintains a Canvas Page you can access any time to learn more about their resources. This website is also a good place to start: https://bit.ly/2P3X6gE
 
If you or anyone you know experiences any academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or depression, you are strongly encouraged to seek support. The Point Park University Counseling Center, 5th floor of Lawrence, is here to help: call 412-392-3977, email counseling@pointpark.edu, and/or follow this link: bit.ly/PPUCounselingServices. The Counseling Center is open Monday - Friday from 8:30 am - 5 pm. If you need to speak with someone outside of these hours, please call Resolve Crisis Network at 888-796-8226 or call the National Suicide Crisis Line at 988.
 
Consider reaching out to a friend, staff, faculty, or family member you trust for help getting connected to the support that you need.
 
If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal or in danger of self-harm, call someone immediately, day or night:
 
Resolve Crisis Network: 888-796-8226
 
Point Park Safety Dispatch: 412-392-3960

Any student who has difficulty affording groceries or accessing sufficient food to eat every day, or who lacks a safe and stable place to live, and believes this may affect their performance in the course, is urged to contact the Director of Student Success 412-392-8022 or the Department of Community Engagement at communityengagement@pointpark.edu.  If you are comfortable, you can also notify the professor.

The University operates food and clothing support services for students on campus.  The Pioneer Pantry food pantry is volunteer run, offers contactless pickup and is free for all students. Students may place two food orders per month through the online ordering system at www.pioneerpantry.org.  The pantry is located on the first floor of Thayer Hall near the door leading to Third Avenue. 

The Department of Community Engagement also operates the Point Park Community Garden located on Ft. Pitt Boulevard behind West Penn Hall.  Students are encourages to help garden, relax in the space, and are offered food that is harvested from the garden through the Pioneer Pantry. Contact communityengagement@pointpark.edu for more information or to volunteer for the Pantry or Garden.

The University also supports the Bison Exchange, the University’s clothing pantry. Bison Exchange offers secondhand professional and casual clothes for students.  It is also volunteer run and is located on the 8th floor Lawrence Hall.  Contact bisonexchangethriftstore@pointpark.edu for more information or to volunteer.

The main goal of this department is Student Success. As a part of the University Advising Center, the Director of Student Success, works closely to monitor and provide outreach to students proactively and throughout the semester to assist students with any challenges they may face during their time at Point Park University. To assist in tracking and monitoring, the use of the Finishline/Early Alert system is a communication and tracking tool utilized by faculty and staff to help connect students who may be struggling academically, emotionally, financially, etc. with the Director of Student Success so that outreach and a connection to campus resources can be made. If you'd like more information, reach out to Director of Student Success, Hannah Colbert (hcolbert@pointpark.edu) or 412-392-8022.

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) gives you the opportunity to receive college credit for what you already know by earning qualifying scores on any of 33 examinations. Exam descriptions and information are available at: CollegeBoard CLEP

A score of at least 50 is required to receive credit. There are no exceptions! Some tests (such as languages) require higher scores. 

In order to receive credit, students must complete a Request for a Transfer of Credit form to be approved by the department chairperson. Please review the Post-Matriculation Transfer Credit Policy in the undergraduate catalog for complete information.