Important Messages...
- The deadline to cancel housing and receive a refund of the housing deposit is July 15.
- The deadline to cancel housing and receive a refund of housing and dining fees is the first day of classes.
- Students who cancel their housing after the University has completed 60% of the term are not eligible for a refund.
- Students who cancel their housing may or may not be eligible for a refund of their housing deposit. This determination is made by whether the student has a Qualifying Reason or Unqualified Reason for cancelling.
Changing Rooms
Under normal conditions, all housing spaces are frozen for the two weeks of classes. Room changes are also contingent upon the campus' risk posture during the COVID-19 pandemic. All students residing on campus will be informed, via email, when the room change process opens. To access the room change request, go to the Johnstown Campus Housing & Dining Services task center at my.pitt.edu. Please note:
- It is strongly recommended that you speak to the student(s) residing in the room, suite, apartment or townhouse before requesting the move.
- If you are requesting to move to a completely empty room by yourself, you must complete a private room request form and you will be charged the private room rate.
- If you think a room is empty, that does not necessarily mean it is available.
- Room change requests will be reviewed Monday through Friday. Students will be notified if the request is approved or denied. If approved, students will be sent instructions regarding how to complete the moving process.
- Students must return their old room key to an RA in their current building after moving.
Housing Cancellations
The deadline for current and incoming students to cancel an existing housing contract and be eligible for a refund of their housing deposit is July 15 for the fall term, and December 15 for the spring term.
Barring any outstanding balance on the student’s account, all eligible students whose cancellations are received on or before the deadline will receive a full refund of the initial $150 housing deposit. Students cancelling to commute are not eligible to receive a refund of the housing deposit. Please note that cancelling your housing for the fall term also cancels your housing for the spring term unless you indicate otherwise on the cancellation form.
*Cancelling a housing contract to commute from home or an off-campus location or due to dismissal from the university will result in forfeiture of the housing deposit and/or appropriate penalties. Please review the Housing and Dining Services Contract for more details.
Qualifying Reasons for Housing Cancellations:
Students who cancel their fall term housing on or before July 15 or who cancel their spring term housing on or before the last day of the fall semester will be eligible for a refund of their housing deposit if the cancellation is due to a Qualifying Reason:
- graduation,
- study abroad with a University-approved program,
- in certain circumstances, completing an internship, student teaching, or clinical placements,
- verified medical reason (with documentation from a healthcare provider confirming that release from the contact is required)
- military service.
Supporting documents may include but are not limited to a letter from the Study Abroad Office, a copy of an approved application for graduation, a letter from Career Services confirming an internship, etc.
Unqualified Reasons for Housing Cancellations:
The University will not refund the housing deposit for students who cancel their housing due to any of the following Unqualified Reasons:
- resigning from the University,
- relocating to another Pitt campus,
- transferring to another college
- financial reasons
- any reason not listed under qualifying reasons (except if moving off campus or commuting).
Cancellation Process
Before canceling housing, we encourage students to read the terms and conditions contained in their signed Housing and Dining Services contract so they are familiar with any penalties they might incur. When a housing cancellation is submitted online after the semester has begun, a student is allowed 24 hours to remove his/her belongings and return the room key (mailroom keys should be returned to the mailroom). A student's housing is not officially canceled until the online cancellation form has been submitted and all steps in the check-out process (see below) have been completed..
To cancel your housing, go to my.pitt.edu:
- Navigate to Johnstown Campus Housing & Dining Services task center
- Click the Cancel Housing button
- Follow the on-screen instructions. You will receive an email confirmation that you have successfully completed the request.
Check-Out Process
When a student moves off campus during the semester, the following tasks must be completed before the housing cancellation becomes official.
- Remove all belongings from the room. Belongings left in a room beyond 5 business days after moving out will be considered abandoned and disposed of by the University with no liability.
- Check out with one of the RAs in the building/area. Students should make arrangements in advance in order to ensure the availability of an RA at the time of departure The RA will collect the room key and perform a check-out room inspection. If, for some reason, an RA is not available when the student departs, the room key must be returned to the Office of Housing, Dining Services & Residence Life (130 Student Union) during regular business hours. If departing after hours and an RA is not available, the key should be returned to Campus Police. For security purposes, keys cannot be left in the room or given to a roommate to return. Students who fail to return their room key properly will be subject to a fine for a lock/core change and new keys.