Frequently Asked Questions

All new transfer students attend Transfer Pioneer Day, except new COPA transfer students, who are required to attend Pioneer Experience.

Transfer Pioneer Day is a comprehensive one-day in-person program for transfer students, scheduled to take place on Friday, August 4th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with check-in beginning at 8:00 a.m.

The session will have presentation and small group components. In the presentation, you will hear from the Provost, Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students, Dean of Student Life, Director of the Professional Career-Readiness Center, and Director of the Center for Student Success.

There will also be a small group session with a faculty member and students from your area of study. 

At the end of the program students will have the opportunity to attend a student-led panel discussion, visit with University departments, or attend the Resource Fair that is scheduled to include representatives from areas of the University such as the Office of Equity and Inclusion, Spirtual Life, Professional Career-Readiness Center, and Public Safety, among others.

Should you need support or assistance to participate in Transfer Pioneer Day, please contact us as soon as possible at orientation@pointpark.edu or 412-392-3840.

For accommodation support requests for the upcoming academic year, such as academic, housing, or dining/meal plan, please register with the Office of Accessibility Services.

The Pioneer Experience Orientation Fee for transfer students is $100, except for COPA transfer students which is $250.

This fee is assessed upon course registration to the student's tuition account.

Students who do not attend the program will still be charged the fee, as it is tied to course registration.

Please email orientation@pointpark.edu for questions.

To receive your Pioneer Card, you need to submit two photos online (one from a government issued ID). For more information and instructions visit the ID Center page. 

You are able to pick up your Pioneer Card in the ID Center, after you have received the email from your Student Success Coordinator stating your fall class schedule has been created.

Otherwise, residential students who have uploaded their photos will receive their Pioneer Cards at check-in during Move-In. Commuter students who have uploaded their photos can pick up their Pioneer Cards from the Office of Student Life. 

Follow us on your favorite social media platform and join the group for your graduating class:

Students living on-campus (residential students) need to make sure they submit their housing and meal plan contract as soon as possible.  Visit the Contracts and Forms pages for more information.  In order for the contract to be considered fully complete, students must also pay the maintenance fee and tuition deposit.

In addition, the Living on Campus pages have dining and residence hall information, a Frequently Asked Questions page, and links to the Student Well-Being and Support pages.

Students are assigned a date to move onto campus.  Information can be found on the Move-In page.

Complete and submit your health records

Visit the Student Health Center page and review the list of health records to see which ones you are required to complete and submit. 

Review the Financial Aid web pages

There are a variety of forms that may need to be completed before you arrive. On the page with the forms, you can also find additional information about loans and payment plans.

Review the Student Accounts web pages

Use the links on the left-hand side of the Student Accounts web pages to navigate through the various pages of information that relate to your student (tuition) account.

Review the Student Health Insurance (SHIP) page

Review the information on the SHIP page to determine your whether or not you are required to waive or enroll in the Point Park student health insurance plan (SHIP), as well as deadlines, costs, and other enrollment and waiver information.

Students who are mandatory for insurance (athletes, dance and theatre majors, international students) are automatically charged for the insurance on their student account each fall and spring semester.  You are required to waive (opt-out) or enroll (opt-in) by the deadline. If you do nothing or do not successfully waive (opt-out) by the deadline, you will be enrolled in the SHIP and the charge will remain on your account for the full year.  If you wish to enroll in the SHIP, enroll (opt-in) as soon as possible so your insurance is active August 1st or as soon as possible after that.  Do NOT wait for the university to enroll you!  

Voluntary students (all other students) may choose to enroll in the SHIP by enrolling online, but are not required to do so, and do not submit a waiver. 

Due to space limitations, families are not able to attend Pioneer Experience.  However, there will be online family orientation for parents/guardians to become more knowledgeable about Point Park so they can then support their students during their time here. There will also be a companion publication that contains university information that pertains to new students.

More information will be available in the near future.  Please check back.

Helpful Links for Families:

• Parents and Families 
• Point Park Glossary
• A-Z Quicklinks

Should you need support or assistance to participate in Transfer Pioneer Day, please contact us as soon as possible at orientation@pointpark.edu or 412-392-3840.

For accommodation support requests for the upcoming academic year such as academic, housing, or dining/meal plan, please register with the Office of Accessibility Services.

We recommend you check the weather and the schedule of events each day and consider the following, depending on the forecast and the day's activities:

• Weather-appropriate, comfortable clothing
• Comfortable shoes, as there is a good bit of activity and walking that takes place
• A light jacket or sweater for cool days or indoor programs, as some of the rooms are cool
• An umbrella or rain jacket for rainy days
• Sunscreen for sunny days when there are outdoor activities
• A refillable water bottle is a MUST

The Pioneer Experience Orientation Fee for first-year students and COPA transfer students is $250; the fee for all other transfer students is $100.

This fee is assessed upon course registration to the student's tuition account.

Students who do not attend the program will still be charged the fee, as it is tied to course registration.

Please email orientation@pointpark.edu for questions.

To receive your Pioneer Card, you need to submit two photos online (one from a government issued ID). For more information and instructions visit the ID Center page. 

To pick up your Pioneer Card before Pioneer Experience, you are able to do so in the ID Center, after you have received the email from your Student Success Coordinator stating your fall class schedule has been created.

Otherwise, residential students who have uploaded their photos will receive their Pioneer Cards at check-in during Move-In. Commuter students who have uploaded their photos can pick up their Pioneer Cards from the Office of Student Life.  

Follow us on your favorite social media platform and join the group for your graduating class:

Pioneer Experience check-in will take place during Move-In check-in.  

Move-In for students living on campus and attending Pioneer Experience will occur Saturday, August 19th - Tuesday, August 22nd.  Students are assigned a date to move onto campus.  Information can be found on the Move-In page.

Students living on-campus (residential students) need to make sure they submit their housing and meal plan contract as soon as possible.  Visit the Contracts and Forms pages for more information.  In order for the contract to be considered fully complete, students must also pay the maintenance fee and tuition deposit.

In addition, the Living on Campus pages have dining and residence hall information, a Frequently Asked Questions page, and links to the Student Well-Being and Support pages.

Students living off-campus (commuters) will be able to check-in immediately prior to the welcome session on Wednesday, August 23rd. The schedule will be available online closer to the date of the event and is also sent to students at their Point Park email. Please note that the schedule is subject to change.

On-campus housing is not available to commuter students during Pioneer Experience and students are expected to commute to campus each day for the program.  Meals will be provided throughout Pioneer Experience, per the schedule which will be provided to students prior to the event.  

Parking will not be validated. See the university parking page for suggested parking locations. You can also visit Parkpgh.org to view additional nearby locations. 

Students living off-campus are encouraged to review the Commuter Resources pages that include information on lounges, lockers, meals (including meal plans and Flex dollars for commuters), a renter's guide, transportation, and parking.  There is also a link to the Student Well-Being and Support pages.

At Pioneer Experience, we hope to create circumstances for you to meet a variety of students in your class.  Students will be assigned to groups at random from residence halls, so your roommate may or may not be in your group. Students are not be able to request their group assignment.

Yes, but you will not exclusively be in a group with only commuter students. At Pioneer Experience, we hope to create circumstances for you to meet a variety of students in your class.

Complete and submit your health records

Visit the Student Health Center page and review the list of health records to see which ones you are required to complete and submit. 

Review the Financial Aid web pages

There are a variety of forms that may need to be completed before you arrive. On the page with the forms, you can also find additional information about loans and payment plans.

Review the Student Accounts web pages

Use the links on the left-hand side of the Student Accounts web pages to navigate through the various pages of information that relate to your student (tuition) account.

Review the Student Health Insurance (SHIP) page

Review the information on the SHIP page to determine your whether or not you are required to waive or enroll in the Point Park student health insurance plan (SHIP), as well as deadlines, costs, and other enrollment and waiver information.

Students who are mandatory for insurance (athletes, dance and theatre majors, international students) are automatically charged for the insurance on their student account each fall and spring semester.  You are required to waive (opt-out) or enroll (opt-in) by the deadline. If you do nothing or do not successfully waive (opt-out) by the deadline, you will be enrolled in the SHIP and the charge will remain on your account for the full year.  If you wish to enroll in the SHIP, enroll (opt-in) as soon as possible so your insurance is active August 1st or as soon as possible after that.  Do NOT wait for the university to enroll you!  

Voluntary students (all other students) may choose to enroll in the SHIP by enrolling online, but are not required to do so, and do not submit a waiver. 

All new first-year and transfer students starting at Point Park in spring 2023 attend Spring Pioneer Experience.  

Students may also bring up to two guests with them.  If bringing guests, you are asked to include them on your Pioneer Experience Registration Form.

Please Note: This event is not appropriate for younger children, and childcare services are not provided.

Spring Pioneer Experience is a comprehensive one-day in-person program for all new first-year and transfer students starting at Point Park in the spring semester.  It is scheduled to take place on Friday, January 6, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with check-in beginning at 9:00 a.m.

The session will have presentations in which you will hear from the Provost, Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students, Dean of Student Life, Director of the Professional Career-Readiness Center, and Director of the Center for Student Success.

There will also be a resource fair, as well as “Meet the Schools” for students to be able to ask visit with their school and ask questions. At the end of the program students will have the opportunity to visit with University departments.

Should you need support or assistance to participate in Transfer Pioneer Day, please contact us as soon as possible at orientation@pointpark.edu or 412-392-3840.

For accommodation support requests for the upcoming academic year such as academic, housing, or dining/meal plan, please register with the Office of Accessibility Services.

The Spring Pioneer Experience Orientation Fee is $100.

This fee is assessed upon course registration to the student's tuition account.

Students who do not attend the program will still be charged the fee, as it is tied to course registration.

Please email orientation@pointpark.edu for questions.

To receive your Pioneer Card, you need to submit two photos online (one from a government issued ID). For more information and instructions visit the ID Center page. 

You are able to pick up your Pioneer Card in the ID Center, after you have received the email from your Student Success Coordinator stating your class schedule has been created.

Students living on-campus (residential students) need to make sure they submit their housing and meal plan contract as soon as possible.  Visit the Contracts and Forms pages for more information.  In order for the contract to be considered fully complete, students must also pay the maintenance fee and tuition deposit.

In addition, the Living on Campus pages have dining and residence hall information, a Frequently Asked Questions page, and links to the Student Well-Being and Support pages.

For additional questions, or to make arrangements for spring move-in, please contact the Office of Student Life at 412-392-8026 or studentlife@pointpark.edu.

Complete and submit your health records

Visit the Student Health Center page and review the list of health records to see which ones you are required to complete and submit. 

Review the Financial Aid web pages

There are a variety of forms that may need to be completed before you arrive. On the page with the forms, you can also find additional information about loans and payment plans.

Review the Student Accounts web pages

Use the links on the left-hand side of the Student Accounts web pages to navigate through the various pages of information that relate to your student (tuition) account.

Review the Student Health Insurance (SHIP) page

Review the information on the SHIP page to determine your whether or not you are required to waive or enroll in the Point Park student health insurance plan (SHIP), as well as deadlines, costs, and other enrollment and waiver information.

Students who are mandatory for insurance (athletes, dance and theatre majors, international students) are automatically charged for the insurance on their student account each fall and spring semester.  You are required to waive (opt-out) or enroll (opt-in) by the deadline. If you do nothing or do not successfully waive (opt-out) by the deadline, you will be enrolled in the SHIP and the charge will remain on your account for the full year.  If you wish to enroll in the SHIP, enroll (opt-in) as soon as possible so your insurance is active August 1st or as soon as possible after that.  Do NOT wait for the university to enroll you!  

Voluntary students (all other students) may choose to enroll in the SHIP by enrolling online, but are not required to do so, and do not submit a waiver.