Frequently Asked Questions: Parents
As a parent of a college student, you may have questions and concerns about your son or daughter's new experiences at college. You may have received a Parent Q&A Guide from the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, which will answer many questions about the University. Here are some answers to other questions that are more specific to Arts and Sciences:
My daughter doesn't have a clue about a major—what is she going to do?
Don't worry—in the School of Arts and Sciences, students are encouraged to explore a wide range of options during their first two years of college. They get one-on-one assistance from advisors who only deal with Arts and Sciences undergraduates, and those advisors will help your students navigate the School and find their niche. Students typically declare a major or multiple majors at the end of their sophomore year or beginning of their junior year. Then they receive one-on-one assistance from an advisor in their major's department.
How does a degree in (subject name) translate into a job?
It's easy to get concerned about the future welfare of your child—after all, you're his or her parent! A liberal arts education will prepare your son or daughter for a lifetime of career options, because the skills learned in our curriculum can be applied to graduate school, work, or research. For example, clear writing is a skill that people need in every profession. They also need critical thinking skills. And both of those are important pieces of our Arts and Sciences curriculum. Learning how to solve problems, make decisions using scientific or statistical methods, understand international events and history—they're all essential to our curriculum. An Arts and Sciences degree equips our undergraduates with skills that can be used in a variety of professions. Here at the School of Arts and Sciences, for instance, our administrators come from a variety of liberal arts disciplines, including fine arts, Italian literature and language, and astrophysics.
Why won't you discuss my student's academic progress with me?
We understand your frustration. But by disclosing confidential information about a student's record without permission, our staff or faculty would be breaking federal law. The Buckley Amendment is part of the Family Educational Right to Privacy Act (commonly referred to as FERPA), which protects the privacy of the educational records of students over the age of 18. Because of this, Arts and Sciences staff and faculty are not allowed to discuss details of your son or daughter's student record unless your son or daughter signs a waiver giving up their right to privacy. For more information, please visit http://epic.org/privacy/education/ferpa.html.
What do I do if my son or daughter is on probation, suspended, or dismissed?
We want your student to succeed just as much as you do. Unfortunately, from time to time something goes wrong. There are many common reasons why students may do poorly in school, including poor studying habits, excessive partying, mental or physical health problems, time management issues, family or relationship crises, financial difficulty, or lack of maturity.
Although you might want to jump in and "solve" your student's problems, that probably isn't the best idea. Make your son or daughter take the responsibility for planning a course of action. Let them initiate phone calls and scheduling appointments, including appointments for tutoring or to speak with a faculty member about their academic performance. Talk with them constructively and offer advice when necessary.
The School of Arts and Sciences offers academic counseling to help students achieve academic success and get off probation. Students who have been suspended or dismissed may seek an appeal with an assistant dean by calling 412-624-6480 to make an appointment.
However, remember that a student's academic status may affect their financial aid or their housing contracts. If your son or daughter is suspended or dismissed, it is your responsibility to cancel their housing contract and to contact the Dean's Office when they're ready to return, so that they can receive a financial aid reinstatement form.
Where can I look for more information?
The titles below, recommended by our staff, contain useful tips on how to help yourself and your son or daughter through issues such as choosing a major, time management, identity and personal development, food, finances, navigating the transition to college life, and acclimating to the academic rigors of the University. There are many more books available at your public library or favorite bookstore. You may also want to visit Pitt's resource page for parents at www.pitt.edu/parents.html.
- Letting Go: A Parent's Guide to Understanding the College Years, Fourth Edition, by Karen Levin Coburn, Madge Lawrence Treeger, ISBN 0060521260
- Don't Tell Me What to Do, Just Send Money: The Essential Parenting Guide to the College Years, by Helen E. Johnson, Christine Schelhas-Miller, ISBN 0312263740
- You're On Your Own (But I'm Here if You Need Me): Mentoring Your Child During the College Years, by Marjorie Savage, ISBN 0743229126
Contact Information
| A&S Policies, Procedures, Appeals | 412-624-6480 |
| Academic Resource Center | 412-648-7920 |
| Advising Center | 412-624-6444 |
| Associate Dean's Office | 412-624-6480 |
| Career Services | 412-648-7130 |
| Counseling Center | 412-648-7930 |
| Disability Resources and Services | 412-648-7890 |
| Financial Aid | 412-624-7488 |
| Graduation, Changing Major, Student Records | 412-624-6776 |
| Housing, Dining, Student IDs | 412-648-1100 |
| Office of Experiential Learning | 412-624-6828 |
| Parking, Transportation and Services | 412-624-8612 |
| Registrar, Transcripts, Grades | 412-624-7600 |
| Residence Life | 412-648-1200 |
| Summer Sessions | 412-624-6600 |
| Student Health Service | 412-383-1800 |
| Study Abroad | 412-648-7413 |
| TTY | 412-383-7355 |
| University Honors College | 412-624-6880 |