Spring is upon us! The magnolia trees are in bloom, the gardens across campus are bursting with color, and beautiful birdsong greets us each morning with a cheerful welcome. As we approach the close of another academic year, we want to take a moment to reflect, recognize, and celebrate you—our students. Whether this was your first year or your final semester, your presence and voice have helped shape a campus that is more inclusive, vibrant, and full of possibility.

To our graduating students—congratulations! As you move on to the next chapter, know that you carry with you the strength of your story and the impact you've made throughout your Pitt journey. You ought to be proud of your accomplishments! We can’t wait to see how you continue to lead and inspire in whatever path you choose next.

To those returning this fall (or staying through the summer)—we look forward to welcoming you back! We’re excited about what’s ahead and remain committed to partnering with you to ensure that our campus continues to foster an inclusive and equitable environment for all students.

In the meantime, best of luck in these final weeks of the semester and we wish you a restful and well-deserved summer ahead.

Take care and see you soon!

Sincerely,
The DRS Team

Alternative Testing Requests For Finals: All final exam requests must be submitted at a minimum of Seven [7] business days before the exam. All exams during finals week must be submitted as the exam type: 'Final Exam (week of April 24-30).'

Business days exclude weekends and University observed holidays. Please note the Alternative Testing process is for in-person on-paper exams only. See: Alternative Testing Request Instructions for Students. If you have any questions, please contact DRS!

Log in to the Student Portal to request accommodations, exams, and appointments with your disability specialist.

Our next College to Career virtual workshop will be taking place on Thursday, April 10th. 

This will be our last workshop for this academic year. Where did the time go?! The topic will be Self-Advocacy. We will be discussing information related to self-advocacy skills, understanding your needs, when and how to advocate, how to effectively problem solve, and much more!

As a reminder, this series is offered to undergraduate students who are registered with DRS, and is designed to prepare students with disabilities entering the workforce by providing education related to resume writing, job selection, self-advocacy, disability disclosure, accommodations, and interview etiquette.

All workshops will take place from 3:00pm-4:00pm via Zoom.

April is Paralyzed Veterans, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Parkinson's, National Donate Life Awareness Month, among many others.

April 2: World Autism Awareness Day
April 6: Bohring-Opitz Syndrome Awareness Day
April 7: World Health Day
April 8: Cushing Disease Awareness Day
April 10: National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day
April 11: Parkinson's Disease International Awareness Day
April 13: Sarcoidosis Awareness Day
April 17: World Hemophilia Day
April 19: Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Action Day
April 22 through 29 is World Primary Immunodeficiency (PI) Week
April 23: Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) Awareness Day
April 25: World Malaria Day
April 28: World Day for Safety and Health at Work

And it's Earth Month, so check out what the Sustainability Office is doing.

Peer Mentoring Program Awards and Mentor Celebration
Wednesday, April 16th
Time: 4:30-6:00 pm
Location: WPU Room 837

Two awards will be presented to the mentors nominated for their participation in the Peer Mentoring Program. All Peer Mentors will then be celebrated with food and a chance to reflect on their experience in the program.

Mentees can nominate their mentor, through the previously provided link, to receive one of two $250.00 Panther cards that we are giving away. The deadline is April 8th at noon.

Elections for DAPi Officers & Voting

This semester, DAPi elections will be held in the Spring. This process will be similar to the election process that took place in the Fall semester. If you have any questions about this process, or are interested in running, please reach out to any of the current officers! Here is a brief schedule:

• April 14th: Nominations open
• April 18th: Nominations close at 5:00pm
• April 21st: Voting begins
• April 22nd: Voting ends
• April 23rd: Winners announced

Any student graduating from Delta Alpha Pi can stop by at the end-of-semester event or the office (room 140 WPU) during office hours, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, to pick up their cords.

The Office of Planning, Design, and Construction is introducing three ways to keep you updated on campus changes due to preservation and construction projects. The goal is to help students, staff, and the Oakland community stay informed and navigate campus safely.

• NotifyU Text and Email Alerts - Receive text and email alerts from NotifyU about construction and facility updates, such as road closures, detours, and elevator outages. To subscribe, visit my.pitt.edu, search for NotifyU, select "Opt-In Lists," and check "Construction and Facilities." Alternatively, text “Sub [Your Pitt Username] CAF” to 1-970-610-6092.
   
• Map.pitt.edu - View construction updates on map.pitt.edu. Use the map to view active closures for Pitt projects by selecting "Construction" in the map key.
   
• Newsletter - PDC is launching a newsletter with updates on project progress, upcoming road or garage closures, and other news about campus construction. It will help you stay informed and plan for detours or delays. Subscribe now to ensure you receive the first edition!

The Inclusion and Belonging Place (IBP) is developed and operated as a partnership between the University Library System (ULS) and the Office for Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (OEDI). It is located on the first floor of Hillman Library, to the left of Saxby's Cafe.

View the ULS Event Policies and reserve the space on the ULS website or learn about other spaces available in the library.

End your Spring Semester strong! Are you preparing to search for a job or experiential learning opportunities (internships, research, etc.)? Join the Career Center for an engaging workshop to learn key strategies and set yourself up for success!

Learn best practices and strategies to find jobs and internships.
Jumpstart your preparation for upcoming career opportunities.
A chance to win a prize in a friendly Kahoot competition!
Take advantage of the last Career Center workshop of the Spring 2025 semester to work on your career development!

Workshop Details:
Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Location: William Pitt Union (WPU), Room 224

Lunch provided by Moe’s Southwestern Grill
(vegetarian and gluten-friendly options available)!

Register on Handshake today!

If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Gabby Brumond at gsb55@pitt.edu. Take-away summary sheets of the presentation will be provided to attendees!

Take some time to recharge during final exams and join the Student Success Hub for our “Fuel Up for Finals” event from noon to 3 pm daily April 21-25. Grab some snacks and de-stress with a different activity each day.

• Monday: Pizza with the VP: Visit with Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies Adam Lee to discuss your ideas and questions about things both in and outside the classroom.
• Tuesday: Chill Out with Ice Cream & Popsicles
• Wednesday: Paws Your Stress with Ruby the Therapy Dog
• Thursday: C3: Crafts, Coloring, and Cards
• Friday: Crunch Time with Snacks and Swag

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are conducting a remote research study to learn more about ADHD in women.
You may be eligible to participate if you:

• identify as a woman
• are between the ages of 18 and 22
• were first diagnosed with ADHD as an adult (age 18 or older)
• have been prescribed medication for the treatment of ADHD

Eligible individuals can earn up to $200 for participation.
If you are interested in learning more about this study, please contact Abbey Beattie at beattiead@upmc.edu or 412-638-4198 (voice or text).

Thursday, April 17 at 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Start Your Career Journey Today!
Looking for internships? Full-time, part-time opportunities? Meet members of the National Organization on Disability

Why Attend?

• Meet top employers offering roles in various industries
• Discover internships and full-time positions of your career goals
• Undergrads, grads, vocational program, a few years out of school, this is your chance to shine!
• Who Should Attend?
• Undergrad, graduate, doctorate students, graduates a few years out from school
• Have a 504, IEP, school accommodations anytime of your education
• Value accessible and inclusive opportunities
• Excited to connect with forward-thinking inclusive employers
• What You Need:
• Computer or mobile device with internet access
• Updated resume

Register Today and Secure Your Spot!

We are conducting a research study to better understand how young adults with mental health conditions, especially those who have been marginalized, define and experience community participation since COVID-19.

Your unique story is important! It can add to knowledge and understanding, which can lead to improvements in policies, systems, and supports for young adults who have been marginalized.

We are looking for Young Adults with mental health conditions who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or with experience in the justice or child welfare systems.

If you have any questions, please contact Mei Pearlstein, Research Coordinator I.

That's all for now! We'll see you next school year.