Welcome to the School of Public and International Affairs — we're so glad you're here.
The School of Public and International Affairs will hold its Fall Orientation for all incoming students Friday August 21st in the University Club.
Meet your new classmates, engage with faculty members, hear from your academic advising and career development teams, and learn more about opportunities and resources available to you both as SPIA students and within the broader University of Pittsburgh community. Attendance is highly encouraged but not mandatory. The event is open to new students only, guests are not permitted.
Please note, the official address of this event is University Club, 123 University Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. For directions, please reference this Campus Map. Parking information can be found here.
If you plan to attend, please register by Thursday, August 13th at the link provided here.
Tentative Schedule of Events
- 8:00 - 8:30 am: Registration and Breakfast
- 8:30 - 8:45 am: Welcome
- 8:45 - 9:00 am: Find Your People: Discover Your Community and Connect
- 9:00 - 9:45 am: AI at SPIA: Expectations, Ethics, and Best Practices
- 9:45 - 10:00 am: Career Development: Start Early, Stay Ahead
- 10:00 - 11:15 am: Faculty Spotlight: Big Policy Questions
- 11:15 am - 12:00 pm: Alumni Panel: From SPIA to Public Service
- 12:00 - 1:00 pm: Lunch
- 1:00 -1:45 pm: Mini-Policy Session: Introduction to Policy Writing
- 1:45 - 2:15 pm: Student Resources at SPIA and Across Pitt
- 2:15 - 2:30 pm: Current Students Q&A: Ask Us Anything
- 2:30 - 3:00 pm: Resource Fair
Additional Orientation Resources
The University of Pittsburgh plans numerous other events to orient new graduate, professional, and international students to Pitt and Pittsburgh. These sessions are optional and not tied to SPIA, but may offer valuable information and ways to learn about the University. More information about some of these events can be found below.
- Monday, August 10th : International Student Orientation - The Office of International Services (OIS) will host a welcome session from 4-6 PM in 120 Lawrence Hall. More details here
- Tuesday, August 11th : Immigration Check-Ins and Resource Fair - The Immigration Check-Ins and Resource Fair will be hosted by the Office of International Services (OIS) from 1:00 - 4:00 PM in the Connelly Ballroom in Alumni Hall. More details here
- Tuesday, August 18th : University-wide Graduate Orientation - Hosted by the Office of the Provost, Graduate Studies, this event is open to all incoming graduate and professional students. Meet key administrative and students leaders, attend the Resource Fair to speak with representatives from over 60 units across campus, and network with your fellow graduate students at the welcome picnic. More details here
