The University, SHRS and the Department of Physical Therapy offer an extensive array of student services, including but not limited to those related to academics, disability and financial aid. A complete listing of services and contact information is outlined in the DPT Student Handbook.
| Student Services | Residential DPT Students | Hybrid DPT Students |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| Disability | ✅ | ✅ |
| Financial Aid/Scholarship | ✅ | ✅ |
| Counseling | ✅ | ✅ |
| Health and Wellness | ✅ | ✅ |
Academic
Students participating in the DPT program will have access to services related to individualized tutoring and academic assistance through core DPT faculty, associated faculty, teaching and lab assistants, DPT upperclassmen, and/or other content experts such as clinical faculty. The Hybrid offering will provide students access to these academic support services through email, videoconferencing, face-time apps, document sharing technology, phone communication, and face-to-face interactions with distance clinical-skills mentors as well as immersion faculty while on campus. When Hybrid students are on-site for their immersions, faculty advisors will be available to provide academic assistance.
In addition, several other University and school resources are available to all students and are noted in the Student Handbook. These resources include, University and SHRS technology resources (IT support), the University Center for Teaching and Learning, and student hardware and software accessibility support (available at no charge to the student). Students will also have access to the University and Schools of the Health Sciences library systems.
Finally, all students may access the University’s Academic Resource Center which provides tutoring services, writing skills workshops, reviewers for papers, study skills workshops, as well as many other academic services (statistics, Registrar’s office).
Disability
Pitt has comprehensive resources available to our DPT students through its Disability Resources and Services Center (DRSC). A list of services and contact information is included on the University website and in the Student Handbook. The DRSC information is readily accessible on-line or by telephone. Specific contact information for the DRSC is also provided on all program course syllabi. Services include assessing and identifying need for accommodations, applying for services, a peer mentor program, and transitional resources.
Financial Aid
Any student who may have financial aid questions or concerns, please contact Thomas Damski (tjdst27@pitt.edu) in the Office of Financial Aid. You can read more about financial aid in the DPT Student Handbook.
Counseling
The University of Pittsburgh Counseling Center provides a host of resources for students, including: crisis, racial trauma & self-care, LGBTQIA, substance use, mental health apps, campus-related, and Diversity-related resources. While some resources are campus-specific, most are accessible online and in person, or are national-level resources that can accessed by students across the country.
Therapy Assistance Online (TAO) is a self-paced, easily accessible private library of engaging, interactive programs to “learn life skills and to help students bounce back from disappointments or stumbling blocks in life.” This service is accessible through the University of Pittsburgh Counseling Center and is available to all students.
We have recently partnered with Compsych to provide mental health services to our hybrid students. Compsych is the pioneer and world’s largest provider of assistance programs, servicing more than 53,000 organizations and 118 million individuals throughout the U.S. and 170 countries. The platform fully integrates behavioral health and wellness, along with employee assistance programs–and more recently COVID-19 -related needs. Services rendered through Compsych will be billed through the student’s medical insurance provider.
All DPT students have access to Thrivingcampus.com, an online service that allows our students to access a list of off-campus, licensed mental health clinicians, many of whom specialize in working with students. The website includes various guides and resources that assist students through the process of securing off-campus outpatient care.
Health and Wellness
While Hybrid DPT students will not have direct access to traditional campus health and wellness services, the University does provide a host of accessible resources related to student health and wellness (like nutrition, tobacco cessation, recovery program, Everfi online modules, to name a few). To ensure that students have access to health and wellness resources local to their residence, students will be required to show evidence of personal health insurance. For those without insurance, the University can assist with finding a suitable insurance plan that meets the students’ needs. Proof of Insurance will be required before students can be registered for any courses.
University Student Services also has a strong Campus Recreation Virtual Resource page. This unique virtual service provides opportunities for students to stay active, relieve stress, maintain overall health and wellness, and simply have fun.