Starting college and moving onto campus or a new off-campus apartment has a learning curve. You need to find where to get a late-night bite, the best hangout spots, and where your classes are. You also need to figure out how to use all the networks, services, apps, and online tools at Pitt … so there may come a time when you need tech support! Pitt IT is here to help, no matter where you are or what time it is. Here are six ways we make that easy for you.

1. Drop-In Support

Drop-In Support (pi.tt/disd) is here to provide in-person, hands-on support for your device. This is perfect for installing software, removing viruses, or troubleshooting a tricky issue. Just bring your device to either the University Store on Fifth or G-67 in the Cathedral of Learning to work one-on-one with a help consultant — no appointment necessary. For particularly time-consuming processes, you can even drop off your device and they’ll give you a call when it’s ready.  Note that Drop-In Support cannot be used for hardware repair. You’ll need to contact the store/site where you purchased it or the device manufacturer for hardware issues.

For new students or those with a new laptop or phone, Drop-In Support can completely set up your device for you and configure it to work at Pitt, complete with Wi-Fi connections, multifactor authentication, email, printing, connecting to the virtual lab, and downloading Microsoft 365 apps.

2. Technology Help Desk

The Technology Help Desk (pi.tt/help) is your go-to resource whenever you have an IT question or problem. As the name implies, it’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to help resolve any issue you experience. When you contact the Help Desk, you’ll be speaking to a live person specifically trained in Pitt’s computing environment. If needed, you can share your screen with a consultant or let them take remote control of your device.

There are several ways to contact the Help Desk. For immediate issues, call 412-624-HELP, send an email to helpdesk@pitt.edu, or start a live chat. To report a service issue (like Wi-Fi isn’t connecting or printers aren’t working) or to ask a general question, you can also submit an online help ticket.

3. Tech Ambassadors

Pitt IT Tech Ambassadors aren’t professional support consultants. They’re students just like you who happen to love tech, know all about the IT services available at Pitt, and want to make sure you know all about them too! Ambassadors can help you figure out what free tech is available, show you how to get it, and tell you what it does. Look for them around campus, at campus events, or follow them on Instagram (@UPittIT). Check out the Tech Ambassadors Teams page and shoot them a question, they will be more than happy to answer it! They are also available to speak to you and your friends, a club, dorm floor, or fraternity/sorority. Whether you want to learn how to perfect your LinkedIn profile, how to coordinate on group projects, or learn popular Excel functions, they’ve got you! Just request a presentation!

4. Password Help

Remembering your passwords is a huge pain. So make sure you know what to do if you forget your Pitt password. The easiest way to recover it is with the Password Reset Service, so you can just click “Forgot Password” from the Pitt Passport login screen. However, you need to set up the security questions in advance for this to work! Go to accounts.pitt.edu > Login & Security > Change Password and select Update Security Questions. (If you haven’t set up your security questions or you forget the answers, you can stop into any Student Computing Lab to have a consultant reset it for you.)

Of course, you have way more passwords than just your Pitt account. Be safe and use a different one for each online account. To keep track of all of them, use Pitt Password Manager (LastPass). It can generate unbreakable passwords, save them in your vault, and autofill them on any device. You only need to remember the master password. We recommend a passphrase that’s long, but easy to remember, like “IHave2BrothersNamedJohn&Gus!”.

5. Technology Website/How-To Documentation

Many people are capable of handling their own tech with a little guidance. That’s why Pitt IT provides step-by-step instructions for many of the most frequently asked questions right on the technology.pitt.edu website.

Many common processes (like setting up an account or getting connected) are on the dedicated page for the service, so just search for it using the search bar in the upper right corner. You can also check out the collection of How-To Documents from pi.tt/help.

6. LinkedIn Learning

If you’re looking to learn a whole new software or technology skill, on-demand webinars are just the trick! You’re probably a pro at using YouTube to find tutorials, but take it to the next level with professionally-made, high-quality courses from LinkedIn Learning. (There are lots of non-technical courses also, such as leadership, communication, and time management skills.) Simply log into https://linkedinlearning.pitt.edu and search for the on-demand course that’s right for you. You can even complete full learning paths to earn a certificate. You can connect your LinkedIn Learning account to your LinkedIn profile, giving your resume a real boost to set you apart.

You’re Not Alone

Whether your IT issue has stopped you in your tracks or just left you a little frustrated, you aren’t on your own. Get to know the help resources available to you so you can fix it and forget it.

**A version of this blog initially appeared on 08/29/2022 and has been updated for added content**