Be a Good Neighbor

Be a Good Neighbor-girls holding t.shirts

A comprehensive student guide details how students can lead safe and successful lives in the community beyond the Pittsburgh campus. Other materials, informational presentations, and events are made available to students, such as Student Resident Resource Workshops and Tenent Town Halls and Be a Good Neighbor block parties, which provide informal meet-and-greet opportunities for students and long-term residents to get to know each other. Forming positive relationships and establishing communication can help to reduce misunderstandings or conflicts within the neighborhood.

There are several practical reasons why students should develop good relationships with their neighbors—many of whom would welcome an opportunity to help students and even watch out for them and their property. Many residents help students adapt to living on their own away from home for the first time; students often return the favor by helping their neighbors with tasks such as shoveling snow. It is recommended that, if possible, students approach their neighbors proactively and get to know them, as that connection could prove to be beneficial.

To get involved with the Be a Good Neighbor program or to share any neighborhood updates or concerns, please contact the University of Pittsburgh Office of Engagement and Community Affairs or speak with a representative from the Student Government Board or the Office of Off Campus Living. The Office of Off Campus Living provides students with resources to find housing options as well as equipping them with the tools they need to live successfully off campus. E-mail ocl@bc.pitt.edu, call 412-624-6998, or visit ocl.pitt.edu for more information about off campus living resources.

To learn more about community initiatives, e-mail cgrinfo@pitt.edu, or call 412-383-5600.

The University of Pittsburgh Be a Good Neighbor Campaign

Facilitated by the Office of Engagement and Community Affairs with support from the Division of Student Affairs and the Pitt Police, works closely with students, local residents, and community-based organizations to ensure Pitt and its students are good neighbors within the communities closest to campus. The campaign educates students about the importance of being a good neighbor, helps to build relationships between local residents and students, and encourages responsible behavior by students on and off campus. As part of the Be a Good Neighbor programs, Pitt involves faculty, staff, and students across the entire campus in significant days of service supporting community organizations and resident associations adjacent to campus.

Oakland: A Diverse Community

Oakland is a very diverse neighborhood, with the interaction of college students from three Oakland universities and non-student long-term residents. This blending, especially in urban settings, can lead to conflicts on a range of issues, including off-campus parties and littering. 

It is the expectation that Pitt students are always in control of their behavior and that they are respectful of the right of their neighbors to quiet enjoyment of their premises. This  includes being respectful of their neighbors, especially while attending parties.

As a student, whether you live on campus or off campus, you are encouraged to live by the common values expressed in the principles outlined in the Pitt Promise at all times.