Horizon Scholars

About the Program

The University of Pittsburgh’s Horizon Scholars program provides holistic support to current students with lived experience in the foster care system, empowering them to successfully navigate their academic journey at Pitt. This university-wide initiative is led by the Care and Resource Support Office in collaboration with Educational Outreach Center, Provost’s Office, School of Social Work, Business and Auxiliary Services, Student Success, Residence Life and the Posner Foundation.

Horizon Scholars is specifically designed to address the systemic barriers and unique challenges that often impact student persistence, retention, and degree completion. Our comprehensive suite of services includes housing assistance, academic support and planning, financial wellness education, access to employment, social and emotional support, resource navigation, and mentorship, the program fosters student success and a strong sense of belonging from enrollment through graduation.

Guiding Principles

• All students should have opportunities to pursue their talents, passions, and goals.
• Students bring their own unique combinations of identities, experiences, strengths, and opportunities for growth.
• Horizon Scholars program is designed to empower students to have the skills, agency, social supports, and problem-solving skills to direct their futures.
• Students need to be “met where they are” to build upon their existing skills and approaches to life, while providing guidance and supports as needed.
• As with all students, supporting Horizon Scholar’s will involve a collaborative approach that activates segments of the university community to serve as mentors, peer support and campus resources. As a community, we recognize the need to support each other to grow, learn, Staff Mentor, and succeed.
• Our approach balances personalized attention with systemic consistency. We aim to create a support experience that is flexible enough to honor individual needs, yet standardized enough to be fair, dependable, and scalable.

Who Are Horizon Scholars?

Our program is grounded in the belief that students who have experienced disrupted caregiving, housing instability, or inconsistent adult support and who demonstrate remarkable resilience in the face of these challenges deserve a consistent, equitable, and structured foundation of support throughout their college journey.

Apply to Join the Horizon Scholars Community

• Step 1: Complete the Fall 2025-Spring 2026 Resource Interest Agreement Here
  • This form lets you share your areas of interest and the types of resources you’d like to explore during the academic year. It helps staff understand what supports may be most useful to you.
• Step 2: Complete the Fall 2025-Spring 2026 Resource Intent Agreement Here
  • This form confirms your intent to participate in specific resources or programs. It indicates your commitment to engaging with the opportunities available.
• Step 3: Complete the Fall 2025-Spring 2026 Resource Meeting Consent Agreement Here
  • This form provides consent for staff to schedule and hold resource meetings with you. It ensures you’re comfortable with participation and gives permission to connect about available support.

Disclosure Statement

Please note that completion of the Fall 2025–Spring 2026 Resource Interest Agreement, Resource Intent Agreement, and Resource Meeting Consent Agreement is entirely voluntary. Students are not required to complete these forms if they do not wish to participate in the resource opportunities or related meetings.

Choosing not to complete the forms will not negatively affect your standing as a student, your access to academic programs, or your ability to utilize the general services available to all students. These agreements are designed solely to assist in tailoring additional support and opportunities for those who express interest.

We encourage students to complete the forms if they feel that participation may be beneficial to their academic, personal, or professional development. However, if you are not interested at this time, no further action is required on your part.