Event Planning Resources

Reserved time is when the room is blocked in EMS and includes time for the building staff to set up your furniture. Event time is when you have access to the room. Please include personal set up and tear down time in your “event time”.

An event that is in tentative status is an event that is currently on hold until the event host completes any additional tasks the reservation office needs. Reasons for an event to be tentative may be, but not limited to: completing a food form, completing a contract form, providing additional details to the reservations office, or submitting a room diagram. If your event is "tentative" the room is on hold and other groups cannot book that same space and time.

The Student Organization Resource Center (SORC) on the 8th floor of the William Pitt Union can help student groups with contracting all types of services. Visit their office or the contract’s page of the SORC website at https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/sorc/funding/contracts/
Academic Departments and the Division of Student Affairs should refer to their department’s Dean for all contract inquiries.

You can request a table on our event reservation website, EMS. Once logged in, under the Create a Reservations link you should see options for Information Tables. Contact ems-help@pitt.edu if you do not see this option.

• Banner space must be reserved in EMS for the duration of the hanging. Space can be reserved for up to 14 days.
• Banner hanging costs approx. $250
• Banners must be provided by event sponsor with appropriate dimensions and include grommets in all four corners
  • Fifth Avenue side of building
    • Dimensions: 12 ft long x 3 ft wide
• Banners should be dropped off to the William Pitt Union information desk a minimum of one day before hanging
• Banner hanging should be coordinated by the event host and building management. Contact katytufts@pitt.edu to coordinate the date of hanging and tear down.
• Banners in the Quad can be reserved through Residence Life. Email Carly Ramer at reslife@pitt.edu to discuss this process.

Room requests should be made in advance through EMS. However, you can come to the information desk to make a last minute request for one of our open rooms. Day of requests are only open to individual's with a valid Pitt ID.

You can edit the furniture on EMS or you can contact the Reservations Office. Room set-ups are due 2 weeks before the event date.

You can come to the information desk to speak to the Reservations Office or the Manager on Duty. Late requests for furniture changes are not guaranteed.

See our WPU Max Capacities Guide on our Reservations webpage for information about room max capacities.

You can cancel your event through EMS or email the Reservations Office at wmpittun@pitt.edu.

Vendors must submit a Vendor Request Form and pay a fee. Once you submit the form, you will work directly with the WPU Reservations Office.

If your event is less than 14 days away, you can make an additional reservation in EMS for another space. If you are within a 14 day window, check to make sure the room is available and contact wmpittun@pitt.edu to see if a last minute request can be made.

If you would like to open the building early or stay beyond closing time for an event, you will need to contact the Reservations Office at wmpittun@pitt.edu to make a formal request. Please note due to additional staffing there will be costs associated with this request.

If your event is deemed as being “high risk” for participants, a release waiver is required through SORC. Visit https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/sorc/funding/contracts/ to access the release waivers and print copies for your participants to sign.

There are several ways to collect money for an event or fundraiser.

The William Pitt Union Ticket Office provides cashboxes for departments or student organizations free of charge. Unless other arrangements are made, the cash box (alone or in conjunction with the ticket window) can contain small bills to make change. To request a cashbox, submit a Cashbox Request Form.

The William Pitt Union Ticket Office can sell tickets Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm for departments or student organizations. All requests must be submitted online at the WPU Ticket Sales Request Form.

The student unions do not provide tablecloths. Pitt Catering Co. can provide tablecloths for your event, but there is a fee for the linens. Contact catering@bc.pitt.edu to request tablecloths and pricing.

Event hosts are not allowed to hang or tape anything on the windows, pillars, walls, or doors. Easels can be rented from the WPU info desk to help with signage and some decor. Table decorations are allowed.

1. Pitt Catering Co. - Pitt Catering Co. is the approved caterer on campus and has the right to bid for your business. In order to see catering options go to https://dineoncampus.com/pitt/catering-guides for more details and contact catering@pc.pitt.edu for catering requests
2. Catering Exemption – Campus Catering is the approved caterer on campus and has the right to bid for your business. In the event you would like to pursue a company outside of the university, a Catering Exemption must be completed. To learn more about catering exemptions, visit https://apps.fis.pitt.edu/cateringexemption
3. Donated Food (from Food Services) - The Department of Housing, Food Services, and Panther Central proudly donate Pepsi Products and food items to the University of Pittsburgh community. They attempt to support student programs and University events that are open to the University of Pittsburgh’s student body. Complete the request at https://www.pc.pitt.edu/donated-food-services-request
4. Snack Approval Form – if you are hosting a program in the WPU or OSC and would like to bring in snack-like items, visit the Snack Approval Form. Homemade food and potlucks are prohibited. Pizza, chips, pretzels, appetizer trays (veggie, fruit, dips), and items from a bakery are permitted.

Yes, if you are handing out food at your table a snack approval form or catering exemption must be submitted and reviewed.

We encourage groups to call Pitt Catering Co. to work with an event coordinator to see if there are alternative campus catering options for your budget. Sometimes catering can donate foods to lower the cost or match your budget. If catering does not meet your needs you can submit a catering exemption form for an outside caterer.

You can submit a catering exemption form online. Catering exemptions are due 21 days before your event date. We would also recommend calling Pitt Catering Co. and speaking to an event coordinator to see additional cultural options.

If you ordered through Pitt Catering Co., their contract will specify how many tables you need for food. Please indicate that number to the reservations office. If you are not working with Catering, the Reservations Office can provide a recommendation.

The Cathedral of Learning and David Lawrence Hall are academic buildings and custodial staff are not provided to service the rooms for meetings and events.

If you buy pre-packaged items that do not need to be re-heated or cooked than it may count as a snack. Homemade food and potlucks are prohibited. Pizza, chips, pretzels, veggie, fruit, and hummus trays, and items from a bakery are permitted. Giant Eagle or Sam's Club prepared foods such as sandwiches, trays of chicken, potato salads, etc. are considered catering exemptions and will not be approved on a snack form.

Contact tech services at satech@pitt.edu or call 412-648-7821.

The Unions’ Technical Services staff do not oversee the classrooms. Please reach out to Center for Teaching and Learning at 412-624-3335.

Projector, screen, laptop, audio cables, microphone (wireless, wired, or lapel), DVD deck. Visit Technical Services for pricing information.

If you are a current Pitt student, faculty, or staff member you can connect to the Pitt WiFi. If you are not a member of the Pitt community, guest wifi information can be found at https://www.technology.pitt.edu/help-desk/how-to-documents/pittnetwireless-guest-wireless-access

We recently upgraded the equipment on the 5th and 8th floors and they now require technical assistance. Please request technical services through satech@pitt.edu

The first step is to make a reservation for the space you need in EMS at least 4 weeks in advance. From there the reservations office will contact you regarding your next steps.

No, food eating contests are prohibited.

Yes, please contact the Reservation Coordinator at wmpittun@pitt.edu to discuss logistics and clean up procedures.

The William Pitt Union does have a runway for the Assembly Room. Please request a runway through your event description in EMS.

We do not supply pipe and drape. Randy Schmotzer in Facilities Management will assist with furniture and event rentals. He can be reached at 412-624-8809. There will be a charge for any rentals.

We currently do not allow overnight events in the Student Unions.

Any organization or department wishing to show a movie or film in space controlled by the WPU or OSC Reservations Offices are required to purchase the appropriate licensing, regardless of admission fee. No room request will be approved until a copy of the license is received. The event host will need to provide the license for the movie, documentary, Ted Talk, or TV show to the Reservations Office via email at wmpittun@pitt.edu or ohara@pitt.edu at least 21 ahead of the event.

For more information on obtaining a license and cost, please contact one of the film distributers listed below:
1. Swank Motion Pictures Inc.: www.swank.com
2. Criterion: www.criterionpic.com

Any organization or department who fails to comply with this policy, and is found showing a movie or film without purchasing a performance license may have their event shut down immediately, and will have disciplinary actions in the form of a warning or strike from the Reservations Office.

The only films exempt from this policy are those acquired through the University of Pittsburgh’s Library System Kanopy, Netflix Educational one time screening of documentaries (only those titles specifically designated with “Grant of Permission for Educational Screenings”), or by selecting a movie in the public domain. Within Kanopy, only those titles labeled as having PPR come with screening rights.

Please review this event policy in our Policies and Procedures handbook.

A bake sale is defined as the sale of items that will not spoil in the absence of refrigeration. Items included in the bake sale must come from the pre-approved list of breads, brownies, cakes, cookies, covered/dipped apples, donuts, fudge, muffins, or pretzels.
Below are the guidelines for hosting a bake sale in the student unions:
- A bake sale request form must be completed at least 7 days before the program
- A cashbox request form must be filled out and approved at least three days prior to the program
- If applicable, items must disclose if they contain nut products or other allergens
- All items must be individually wrapped in a substance that allows the buyer to see the item prior to purchase