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Community Technology Help Desk

Accessing the Community Technology Help Desk

Staffed by Pitt faculty, staff, and student volunteers, the Community Technology Help Desk offers trained volunteers who can help you to answer your technology questions. Informational flyers for both community organizations and residents are available to download and print. 

The Help Desk can assist you with technology-realted questions like: 

  • How to connect to the internet.
  • Using e-mail or computer applications.
  • Using computers, phones, tablets, or other devices.
  • How to use printers, scanners, and fax machines.
  • Any other related technology questions!

Accessing the Technology Help Desk:

During what hours can I get help? 

The help desk is available from 9:00am - 5:00pm but assistance will be dependent on volunteer availability.

How do I reach the Community Technology Help Desk? 

Organizations call: (412) 624-6007
Residents call: (412) 383-0805. If prompted enter ID: 702 100 473#

​Do I need to make an appointment? 

Appointments are not needed. A scheduling system is still being looked into to provide appointment scheduling and connecting to volunteer schedule

Note: the Community Technology Help Desk is staffed by volunteers who have received training and will assist as best they can. For more difficult or challenging problems, volunteers will refer you to an IT professional at Pitt or an IT professional located in your neighborhood.

Volunteering for the Community Technology Help Desk

During this crisis, many people now need to use technology for education, employment, information, and to meet with healthcare providers. To help people with their technology needs, the University of Pittsburgh is establishing a virtual Community Tech Help Desk, open to members of the public. We are looking for volunteers willing to be trained so that they can provide neighbor-to-neighbor assistance. Sign-up to volunteer.

A Tech Support Volunteer will aid in the National Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak by remotely assisting community members in: 

  • The use of computers and technology related to MS Office applications, e-mail, software, electronic resources and general internet applications. 
  • Using printers, copiers, scanners and fax machines.
  • Using phone devices and tablets.
  • Connecting to wi-fi networks with wireless mobile devices and laptop computers. 
  • Answering basic questions regarding computer usage.
  • Troubleshooting minor software problems.

Who are we looking for to be Tech Support Volunteers?

University volunteers who:

  • Have access to a phone, a computer and the internet.
  • Are willing to participate in an online training program.
  • Have used MS Office 2016, printing, internet browsers, e-mail, a personal computer and portable devices.

Training will be provided via LinkedIn Learning for topics such as:

  • How to provide tech assistance for beginners
  • Basic computer use: MS Office 2016, printing, Internet browsers, the Cloud, e-mail
  • Basic hardware: Personal computers, peripherals, and portable devices
  • Teaming platforms: Microsoft Teams, Skype Conferencing, Zoom Conferencing, Google Hangouts Conferencing
  • Operating systems: Windows 10, Linux, and Mac operating systems