Registered students are eligible for cards one month prior to the start of a given term. (i.e. for Spring - December 1, for Summer - April 1 and for Fall - August 1)

Staff must be currently employed by the University and Faculty must have an active contract.

As an active student registered for the fall or spring term, your card will remain valid for a predetermined time. The amount of time will be based on the department or program with which you are registered. The expiration date will be printed on your Panther Card. If you are a registered summer student only, your card is valid through August of that year. 
 

For faculty, your Panther Card will remain active per your departmental contract and will expire upon your contract end date. For staff and tenured faculty, your Panther Card will remain active for five years pending active employment.

Your card’s expiration date will be amended based on your change of relationship with the University. Change in enrollment status, graduation, expiration of contract and/or termination from the University will change your card's expiration date.

You should always have your Panther Card with you while you are attending the University. Your card identifies you as a current student, staff or faculty member. It gives you access and privileges to libraries, computer labs, your residence hall, your meal plan, buses, and shuttles.

Because your picture is on your Panther Card, no one except you can present your card for Panther Funds purchase.

You should, however, report a lost or stolen card immediately to Panther Central. Your card will be automatically deactivated.

If you lose your Panther Card, Panther Central will issue you a temporary replacement. This temporary ID will give you access to only your meal plan. Panther Central will provide you with an emergency lockout code to enter your building and room.  When you find your Panther Card, return the temporary card to Panther Central. If you don't find your lost card, we will issue you a new Panther Card. You must pay a $30 replacement fee each time you receive a new Panther Card.

Yes, Panther funds are accepted at all University dining locations including coffee shops and Einstein Bros. Bagels. When you present your Panther Card, inform the cashier you are using Panther Funds.

No. Panther Funds are only used for purchase of food, beverages, merchandise, and services at participating locations on and off campus.

All students, faculty, and staff members must turn in their expired ID to receive a replacement ID at no charge. Expired IDs will be treated in a similar fashion as lost IDs. If the expired ID is not turned in at the time of reissue, the replacement will cost $30. The reason for this policy is that renewed IDs will have the same identification number as the expired ID. If we do not retrieve the expired ID, we must assume it is lost. Therefore, we must issue a new card with a unique 2P number.

There are internal costs for manufacturing University ID cards. The University does not charge you for your initial ID. However, any IDs that the University has to replace due to loss or damage is charged to the customer.

No. Do not punch a hole in your Panther Card. You will damage the wiring inside the card, potentially deactivating the bus chip, proximity chip, and/or the magnetic charge. If your card has been intentionally damaged, you will have to pay a $30 replacement fee.

If your ID is confiscated, Panther Central can work to obtain the confiscated ID card. If a replacement ID is needed immediately, a new card will need to be purchased for $30.

The customer may be required to pay for that ride. The customer should come to Panther Central with the 4-digit bus number and route number. With this information, the customer can complete a Pittsburgh Regional Transit Refund Request form. Panther Central will review the claim and if warranted, refunds will be given in the form of Panther Funds. Refunds may take 5-7 business days. No Cash Refunds will be issued.