In anticipation of Pittsburgh hosting the 2026 NFL Draft, Point Park University has decided to move classes to a remote model from April 20 to 25.
Some 500,000 to 700,000 people are expected to attend the football fan event, held April 23-25 around Acrisure Stadium and Point State Park. The Downtown university is about a half-mile from the park.
In a letter to students, Point Park Provost Shari Payne said the school’s “close proximity to the main venues will likely result in disruptions to traffic, parking and more during the days leading up to and throughout the event.” Switching to remote instruction will “minimize these challenges and ensure academic continuity.”
During the week of remote classwork, the residence halls will be open and dining halls will continue as normal. “We are excited for this prominent national event to shine a spotlight on our city and campus,” Payne said in the letter.
It was unclear Tuesday if other universities would be altering operations during the NFL Draft.
Duquesne University is located near Downtown, in the adjacent Bluff neighborhood. University of Pittsburgh in Oakland is over three miles from Point State Park and Chatham University is more than six miles away in Shadyside. Spokespeople from Duquesne, Pitt and Chatham did not respond to immediate requests for comment Tuesday morning.