Housing Services

Housekeeping Services

Housekeeping staff is available Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. to clean and maintain common areas and provide maintenance repairs as needed. To ensure a comfortable and healthy living environment, the housekeeping staff performs the following tasks:

• Cleaning and disinfecting common area bathrooms and fixtures
• Removing common area trash and recycling material
• Sweeping and vacuuming lobby areas and hallways
• Cleaning lobby areas
• Repairing and maintaining building system components (as needed)
• Performing other duties as necessary

Student Responsibilities

Students are responsible for the condition of their apartment, furnishings, and any damages or losses that may occur during occupancy. Students should do their part to keep the building clean:

Help keep your building clean:

• Dispose of trash in designated areas, making sure everything goes in—not around—the containers. Don't put your personal trash in the common area receptacles.
• Sort recyclable material by following the instructions on the receptacles.
• Clean up after yourself. If you create a mess, clean it up.
• Clean your room, bathroom, and kitchen regularly.
• Never put food down the bathroom sinks.
• Vacuum cleaners are available for student use. See your RA for information.

• Fully-equipped laundry facilities are located in each building for use by on-campus residents. The wash cycle is $1.50 per cycle, and drying is $1.50 per cycle, payable exclusively with LionCash. You can deposit funds to your LionCash account online or at the HFS Office.
• Download the free Speed Queen app and quickly determine how many machines are available and when machines currently in use will be finished in order to efficiently plan. This eliminates wasted trips to the laundry room only to find all machines busy. The app also allows students to be notified when machines have become available and when their machines have completed their cycle.
• Report any problems with laundry facilities to your housekeeper or the HFS Office.

• WiFi is available via secured Enterprise wireless networks. Information on how to use the wireless network is available from ResCom. Computer labs are available on campus.

Mailing Address 

• Address mail to on-campus students using the following format:

Student's Full Name
1001 Old York Road
<Apt #> Lions Gate Apartments
Abington, PA  19001

• Each on-campus student is assigned a mailbox to share with their roommate. Mailbox numbers correspond with the room number and are provided along with mailbox combinations at check-in. Students who move to a different room will be assigned to another mailbox. Mail is placed in student mailboxes daily, Monday through Friday. Mailboxes are located near the Housing and Food Services Office.

Packages

• If you get a package that doesn't fit in your mailbox, you'll receive an email saying that a package is waiting for you. You can pick up your package at the HFS Office during the time indicated in the email. You'll need to present your Penn State id+ card to claim your package.

Forwarding Address

• Each student is responsible for updating their permanent address in LionPATH to ensure that all mail and packages received after the student has checked out of University housing can be forwarded. Mail and packages that cannot be forwarded will be returned to the sender.

Ceiling light out? Window stuck? Don't fret, just FIXIT.

FIXIT, Penn State's routine maintenance request system for on-campus residents, allows convenient and easy online submissions. Simply log in, describe the issue, and select times for an appointment. Our team will contact you within 24 hours to confirm your appointment and keep you updated at every stage of repair.

What is the difference between routine and emergency repairs?

Routine repairs are problems that can be scheduled and do not require immediate attention—even though residents naturally want the issue taken care of as soon as possible. Examples include a burned-out light bulb, problems with the refrigerator/microwave unit, a torn window screen, etc.

Emergencies are identified as anything that needs to be fixed immediately. If it's not remedied, serious injury or damage will result. Emergency repair examples include:

• Loss of hot or cold water
• Loss of heat
• Loss of electricity (beyond normal power outages)
• Electrical hazard
• Flooding or major leak
• Fire
• Gas leak
• Any condition that represents a significant imminent threat or potential hazard to the community
• Glass window breakage that is a potential safety and/or security hazard
• Pest emergencies (bats, bees, etc.)

If you're experiencing an emergency maintenance issue, please contact the Housing and Food Service Office (during normal business hours), the RA on duty (after normal business hours), or Police Services.

Penn State Abington provides free transportation to and from campus during the Fall and Spring semesters. Transportation schedules are posted outside of the elevators on each floor of the building and can also be found on the Transportation website using the link listed below.

First-year students residing at Lions Gate are not permitted to bring cars to campus.

A limited number of parking permits are available to returning students.  Any returning student wishing to secure a parking permit should complete the process at https://parking.abington.psu.edu/.

• Shuttle to/from campus during the academic year
• SEPTA Regional Rail with service into Center City located within walking distance from Lions Gate
• SEPTA 55 Bus with service to Willow Grove and Center City
• People power: Abington is a walking-friendly community

• Penn State has taken proactive measures to reduce waste and protect the environment. The residence hall areas have been leaders in Penn State's recycling movement, and all residents are encouraged to participate. Convenient recycling containers are located throughout campus. Cardboard, office paper, aluminum cans, and plastic can be recycled.

Fire Safety

• In accordance with state and local fire regulations, fire drills are conducted on a monthly basis in Lions Gate. Everyone in the building during an emergency drill must vacate the building according to instructions. Failure to vacate the building will result in disciplinary action.
• Students are responsible for taking precautions to prevent fires. Candles, incense, potpourri, and other flame-emitting articles are prohibited.
• Lions Gate is equipped with sprinkler systems. Fire alarms, fire extinguishers, and exit signs are located on every floor in the building. Students should familiarize themselves with the location of the fire equipment on their floors. In some areas, smoke detectors are provided. Tampering with this equipment will result in severe disciplinary and/or criminal action under federal and state laws.

Card Access System

• Access to Lions Gate is controlled by an electronic card access security system that is maintained 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You should carry your Penn State id+ card at all times so you can get into the building. Access is enabled during the normal academic year only - access is suspended during breaks and over the summer. Never leave personal valuable items in your room during breaks.
• If your card doesn't work in the card reader, contact a roommate, Residence Life, or University Police. Then call or email Housing and Food Services so they can identify and fix the problem.
• Report a lost card anytime online or at the HFS office during normal business hours. Your card access will be suspended to prevent someone else from using your card. You'll be issued a new card and charged a replacement fee.
• For the safety of all residents, outside entrance doors are to remain closed at all times. If a door is propped open, an alarm will sound. To shut off the alarm, remove any props and close the door.

Important Safety Tips

Always:

• Keep windows locked.
• Keep apartment doors locked—including when across the hall visiting a friend, in the laundry room, or sleeping.
• Meet guests/visitors at the entrance door.
• Know where your keys and id+ cards are.
• Walk in groups when traveling outside, especially at night.
• Travel in well-lit, heavy traffic areas.
• Know where the emergency phones are located on campus.
• Report suspicious behavior or unauthorized people to University Police at 215-881-7575
• Report stolen keys and id+ cards immediately.

Never:

• Let strangers into buildings or rooms.
• Let people piggyback into the building.
• Tamper with exit alarms.
• Prop open a door.
• Lend id+ cards or keys to others.

• Cable television service is provided in common areas only; students can connect to streaming platforms using smart devices connected through roomgear.