Conference and Summer Camp Participants

Prepare for your stay:

• Linens: Bed linen is not provided; bring XL twin size bed linen, pillow, blanket and/or sleeping bag, towels, and washcloth

• Toiletries: Personal toiletries, such as toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc. 

• Wi-Fi: Guests can access the University's guest Wi-Fi service - learn more at https://www.psu.edu/news/information-technology/story/penn-state-wireless-setup-moving-cloud/

• Cable Television: University Housing does not offer cable TV service in residence hall rooms. There is a TV available in the lobby or designated space that can be used by guests

• Furnishings: Residence hall rooms have a desk, chair, twin bed, and dresser/wardrobe for each guest. Each room has a refrigerator/freezer/microwave unit

• Mail Service: Camps and programs that are staying less than 14 days in University Housing do not offer mail or package delivery for guests.

• Laundry Facilities: Each residence hall offers a laundry room with high-efficiency washers and dryers. Guests will need to load LionCash on the summer conference card to use the laundry services. Funds can be added with a credit card or cash at the Commons Desk.

• Air Conditioning: Traditional residence halls do not have air conditioning. Guests are encouraged to bring fans. A box fan for the window and another fan to circulate air is best. Renovated residence halls offer a climate-controlled environment. Guests are still encouraged to bring a fan to circulate the air within the room.

• Parking: Parking is not included in housing and food service package. Parking is coordinated by your event planner with Penn State Transportation Services; please discuss your needs with the event planner before contacting Transportation.

• Check-in: Event planners will provide details about the check-in date, time, and location. A conference card and room key (if applicable) will be issued at this event. Staff will be available outside of the residence hall during the check-in event to assist with directions and questions. Staff can also verify that the conference card is working correctly for building door access.

• Building Entry Access: Access to each residence hall is controlled by an electronic card access security system that is active 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The conference card is swiped in the reader at the entry door to temporarily unlock the door for the duration of the event. Guests are responsible for keeping the conference card on their person at all times.
       * The Commons Desk can assist guests if there are any issues with the conference card or building door access
       * Building entry doors need to remain closed. Any door that is held open for an extended time period will trigger the alarm. The alarm will stop once the door is properly closed.

• Room Door Access: Room door access is granted through either a physical key or mobile credentials on the conference card, depending on the building. Room keys and conference cards need to be kept on the person at all times. Some room doors have a self-closing door that automatically locks. 

• Loaner Room Keys: Guests who are locked out or misplace the room key can request a loaner room key from the Commons Desk. Loaner keys are issued for a 2-hour period and must be returned; loaner room keys that are not returned will result in a core change. The guest will be responsible for this charge.

• Housing / Maintenance: Housing Operations will clean bathrooms and common space every day, but will not clean residence hall rooms during an event. Staff may enter a room if there are maintenance and/or service needs which need to be addressed.

• Unauthorized Items: For safety reasons, there are some items that are not permitted to be in University Housing. This includes portable air conditioners, appliances with an exposed heating element, open flame, or cooking oil, space heaters, or items that add moisture to the air (such as a 'swamp cooler').

• Personal Items: The University is not responsible for personal items that a guest brings to campus. Guests are encouraged to leave expensive jewelry, electronics, and excessive amounts of cash at home.

• Dining: Events that include dining will be provided information about location and hours of operation. Events are assigned to a designated all-you-care-to-eat dining commons, which can only be accessed during the designated meal periods and by presenting the conference card upon entry to the facility. 

• Quiet Hours: University Housing has quiet hours between 11:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m. Guests are expected to reduce noise and disruptions during this time.

• Summer Conference Assistants (SCAs): University Housing employs Summer Conference Assistants (SCAs) to be a resource for conference guests. SCAs are assigned to every residence hall and will make rounds in all occupied residence halls at 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Guests who may need assistance can contact the SCA on-duty using the phone number that is located on the bulletin board in the residence hall lobby.  

• Damages: Guests are expected to treat residence hall and room with respect and care. A guest who causes any damage will be billed for repair or replacement costs.

Youth Program and Sports Camp Participants: each residence hall houses guests of the same gender. Guests who may need a gender-inclusive room assignment should discuss options with the event planner.

Adult Program Participants: The possession or use of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in ALL Penn State on-campus undergraduate residence hall and apartment buildings. This policy applies to all guests regardless of whether they are 21 years of age. 

• Personal Items: guests should ensure that all personal items are removed from the room.

• Trash: guests are responsible for taking trash to the identified location in the residence hall.

• Conference Cards: Cards are deactivated at the end of the event and guests may keep the conference card.

• LionCash: Any funds remaining on the conference card will expire and cannot be refunded.

• Room Key: physical room keys need to be returned at departure. Your event planner will provide check-out instructions about where to return the room key. The room key should be returned in the envelope provided at check-in, with full name, room number, and residence hall written on it. 

• Lost Room Key: If a room key is not returned at the end of the event, the University will process a core change. The guest is responsible for the core change cost. 

Hours of Operation

All-you-care-to-eat dining commons hours of operation:

• Breakfast 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. 

• Lunch 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 

• Dinner 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 

Menus

Daily menus are available to view online: 

• East Food District located in Findlay Commons 

• Pollock Dining Commons located in Pollock Commons 

Penn State Residential Dining is happy to accommodate food allergies and special dietary needs for participants. Dining commons staff receive food allergen management training and can offer the following accommodations:

• Each residence hall room is equipped with a refrigerator/freezer/microwave unit

• Dining commons menus are posted online and provide the ingredients, allergens, and nutrition information for each menu item

• Point of Service menu item labels are adjacent to each food item served, and indicate what "top 9" allergens are present in the item, if any; if a dish is meatless, vegan, contains pork, is gluten-friendly, and/or is halal-friendly. 

• Menu items have "backup pans" that a participant can be served from upon request. These are pans of food that have not yet been displayed for serving, and the risk of cross-contact has been minimized. 

• Food items can be prepared separately in the kitchen and wrapped individually for the participant upon request in advance of the program.

For additional information, please reach out to the Registered Dietitians Office at [email protected].

When mail or a package is delivered to the Commons Desk for a conference guest, staff will notify the program's event coordinator, who will inform the guest that the item is available for pickup. There is a processing delay between when the package is identified as delivered by the shipping agent and when the package is processed by Penn State. Guests should not go to the Commons Desk to retrieve their package until they have been notified by the group coordinator.

The U.S. Postal Office in McAllister Building (next to the HUB-Robeson Center) on campus is available for guests to send packages or buy stamps; the Commons Desk is not able to ship packages or sell stamps.

Participants are expected to follow these guidelines:

• Room doors should always be locked, even when using the bathroom or visiting a friend.

• Participants should have possession of the room key (if applicable) and conference card at all times.

• Any visitor must be met at the building's entrance door, as they are not permitted to enter the building without being escorted by the host participant. Visitors must be with the host participant at all times.

• When walking campus at night, try to walk in a group. If any person feels unsafe walking alone, University Police Services offers the Safe Walk Service, where a staff member will walk with the person. Call 814-865-9255 for assistance.

• When walking campus at night, use the well-lit, heavy traffic areas. Refer to the Campus Night Map to find the best route. 

• Emergency phones are located across campus and are identified with a blue light - just pick up the receiver to be connected immediately with University Police Services.

• If the room key and/or conference card is lost or stolen, participants report it immediately to your program contact or stop by the Commons Desk for assistance.

To ensure the safety and security of all guests:

• Participants should not let other people into the building or room.

• Building entry and exit doors should not be propped open.

Residence halls are  equipped with smoke detectors and a sprinkler system that are monitored by University Police, and fire alarms and fire extinguishers are located on every floor.

Tampering with fire safety equipment is a very serious matter that could jeopardize the safety of many people. If a guest tampers with this equipment, including covering the equipment, dismantling the equipment, or discharging a fire extinguisher, the guest may be discharged from the program.

Each participant is responsible for taking precautions to prevent a fire and should exercise good judgment when using electronic items or placing items near the heater. Desk lamps should not be placed near flammable objects, such as curtains, bedspreads, pillows, posters, clothing, etc., and should be turned off when there is no one present in the room.

Participants are responsible for safely using elevators:

• Tampering with or abusing any elevator equipment or controls is prohibited.

• Elevator doors should not be pried open, nor should the doors be held open by the safety edges.

• If an elevator is stuck between floors, occupants should not attempt to exit the elevator until directions and/or assistance are provided by University elevator technicians or emergency personnel.

• Occupants should not jump up and down in the elevator.

• The elevator should not be used in the event of a fire.

Windows in University Housing should be kept closed and locked when no one is present in the room to assist with energy conservation and protection of the room interior. Food and beverages should not be stored between the window, outside screen, or ledge. The window screen may not be removed or unlocked. Antennae, speakers, or other devices may not be strung from windows.

Per University Policy SY12 Weapons and Fireworks Regulations, Fireworks, and Paintball Devices, possessing and storing weapons in University Housing is prohibited.