LiveOn with us for 2025-26
LiveOn Housing Process
Eligible students interested in living on campus for the 2025-26 academic year will need to participate in the LiveOn Housing Process.
The LiveOn Housing Process is managed through eLiving and has two timeframes:
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Blue Track, which occurs during 2024 fall semester
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White Track, which occurs during 2025 spring semester
Offering two tracks provides students flexibility when making a housing decision. Those who know they definitely want to LiveOn can participate in the Blue Track, which will offer a larger number of housing options. Students who are still unsure of their plans can take their time and wait to participate in the White Track. Both tracks allow students to participate without committing to housing until the student accepts a Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract.
Process Information
General Process Information
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Students who Request Housing are not committed to LiveOn - the action of Request Housing simply puts them in the process to receive an invitation and view available housing options. This provides the student time to make a decision about housing options they would like to consider and ensures the student can select a housing option where they would like to live.
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The invitation allows students the opportunity to view housing options before committing to LiveOn. However, once a student has ACCEPTED a Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract, they are legally bound to LiveOn. The HFS Contract is finalized once the student has completed the three-step process of agreeing to the Terms, Conditions, and Regulations of the HFS Contract, typing their name, and clicking the "Accept Contract" button. Once the student accepts the HFS Contract, the HFS Contract cannot be canceled so that the student can move off campus.
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Students who currently live on campus for the 2024-25 academic year, including first-year students, are eligible to participate in the LiveOn Housing Process for "upper-class housing". For the housing process, all students are classified as "upper-class" for next year.
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The Request Housing portion of the process is NOT first-come, first-served - as long as a student has Requested Housing during the established LiveOn Housing Process timeline, they will receive an invitation. There is no advantage to Requesting Housing on the first day versus the last day.
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Every student who Requests Housing will receive an invitation to view available housing options and LiveOn next year. This assures that every student has the opportunity to live on campus next year. However, the University is not able to guarantee that every student will be able to select a specific preferred housing option. As students receive invitations and select housing options, the amount of available space in each option will decrease. Once a housing option is full, it will no longer be available to select.
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The LiveOn Housing Process supports students who have a roommate request, those that do not have a roommate request, and gender inclusive housing assignments.
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Students who have an approved medical accommodation will need to accept a HFS Contract and will be assigned to a space that meets their needs, regardless of the housing option that they select. For instance, if a student with an approved single-occupancy room accommodation is not able to select a single because all available space was already selected by other students, that student can select another housing option and still be assured their single room accommodation will be met. When the Housing Assignment Office processes room assignments, the student will be assigned to a single-occupancy room.
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Eligible students who are a part of a Living Learning Community (LLC) that offers a return-to-living environment will need to Request Housing and will receive a direct offer for a Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract for their specific LLC.
Eligibility
Eligibility to Request Housing is based on a student's residency and campus status:
Students who are eligible to participate in the LiveOn Housing Process:
- Students currently living on campus at University Park (during the 2024-25 academic year)
- Students attending a Commonwealth Campus
- Students who are new to Penn State for spring semester or deferred admission to spring semester will be eligible to Request Housing during the White Track Request Housing timeframe once they have scheduled spring courses.
Students who are not eligible to participate in the LiveOn Housing Process:
- Incoming first-year students (they accept the HFS Contract through the admissions process)
- Students who currently live off campus at University Park
- Students who did not Request Housing in accordance with the LiveOn Housing Process timeline
- Students who were released from the HFS Contract
- Students transferring from another university
On-Campus Housing Waitlist
Students who are not eligible to participate in the LiveOn Housing Process or those who were eligible but did not participate in either the Blue or White Tracks may still indicate their interest to live in University Housing.
The On-Campus Housing Waitlist will open at noon ET Sunday, Dec. 1 in eLiving > Contracts > Waitlist
After the LiveOn Housing Process concludes in March, the Housing Assignment Office will determine if space is available throughout the spring and summer. Housing is not guaranteed to every student on the Waitlist.
If space is available, HFS Contract offers will be released on Monday afternoons to students who have scheduled University Park classes for the fall semester. HFS Contract offers will be for either a double room traditional residence hall OR supplemental housing.
LiveOn Housing Process Overview
Learn More: Attend an Information Session
The Housing Assignment Office offers many resources for you to learn more about the LiveOn Housing Process.
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Webinars: online webinar sessions held throughout fall and spring (registration required).
>>>> View Webinar Recording -
Information Sessions: in-person sessions held during Family Weekend in October
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Housing Fair: the Housing Assignment Office will be present during both the in-person and virtual Housing Fairs
Students are also encouraged to contact the Housing Assignment Office to learn more about the process, which is located in 201 Johnston Commons in East Halls. Staff are available Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Webinar Information Sessions
Attend an information webinar to learn more about the 2025-2026 academic year LiveOn Housing Process. Hosted through Zoom; registration is required.
Session | Date | Time | Location |
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LiveOn Housing Process 2025-2026 Change of Campus Students | Monday, Oct. 28 | 7 p.m. | Register for webinar |
LiveOn Housing Process 2025-2026 | Monday, Oct. 28 | 8 p.m. | Register for webinar |
LiveOn Housing Process 2025-2026 | Wednesday, Oct. 30 | 12 p.m. | Register for webinar |
LiveOn Housing Process 2025-2026 | Monday, Nov. 4 | 10 a.m. | Register for webinar |
In-Person Information Sessions
These in-person information sessions provide an overview of both on- and off-campus housing options and processes, and is held during Family Weekend. Staff will be available for questions after each session.
Event | Date | Time | Location |
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Housing Information Session | Saturday, Oct. 19 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | room 100, Thomas Building |
Housing Information Session | Saturday, Oct. 19 | 1 - 2 p.m. | room 100, Thomas Building |
Housing Information Session | Saturday, Oct. 19 | 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. | room 100, Thomas Building |
Housing Fairs
Session | Date | Time | Location |
Housing Fair | Sunday October 20 | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center |
Housing Fair (virtual) | Thursday October 24 | 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Virtual Event Registration |
Housing Fair | Thursday Februrary 6 | 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center |
Housing Fair (virtual) | Wednesday February 12 | 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Virtual Event Registration |
Review Housing Options
Upper-class students have several housing options to consider at University Park. It is recommended that students review the available options and associated room rates to determine which option meets their need and fits their budget. Develop a priority list of housing options; if the top housing option is not available, knowing which one to select next will save time during the invitation process.
Students do not need to have a roommate identified to select a housing option and can update a roommate preference until April 1. If no roommate preference is indicated on the student's HFS Contract, the Housing Assignment Office will process a room assignment with a random roommate. Learn more about roommates vs. friends.
Housing Options
Upper-class student housing options:
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Double Room, Traditional Residence Halls (you and 1 roommate)
Double rooms are located in Pollock (Beaver), South (Atherton, McElwain, Simmons), and West (Hamilton, Irvin, Jordan, Thompson, Watts) -
Triple Room, Traditional Residence Halls (you and 2 roommates)
Triple rooms are located in South (Atherton, McElwain, Simmons), and West (Jordan, Thompson, Watts) -
Quad Room, Traditional Residence Halls (you and 3 roommates)
Quad rooms, which is a single large room, and are located in South (McElwain, Simmons), and West (Hamilton, Thompson) -
Single Room, Traditional Residence Halls (no roommates)
Single-occupancy rooms are located in South (Atherton, McElwain, Simmons), and West (Hamilton, Jordan, Thompson, Watts) -
Double Room, Renovated Residence Halls (you and 1 roommate)
Double rooms are located in South (Chace, Cooper, Cross, Ewing, Haller, Hibbs, Hoyt, Lyons, and Stephens Halls) -
North Hall suites (you and 1 roommate and 2 suitemates)
2-bedroom/4-person suite with shared bathroom located in North (Beam, Holmes, Leete, Runkle)
Limited 2-bedroom/2-person suites are available through a Waitlist -
Nittany Hall suites (you and 1 roommate and 2 suitemates)
2-bedroom/4-person suite with shared bathroom -
Single Room, Eastview Terrace (no roommate)
Single-occupancy room with private bathroom and air conditioning (Brill, Curry, Harris, Miller, Nelson, Panofsky, Young) -
***NEW OPTION*** Double Room, Eastview Terrace (you and 1 roommate)
Double-occupancy rooms with private bathroom and air conditioning (Brill, Curry, Harris, Miller, Nelson, Panofsky, Young) -
Nittany Apartments (you and 3 roommates)
2-bedroom/4-person apartments and 4-bedroom/4-person apartments -
White Course Apartments (you and 3 roommates)
4-bedroom/4-person apartments -
Supplemental Housing, Traditional Residence Halls (you and 3-5 roommates)
Supplemental housing rooms, which is a large room, are located in Pollock (Beaver), South (McElwain, Simmons), and West (Hamilton, Jordan, Thompson, Watts) -
Supplemental Housing, Renovated Residence Halls (you and 3-5 roommates)
Supplemental housing rooms, which is a large room, are located in South (Cooper, Cross, Ewing, Haller, Hibbs, Hoyt, Lyons, Stephens) -
Supplemental Housing, Suite Residence Halls (you and 5 roommates)
Supplemental housing rooms, which is a large room, are located in North (Beam, Holmes, Leete, Runkle)
Break Access/Holiday Housing
Several housing options offer Break Access/Holiday Housing for students who are not able to leave campus during the three closedown periods. There is an additional fee for Break Access/Holiday Housing for ALL housing options (including Nittany and White Course Apartments).
Once a student has selected a housing option and created the HFS Contract offer, they will be able to indicate housing preferences. If Break Access/Holiday Housing is available in the selected housing option, the student will be able to indicate that Break Access/Holiday Housing is required and the system will automatically add this to their eLiving account.
Request Housing
Eligible students interested in living on campus for the next academic year will need to Request Housing in eLiving ANYTIME during the Request Housing portion of either the Blue or White track. Invitations are sent to students who Requested Housing on a random basis, rather than a first-come, first-served process. The date that a student Requests Housing is not considered for when they receive an invitation.
All students who Request Housing will receive an invitation to #LiveOn!
Blue Track - Request Housing
This process is held during 2024 fall semester
Date | Time | Action |
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Sunday, Oct. 1 | 12 p.m. | Request Housing in eLiving opens |
Monday, Nov. 4 | 12 p.m. | Request Housing in eLiving closes |
White Track - Request Housing
This process is held during 2025 spring semester
Date | Time | Action |
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Thursday, Nov. 21 | 12 p.m. | Request Housing in eLiving opens |
Monday, Feb. 24 | 12 p.m. | Request Housing in eLiving closes |
Housing Invitation & Selection
What is an Invitation?
An invitation allows a student to review available housing options, select a space, invite friend(s), and then create/accept the HFS Contract.
Invitations are sent to random students between 2 - 5 p.m. on the track invitation dates. Students are notified when they have an invitation, but will not be informed in advance which date they will receive the invitation. Students may not receive an invitation on the same date or at the same time as their friends, but all students who Request Housing will receive an invitation on one of the scheduled invitation dates.
Invitation Notification
Invitation notifications are sent to students' Penn State email accounts. Students may also opt-in to receive text message notifications eLiving > My Info > Account Settings.
Invitations also display in eLiving > Contracts > View Invitation, or select the Shopping Cart.
Blue Track - Invitation Schedule
Invitations are released between 2 - 5 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays.
Once a student receives an invitation, the student will need to complete the entire process before the invitation expiration date:
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Monday invitations expire Thursday at 12 p.m. ET
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Thursday invitations expire Monday at 12 p.m. ET
Date | Time | Action |
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Monday, Nov. 4 | 2-5 p.m. | HFS Contract offers made for Living Learning Communities (LLCs) |
Thursday, Nov. 7 | 12 p.m. | LLC HFS Contract offers expire |
Thursday, Nov. 7 | 2-5 p.m. | 1st round of invitations sent |
Monday, Nov. 11 | 12 p.m. | 1st round of invitations expire |
Monday, Nov. 11 | 2-5 p.m. | 2nd round of invitations sent |
Thursday, Nov. 14 | 12 p.m. | 2nd round of invitations expire |
Thursday, Nov. 14 | 2-5 p.m. | 3rd round of invitations sent |
Monday, Nov. 18 | 12 p.m. | 3rd round of invitations expire |
White Track - Invitation Schedule
Invitations are released between 2-5 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays.
Once a student receives an invitation, the student will need to complete the entire process before the invitation expiration date:
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Monday invitations expire Thursday at 12 p.m. ET
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Thursday invitations expire Monday at 12 p.m. ET
Date | Time | Action |
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Thursday, Feb. 27 | 2-5 p.m. | HFS Contract offers made for Sorority Chapter members and Living Learning Communities (LLCs) |
Monday, March 3 | 12 p.m. | Sorority and LLC HFS Contract offers expire |
Monday, March 3 | 2-5 p.m. | 1st round of invitations sent |
Thursday, March 6 | 12 p.m. | 1st round of invitations expire |
Housing Option Selection
Once a student has received an invitation, they will be able to view and select a housing option, add a friend (optional), and then review their selection to create a HFS Contract Offer.
Step 1: View and select a housing option
The invitation will display all housing options and indicate the amount of space remaining for each option. As other students select a housing option, the space available will decrease. Once a housing option is filled, it will no longer be available to select, but will be grayed out. Students can select another housing option and then utilize the Preferred Housing Option Waitlist feature.
Select a housing option and click the "continue" button.
Step 2: Add a Friend
A friend can be added to a housing option, as this will reserve a space for the friend and generate a HFS Contract offer for them as well.
Step 3: Review Selection
The student must verify that they selected their desired housing option and added the correct friends. If the student is not happy with the selection, they can click the "back" button. The system will revert back to the invitation page - there is no guarantee that a housing option that was previously available will still be an option to select.
Review the selection and click the "Create Contract" button. This will generate a HFS Contract offer, which must be accepted by the identified deadline to complete date.
Roommates vs Friends
The LiveOn Housing Process is designed to be flexible for students regarding roommates. Students can participate in either track without having an identified roommate, and can update their roommate preference until the April 1 deadline.
For students who have roommates who they would like to live with, the system differentiates between a "friend" and a "roommate", providing the opportunity for a student to select a housing option for themselves and their friends to ensure that they can live together.
Friend
The friend feature is available for a group of students who wish to live together in the selected housing option, since some housing options fill quickly and may not be available when each student would receive their own invitation.
The first student in the group who receives an invitation will be able to select a housing option and add each person in the group to the selection. The friend feature reserves the appropriate number of spaces in the selected housing option for the identified students and reduces the number of spaces available for other students to select.
Once the first student has clicked the "create contract" button, the system will generate a Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract offer for each eligible student for the selected housing option. This means that the friends do not receive an invitation, but a direct HFS Contract offer. Each student is responsible for accepting the HFS Contract before the offer identified deadline to complete date.
Friend Requirements:
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Friend must be eligible - they must have Requested Housing and not yet accepted a HFS Contract. If they have not Requested Housing or have an accepted HFS Contract, the system will not allow the student to add the friend. Remove the friend to continue with the process.
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Friend can be any gender.
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Depending upon housing option selected, up to 3 friends can be added (no friends can be added to single rooms).
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Adding a friend will reserve the housing option selected for the student and the friend(s) and creates HFS Contract offers for each person.
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Each student must accept the HFS Contract by the indicated deadline to complete date.
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If a student wants to live in the same space with the friends who were added to the housing selection, then each student must also add their friend(s) as a roommate preference on the HFS Contract.
Students who receive a HFS Contract offer through a friend are not obligated to accept the offer. If the HFS Contract offer is not accepted, the offer will expire. Students who do accept the HFS Contract offer are not penalized - the student will still be eligible to receive an invitation and select their preferred housing option.
Roommate
Roommates are listed as a preference on the HFS Contract. Roommate preferences can be modified until 12 p.m. on April 1. This allows the student additional time to identify a potential roommate, if one was not known when they received their invitation.
Roommate Requirements:
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Roommate must have an accepted HFS Contract for the same type of housing option.
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If roommate has an accepted HFS Contract for a different housing option, the roommate must add their name to the Housing Options Waitlist for the same space to be considered for placement together.
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Adding a roommate does not guarantee placement together. If the student has a different housing option, there is no guarantee that they will updated to the same housing option, as it depends on overall space availability.
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Adding a roommate who does not have an accepted HFS Contract will not release a HFS Contract offer to them.
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Friends who were added to the housing selection MUST be added as a roommate preference if they wish to live together.
Accept HFS Contract
Once the student clicks the "Create Contract" button, eLiving will generate a HFS Contract offer for the student and friend(s), which will be added to each student’s eLiving Shopping Cart. This means that some students may receive an email with a HFS Contract offer (instead of an invitation), since their friend added them to the invitation.
Once the HFS Contract offer is available, each student is responsible for individually accepting the HFS Contract offer before the identified deadline to complete date. If the HFS Contract offer is not accepted by the deadline date and the offer expires, the offer cannot be remade.
The student will click the ‘Begin Contract Signing Process’ button to view and read the HFS Contract agreement and Terms, Conditions, and Regulations (TCRs). Note, if student logs out of eLiving before accepting the offer, the HFS Contract Offer will be available in the Shopping Cart until the identified deadline to complete date.
The student will go through a three-step process to accept the HFS Contract:
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Check the box to indicate that the Terms, Conditions, and Regulations (TCRs) have been read.
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Type name to electronically sign the HFS Contract.
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Click the ‘Accept Contract’ button
>>> once this action is completed, the student has officially accepted the HFS Contract and is legally bound to that HFS Contract for the academic year. The student cannot cancel the HFS Contract after it has been accepted.
HFS Contract Preferences
Students can indicate preferences on the HFS Contract for Break Access/Holiday Housing (if applicable), housing area, building, room type, roommate(s), and Campus Meal Plan level.
Preferences indicated are NOT guaranteed. The Housing Assignment Office will try to accommodate preferences requested if space is available. There may be more demand for certain buildings/room types than actual space available. The Housing Assignment Office reserves the right to assign students to any space available as necessary for programmatic or other reasons. A student's selected housing option will not change unless a student requests a reassignment. For example, a student who selected Nittany Apartments will be assigned to Nittany, but may not be in their preferred apartment type.
Date | Time | Action |
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Tuesday, April 1 | 12 p.m. | Deadline to update housing preferences eLiving > Contracts > Update Preferences |
Friday, Dec. 19, 2025 | 12 p.m. | Deadline to modify fall Campus Meal Plan level eLiving > My Info > My Meal Plan |
Room Assignment
Room assignments for the 2025 fall semester will be available Tuesday, July 15. Students will be able to view their room and building assigned and roommate(s) - name, Penn State Access Account, and cell phone (if available).
Date | Time | Action |
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Tuesday, July 15 | 12 p.m. | Room Assignments posted eLiving > My Info > My Room |
Preferred Housing Options Waitlist
Some housing options are very popular with students and will fill quickly during the Blue Track. Once a housing option has been filled, the option will no longer be selectable during the invitation process.
If the desired housing option has been filled, the student can select another housing option and accept a Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract. The student will then be eligible to add their name to their Preferred Housing Option Waitlist to be considered for reassignment. Based on experience, the Housing Assignment Office knows that vacancies will become available during the summer. As students change their plans about returning to Penn State, their HFS Contract is cancelled, creating a vacancy. The Housing Assignment Office will utilize the Preferred Housing Option Waitlist to identify another student to reassign to that space.
There is no guarantee that a student will be reassigned off of a Waitlist, but this is the only method for the Housing Assignment Office to consider a student for reassignment. Students are also eligible to utilize the Room Exchange eBoard to manage their room assignment.
Students may add their name to only one Waitlist. By adding their name to the Waitlist, the student is acknowledging their interest in reassignment. Prior to room assignments being posted, no notification of the change is processed. Once room assignments are posted, the student is alerted that their account has been updated.
Date | Time | Action |
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Friday, Dec. 1 | 12:00 p.m. (noon) | Preferred Housing Option Waitlist opens eLiving > Contracts > Waitlist |
Room Exchange eBoard
Students can also utilize the Room Exchange eBoard to manage their room assignment.
Date | Time | Action |
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Tuesday, July 15 | 12 p.m. | Room Exchange eBoard opens eLiving > My Info > Room Exchange eBoard |
Tuesday, Aug. 5 | 12 p.m. | Room Exchange eBoard closes eLiving > My Info > Room Exchange eBoard |
Tuesday, Sept. 2 | 12 p.m. | Room Exchange eBoard opens eLiving > My Info > Room Exchange eBoard |
Thursday, Oct. 31 | 12 p.m. | Room Exchange eBoard closes eLiving > My Info > Room Exchange eBoard |
Move In & LiveOn
Visit the Arrival website to learn more about moving into your room, including the move-in schedule, check-in locations, and checklists to help you plan and pack.