Upper-Class Students: Accepting a Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract

Instructions for current Penn State students for accepting a Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract. This information does not apply to incoming first-year students. 

• Once the HFS is accepted, it cannot be cancelled - it is a legally-binding contract that obligates a student to live on campus. The HFS Contract can be cancelled only if a student is no longer attending Penn State.
• The HFS Contract is for the entire academic year - both fall and spring semesters or for the identified summer session term. A partial-year HFS Contract is only available if the student is graduating, registering for Study Abroad/Internship, or withdrawing from the University.
• HFS Contract preferences are not guaranteed.
• Housing and Food Rates are approved by the Board of Trustees.

Preferences indicated on a student's HFS Contract are not guaranteed. Preferences indicated will be reviewed when a room assignment is processed, but the student may not be assigned to a requested housing area, building, or room type due to space limitations.

• Login to eLiving
• Select Contracts > Update Preferences
• Select the HFS Contract name that is linked
• Update HFS Contract preferences
  • Residence Area, Room Type:  You may indicate a preference for a housing area, which is based on the housing option of your HFS Contract.
  • Roommate Request: Penn State does not utilize a survey to match roommates; Penn State values diversity in its student population and feels strongly that a living with other students from different backgrounds, cultures, and ethnic groups serves to enhance the college experience. The Housing Assignment Office does not have access to ethnic, racial, religious, or any other similar information about students that could have a detrimental influence on our process. You may indicate another student as a roommate request. Roommate requests must be mutual, and the Assignment Office will assign students together within the established policies for roommate requests. To indicate a roommate request, enter the student's Penn State Access ID (example, abc1234). If a roommate request is not indicated, the Assignment Office will place another first-year student in the space.
• Dining Plan: The HFS Contract includes the Signature Dining Plan, which includes a default amount of dining dollars that can be used at all dining locations on campus. From the time semester bills are generated until the last day of finals, you can log on to eLiving and add or withdraw dollars, allowing your plan to flex with your needs. To receive the full value of the dining plan, student must remain above a required minimum dining dollar amount when making adjustments.

Room assignments will be posted in eLiving on the date announced on the current students housing page. 

Once room assignments are posted, students may use the Room Exchange eBoard to "swap" assignments with other students during the advertised timeframe indicated on the current students housing page, unless notified that the eBoard is not available or an option based on a student's HFS Contract.