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. 

HFS Contract Information:

  • 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. 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. 
  • Room and Board rates are approved by the Board of Trustees.

HFS Contract Preferences:

Preferences indicated on a student's HFS Contract are not guaranteed. Preferences indicated will be used when a room assignment is processed, but the student may not be assigned to a requested housing area 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.
    • Campus Meal Plan level: The Campus Meal Plan offers three levels, with each level providing different amounts of dining dollars. Dining dollars are what you will use to purchase meals in on-campus dining facilities. The HFS Contract will default to level two (2). 

Room Assignments

Room assignments will be posted in eLiving around mid-July. Once room assignments are posted, students may use the Room Exchange eBoard to "swap" assignments with other students, unless notified that the eBoard is not available or an option based on a student's HFS Contract.