Manage Your HFS Contract

Roommate Request Process

Penn State values diversity and feel strongly that living with others from different backgrounds, cultures, and ethnic groups serves to enhance the college and residential experience. We are committed to equal access and maintain an environment free of harassment and discrimination against any person.

The University does not utilize a roommate matching survey or ask questions regarding a student's personal preferences, and will randomly match students to reside together. First-year students will only be assigned with other first-year students.

If you're interested in rooming with a friend, both of you should indicate each other as roommate preferences on the HFS Contract using their Penn State Access Account (i.e. abc123). Verify that the correct student has been chosen before your preference modification deadline indicated on your HFS Contract. 

When room assignments are processed, only mutual roommate requests will be paired together and will be assigned based on the first student's housing preferences. If there is no space available to match the housing preferences, the second student's housing preferences will be reviewed. If neither of the indicated housing preferences are available, the students will be assigned to any available space.

Living with a Roommate

Living with a roommate is a great experience. It helps you learn more about yourself and about how to communicate and relate effectively to others. Knowing how to take responsibility for yourself and how to respect others are valuable skills in all relationships.

Whether you were friends before moving in or met for the first time when you became roommates, living together successfully takes compromise and cooperation. You should not expect that your roommate will be your best friend, but you should work together to build a healthy relationship with each other built on mutual respect. Building a positive relationship is a process; it does not happen overnight and takes effort.

Learn more Tips about Living with a Roommate.

You can also create a Roommate Agreement to help facilitate a conversation between you and your roommate. A roommate agreement will walk you through several common issues roommates face and help provide you with solutions and compromise.

Penn State strives to provide a safe, inclusive, comfortable, and supportive living environment for all students residing on campus.

The University is proud to offer students who identify as a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and ally students community. In addition to the Ally House Living Learning Community which is available to any student, the University offers several Gender Inclusive Housing options across campus to meet the individual needs of a student and where a staff member will work with a student one-on-one to identify the most appropriate room assignment. Upper-class students may also utilize the Open Housing option, where students of any gender may live together in a space. 

Learn more about Gender Inclusive Housing, including FAQs and contact information.

Room assignments are posted on eLiving, and students will be emailed when assignments are available to view. Room assignment posting dates will also be displayed on the Important Dates page.

• Summer Session: posted two weeks prior to arrival
• Fall Semester: posted mid-to-late late July
• Spring Semester: posted late December, before the University closes for the winter break.

Once room assignments are posted, students will have the opportunity to use the Room Exchange eBoard in eLiving to "swap" a room assignment with another eligible student.

Penn State strives to accommodate student preferences when making room assignments. However, it may not be feasible to assign every student to a room that matches preferences requested on the HFS Contract. Once assignments are posted, if a student is interested in having a room change, the student can use the Room Exchange eBoard in eLiving and attempt to change rooms with another student.  

Room Exchange eBoard:

The eBoard is typically available for about two weeks once room assignments are posted, but the exact date for when the eBoard closes will be indicated on the room assignment email. 

By using the Room Exchange eBoard, the student is responsible for acknowledging consent for the room assignment change, which includes acceptance of a new room assignment, a new roommate (if applicable), and agreement for any room rate changes that will be applied to the student's LionPATH account.

Students may not be able to request a room exchange with all students listed on the eBoard. The system will prevent first-year and upper-class students from changing room assignments, and students with certain room assignments (such as those assigned for a medical accommodation, sororities, LLCs, etc.) may not be able to exchange with another student unless that student has a similar type of HFS Contract. 

To access the Room Exchange eBoard, login to eLiving and select Room Exchange eBoard under the My Info icon.

Direct Room Exchange:

If you know a student who you want to switch rooms directly with (you would be assigned to their room, and they would switch into your room), you can submit a Direct Room Exchange request. You will not need to post your room assignment. To request a Direct Room Exchange, enter the student’s Penn State Access Account ID, and the system will send an email with the request to them. They will have 24 hours to respond to the request. During that time period, you will not be able to send out other requests (you may cancel any pending requests). If the student is interested in your room, assignment, they will need to accept the request and the system will automatically process the room assignment change for both students. Any room rate adjustment necessary will be applied to your LionPATH account.

My eBoard Posts:

This section allows you to add your room posting to the eBoard, so that other students may see where you live and where you are interested in moving. You may add an eBoard posting for each building that you are interested in moving to. If you are trying to change rooms with your roommate, you should indicate if you are looking for a room to accommodate you and your roommate. Keep in mind that when you process a room switch, your roommate won’t be moved automatically and must process a room switch as well. If you do complete a room exchange, any remaining eBoard postings will become inactive.

View eBoard Posts:

This section displays other students’ eBoard postings. To view the postings, you must first add your own eBoard posting.

Postings will include information about where a student currently lives, what type of room they are assigned, and whether they want to move with their roommate. If you find a student whose assignment you would like, you can view that posting by clicking on the student’s Access ID. You can review their room assignment and room rates associated with the assignment. If there is a difference in the room rate, the increase/decrease will be indicated. To complete the request, click on the “Submit Room Switch Request” button and eLiving will send an email to the student, giving them 48 hours to respond to your request. During that time period, you will not be able to send out other requests (you may cancel any pending requests). If the student is interested in your assignment, they will accept the request. The system will automatically make the room assignment change, and any room rate adjustment necessary will be applied to your student account.

My Room Switch Requests:

This section displays the status of your Room Exchange postings.

If you receive a request to switch rooms, the request will be displayed in this section. You can decline or accept a room switch request. If you have initiated a request and later decide you don't want that room, you can use this section to cancel the request.

Once A Room Change Has Been Made:

If your room assignment has changed but you haven't arrived on campus yet:

•  Simply check into the new room when you arrive.

If you are moving from one room to another during fall, spring, or summer semester after you have moved in:

• The room change must be completed during a 24-hour period within four days of the effective date (date it was processed). This includes checking out of your old room and into your new room through the Commons Desk.
• Arrange for a check-out inspection of your current room by HFS staff. We're available to conduct inspections between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
• Check into your new room by presenting your Penn State id+ Card at the Commons Desk in the Housing Area of your new room assignment. The Commons Desk will have you sign a check-in form for your new room and will issue you a room key, and you will receive updated mail and mailbox information (if applicable).
• Return your room key to the Commons Desk of your original room assignment, who will then check you out of your original room assignment. The check-out action will impact any billing associated with the room change, and update the system to ensure that any US mail or packages received to your original address is forwarded to your new address. Don't exchange keys directly with the other student. If you do not return your room key(s), your student account will be charged for a core change.
• Once you've moved into your new room, submit the eLiving Room Inspection Form within seven days of check-in, noting any damages or problems so that you're not charged for them.

If you are moving to a new room for spring semester from a different room in fall semester:

• You must check out of your current fall room assignment before the end of the semester. Be sure to remove all of your belongings.
• Arrange for a check-out inspection of your current room by Housing Staff. Staff are available to conduct inspections between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
• Return your room key to the commons desk of your current room assignment. Don't exchange keys directly with the other student. If you do not return your room key(s), your student account will be charged for changing the lock.
• If you need storage for your belongings, check with the Housing Operations office for availability. Electronics and valuable items cannot be stored. If storage is not available, you will need to take all items home with you and bring them back at the beginning of spring semester.
• Check into your new room assignment at the start of spring semester.

The Open Room Change is available in eLiving through the eBoard for eligible students to change their room assignment for spring semester (this option is not available for summer or fall semester). The Open Room Change will identify rooms that have a vacancy available. Some students may not be eligible to utilize the Open Room Change, such as students with a housing accommodation, sorority members, etc. Students who are eligible will receive an email from the Housing Assignment Office with instructions.

For 2024 spring semester, the following timeline will allow students to utilize the Open Room Change:

• 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET December 2 - 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET December 10: first-year students currently assigned to supplemental housing
• 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET December 5 - 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET December 10: all other eligible students 

Open Room Change Instructions

1. Review current room rates and speak with the person(s) responsible for paying your student bill to ensure that the rate adjustment (if applicable) is permissible
2. Select My Info > My Room, then UP - Spring 2025
3. Select Change Assignment
4. Search for a room by selecting area, building, and/or room
5. Select Take This Room to confirm your new assignment 
6. You may continue to view available rooms and change your room assignment until the deadline of 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET Tuesday December 10
7. Your 2025 spring semester bill in LionPATH will be updated with any changes to your room cost
8. Students completing a room change for spring will be expected to vacate their fall assignment when they leave for the winter break. Instructions for checking out of your current assignment and into your new 2025 spring semester assignment will be emailed to you closer to the end of the semester. Your new spring room assignment may not be available for you to drop your items off; in these situations, Housing Operations may be able to provide limited storage. Additional information will be provided before the end of fall semester.

The University has three official academic year break periods: fall break, the break between the fall and spring semesters, and spring break. During these break periods, University Housing closes and all residents are required to leave for the entire period. Personal belongings may be left in the room during the break periods. View Important Dates for when housing closes and reopens.

To accommodate students who are unable to travel home during these time periods or who need to stay on campus during the break periods, Housing offers a Break Access/Holiday HFS Contract. Students assigned to Break Access/Holiday Housing will be charged an additional room fee per semester for this service. No refunds are processed if a student does not stay for all or any part of the closedown periods. The Break Access/Holiday Housing HFS Contract cannot be canceled.

Students with a Break Access/Holiday Housing HFS Contract will not be required to leave the residence hall during the closedown periods. During the break periods, staff will be available in the building to assist with emergencies. Although the dining halls are closed during closedown periods, there will be limited food service operations available on campus during specified hours. The Campus Meal Plan remains active during closedown periods, and students may use their meal plan for purchases.

How to Request Break Access/Holiday Housing

• Incoming first-year students can indicate "Break Access/Holiday Housing" as a preference on the HFS Contract; the deadline is noon May 15
• Current Penn State students can either select Break Access/Holiday Housing during the LiveOn Housing Process or indicate as a preference on the HFS Contract
• Contact the Housing Assignment Office to request that Break Access/Holiday Housing be added to your account

Students who select Break Access/Holiday housing will be assigned to a designated set of buildings, based on the type of housing option the student selected:

Incoming First-Year Students:

• East Halls: Martin and McKean  
• Pollock Halls: Beaver
• South Halls: Simmons
• West Halls: Hamilton and Watts

Current Penn State Students:

• South Halls: Chace* and Simmons
• Eastview Terrace: Brill and Curry
• West Halls: Hamilton or Watts
• Nittany Apartments
• White Couse Apartments

*Students interested in Chace Hall should add their name to the "double room, renovated hall (South)" Waitlist in eLiving to be considered for reassignment.

Room and Board charges for each semester that a student has an accepted HFS Contract will be posted to the student's LionPATH account. If there is a change to a student's room assignment that has a different room rate, the charge/credit will be applied to the student's account based on a prorated amount. The housing deposit submitted during the acceptance process will be applied on the student's fall semester bill as a credit towards the room rate. If the student decides to not attend Penn State, the housing deposit will not be refunded.

Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contracts are offered for a full academic year. Students who are planning to graduate early or who will be away from campus for study abroad, student teaching, an internship, a co-op, or a leave of absence, will accept a HFS Contract for the entire academic year.

Once a student files an intent to graduate, schedules study abroad, or files a leave of absence in LionPATH, the student can submit a HFS Contract Cancellation request in eLiving. Once the student's LionPATH account is confirmed, the HFS Contract will be cancelled for the semester the student will be away from campus.  No cancellation fee will be charged.

Spring Semester Only Housing

Students who need housing for spring semester will be able to add their name to the On-Campus Housing Waitlist in eLiving beginning at 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET, October 1. HFS Contracts will be offered throughout November and December on Monday afternoons; a student will be able to self-select a room assignment from available space. If the student accepts the HFS Contract after the Open Room process, the Housing Assignment Office will process a room assignment.

The HFS Contract is a legally binding contract that once accepted cannot be canceled, unless the student is no longer attending the University. A student acknowledges this condition when accepting the HFS Contract.

• First-year students are required to reside on campus. Under certain circumstances, a student may submit a residency exemption request.

• Upper-class students are not required to reside on campus, and accepting the HFS Contract indicates the student intends to live on campus. The HFS Contract cannot be canceled for a student to move off campus. 

A student may submit a HFS Contract Cancellation Request if extenuating circumstances exist:

1. Failure to Enroll. The HFS Contract may be canceled if the student does not attend or enroll at Penn State during the term of this HFS Contract. If a student withdraws but then re-enrolls after the HFS Contract is canceled, the HFS Contract will be reinstated and the student will be obligated to fulfill the terms of the HFS Contract.
2. Extreme Circumstances. A student may submit a Contract Release Request to indicate an extreme circumstance the student is dealing with. Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
3. Withdrawal or Academic Drop. If the student is no longer eligible for housing at Penn State due to voluntary withdrawal or academic drop, the HFS Contract may be canceled. The student must check out of their room within 24 hours of withdrawal.
4. Transfer of Obligation. A student may be released from the HFS Contract if the student is able to successfully transfer the HFS Contract to another eligible student. The University is not required to offer the Transfer of Obligation option; if the option is available, there will be deadlines for completing Contract Transfer of Obligation. The student requesting the Transfer of Obligation will be charged an administrative fee, as outlined in the HFS Contract TCRs.
5. University-Sanctioned Academic Activity. A student may be released from the HFS Contract if the student submits a timely Contract Cancellation Request based on a University-sanctioned academic activity that will require the student to be away from campus (e. g., practicum, study abroad, internship). The HFS Contract will not be canceled until such activity is verified on the student's LionPATH account. If a student does not participate in the academic activity but re-enrolls after the HFS Contract is canceled, the HFS Contract will be reinstated and the student will be obligated to fulfill the terms of the HFS Contract.

Off-Campus Leases / Fraternity Housing

A student will NOT be released from the HFS Contract to move off campus. If a student accepts a lease for an off-campus apartment without receiving confirmation that the request to cancel the HFS Contract has been approved, the student will be liable for room and board charges for the HFS Contract AND the fees associated with the lease. The University is not obligated to cancel the HFS Contract because a student accepted an off-campus housing lease and is making double payments for housing.

Requesting an HFS Contract Release

1. Non-enrollment, withdrawal, leave of absence, transfer to another PSU campus, transfer to another university, study abroad, internship, graduation:

Login to eLiving, select Contracts > Request Contract Cancellation. Follow prompts to submit request.

The request will be sent to the Housing Assignment Office; staff will review the request and will respond by email within 1-2 business days with confirmation or denial of request. Action to cancel the HFS Contract may not occur until the student's LionPATH account is updated to reflect the reason (such as intent to graduate, study aboard credits, classes cancelled, etc.).

If the HFS Contract is canceled for any of these reasons and then the student proceeds to schedule classes during the contract period, the HFS Contract cancellation will be revoked, the HFS Contract will be reinstated, and the student will be assigned to a room. The student will then be obligated to fulfill the HFS Contract and pay room and board for the original term.

2. Extenuating circumstances - financial, marriage, medical/psychological:

Submit the completed HFS Contract Release Request Form (PDF file) to the Housing Assignment Office, include supporting documentation to substantiate request. Contract Release Requests are reviewed by a University committee, who meets on a regular basis. The Committee will review the request and a representative will respond to the student via email within 7-10* business days with confirmation or denial of request. If a request is granted, the response will indicate the penalty fee associated with the cancellation.

For requests related to medical conditions, the Request for Reasonable Accommodation in Housing form also needs to be completed. 

*The 7-10 business days is an estimate; during certain times of the year, the response time may be longer due to the volume of requests. The Committee has a set meeting scheduled, and requests to expediate a review will not be honored.

The student has the right to submit an appeal to a determination for a HFS Contract Release. The appeal should be submitted to the Housing Assignment Office, and include additional and specific documentation to substantiate request. The appeal will be reviewed by the Director, Ancillary Services, and a response will be sent to the student via email within 7-10 business days.

First-year students are required to reside on campus at University Park. Students who are eligible for certain exemptions (such as local status or over age 21), selecting on-campus housing will be listed as optional during the admission acceptance process. 

A student may submit an exemption request from the residency requirement if one of these conditions is met:

1. The student is 21 years or older at the time of their initial registration with the University;

2. The student is married and their spouse will be at the University;

3. The student has actively served in the military prior to their admission to the University; or

4. The student graduated from a high school in Centre County (this applies to only these high schools: State College, Bellefonte, Grace Prep, Centre County Christian Academy, Penns Valley, Bald Eagle, Philipsburg-Osceola, and Saint Joseph) and will be living with their parent or legal guardian in Centre County in a permanent residence (parent or guardian is a permanent Centre County resident and paying Centre County taxes). An exemption request may only be submitted for the entire academic year; exemptions will not be processed in the fall to release a student for the spring semester.

Unless a student meets one of these conditions, the expectation is for the student to reside on campus for the full HFS Contract period.

EXEMPTION REQUEST PROCESS

The student must submit the Housing Exemption Form (pdf file) prior to the deadline indicated below, which is based on the student's semester of admittance. If a student accepts the offer of admission to Penn State after the corresponding deadline, the Housing Exemption Form (pdf file) must be submitted within ten (10) days of the acceptance date. A Housing Exemption Form (pdf file) received after the deadline will not be processed. The student will be obligated financially for room and board charges for the full contract period. Contract Release Requests to move home with the parent or legal guardian for the spring semester will not be honored.

SPONSORED INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

First-year sponsored international students who are interested in an exemption from the residency requirement will need to accept the HFS Contract when accepting the offer of admission, and then can submit the following documents at the same time by the deadlines indicated below:

1. Housing Exemption form (PDF file).

2. Letter of support from their parent or guardian

3. Letter of support from the sponsoring entity. The sponsoring entity must be a recognized University partner, and cannot be a relative or family friend.

If a student accepts the offer of admission after the deadline date, all three (3) completed items must be received within ten (10) days of the acceptance date. Exemption requests approved after the deadline are subject to a $100 administrative processing fee.

FUTURE HFS CONTRACTS

A student who has been exempted from the residency requirement will be ineligible to participate in the Housing Contract Process for the following academic year. However, the student may add his or her name to the Supplemental Housing Waitlist when it opens, as identified on the LiveOn Housing Process Timeline. There is no guarantee that a HFS Contract offer will be made to the student.

REQUESTING A HOUSING EXEMPTION

Submit the completed Housing Exemption Form (pdf file) to the Housing Assignment Office. Exemption Requests are reviewed by a University committee, who meets on a regular basis. The Committee will review the request and a representative will respond to the student via email within 7-10* business days with confirmation or denial of request.

*The 7-10 business days is an estimate; during certain times of the year, the response time may be longer due to the volume of requests. The Committee has a set meeting scheduled, and requests to expediate a review will not be honored.

The HFS Contract is a legally-binding contract that obligates a student to live on campus. However, the University does offer an option for the student to transfer the obligation to another eligible student during the identified timeline. The University is not obligated to offer this option, but provides this process to support students as they finalize their semester plans.

If a student of third (3rd) semester standing or higher who is enrolled and attending the University Park campus has accepted a HFS Contract and is interested in cancelling the HFS Contract, they may transfer the obligation of the HFS Contract to another eligible student by processing an HFS Contract Transfer of Obligation through the Housing Assignment Office within the identified timeframe and according to the following conditions. The student who transfers the obligation of the HFS Contract will have a $100 administrative fee applied to the student's LionPATH account once the Transfer of Obligation has been processed. 

CONDITIONS OF AN HFS CONTRACT TRANSFER OF OBLIGATION

1. The Housing Assignment Office will provide the time period for when HFS Contract Transfer of Obligations can be performed. Once the deadline has passed, requests may not be submitted. In the case where there are limited vacancies, the option of the HFS Contract Transfer of Obligation may be suspended prior to the deadline without advance notice.

2. The student wishing to cancel the HFS Contract is responsible for locating an eligible replacement student.

3. The replacement student accepting the HFS Contract Transfer of Obligation must be an upper-class under-graduate student (third semester or higher) and be in good standing with the University. First-year students may not perform an HFS Contract Transfer of Obligation. 

4. The replacement student cannot have already signed an HFS Contract for the same contract period. 

5. The replacement student must acknowledge that they understand that the HFS Contract offer will be for supplemental housing space. The replacement student will not receive the transferring student's HFS Contract type or room assignment. The replacement student will have the ability to add their name to a Waitlist for other housing options.

6. The replacement student must accept the HFS Contract through eLiving. If the semester has already begun when the transfer is completed, room and board charges will be prorated for both students as necessary.

7. If the replacement student does not take occupancy or withdraws from the University before taking occupancy, the student initiating the HFS Contract Transfer of Obligation remains liable for the financial obligation of the HFS Contract.

8. It is a violation of University policy to sell or attempt to sell an HFS Contract. The replacement student cannot offer, and the transferring student cannot accept, any form of compensation for the HFS Contract Transfer of Obligation. Any student who is found to have sold or purchased an HFS Contract will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response (OSACR).

9. The Housing Assignment Office may deny an HFS Contract Transfer of Obligation request if is determined that the transaction is not in the best interest of the University or the students requesting the transfer.

10. The Housing Assignment Office will determine the time period that HFS Contract Transfer of Obligation requests may be processed and may elect to not accept requests after the identified submit deadline.