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students sitting in residence life office

Residence Life

Residence Life is committed to the development of a safe and inclusive living-learning community which fosters academic, social, cultural, and personal growth. Our initiatives and services are infused with the values of respect and responsibility for self, others, and the Penn State community.

Residence Life plays an essential role in the education of Penn State students. The on-campus residential experience connects the in-class academic experiences to the out-of-class developmental and engagement opportunities found in the residence halls. These opportunities help students develop respect and responsibilities for themselves and their communities. From learning what it means to follow community expectations to fostering a safe and inclusive community, students will grow and develop as a result of living on campus.

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resident assistant with students in residence hall

Every community in the Residence Halls has a Resident Assistant (RA), who provides support and student leadership to the other students. The RA is responsible for hosting community building activities, coaching students through roommate conflicts, and enforcing University policies in the community. Additionally, RAs provide first-year students support in their transition to college.

 

The RAs are supervised by the Residence Life Coordinator staff. These fulltime, live-on staff members oversee the out-of-the-classroom educational and engagement opportunities for students living in the halls, meet with students for Student Conduct Conversations, and provide support to students through transition and difficult situations. Additionally, these staff provide a 24/7 emergency response for students in crisis. Contact information for your coordinator can be found in the staff directory.

Overall, the on-campus residential experience provides students with a safe and inclusive community where they can grow both intellectually and socially. Living on campus provides students to a level of support they will not find in off campus housing. From helping to mediate roommate conflicts to enforcing quiet hours in the halls, the on-campus experience created by Residence Life fosters a living-learning community to support all students.