students visit while seated outside at Penn State Beaver

Beaver Fall 2025

Anchor Destination

Preparing for Fall Arrival

We are thrilled to welcome incoming and returning students to our on-campus community. Your journey towards higher education has begun, and we are excited to be a part of it.

Your next steps:

Incoming students can modify HFS Contract preferences in eLiving until June 1 at noon.
Room and roommate assignments will be available to view in eLiving beginning July 22 at noon.
Watch for pre-arrival tasks sent via email in late July and early August. Incoming students will receive communications at the personal email address they provided to the University. Upper-class students will receive communications via their Penn State email account. Update your information if needed at accounts.psu.edu.

Thursday, August 21

Incoming First-Year Student Arrival & Move-In
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Harmony Hall

Friday, August 22

Upper-Class Student Arrival & Move-In
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Harmony Hall

Check-in Information

Before arriving to campus:

Set up your mobile id+ card using the instructions at idcard.psu.edu/mobile-id-card.
Beginning 24 hours before your scheduled arrival time, log on to eLiving and complete pre-arrival check-in. This step will initiate card access to your building/room and help speed up the process at arrival.

At check-in:

Bring your photo ID or device with your activated Penn State mobile credential.; you may not send a friend or family member to check in for you.

Move-in Tips

Members of your family may unload your vehicle while you check in.
Please move your vehicle to a designated parking lot as soon as it is unloaded.

Your To-Do List

What To Pack

Learn what to bring and what to leave behind.

Pack light when you come for Arrival! Don't bring all your belongings on your first trip to campus. Use our What to Pack list as your guide. You may want to wait to see how much storage space you have and then plan on bringing additional items at another time.

Roommate and Room Assignment

Get to know your roommate.

Once room assignments are available, log on to eLiving to see where you are living. Contact your new roommate and try to talk several times before move-in day. Share academic plans, common interests, and what each of you will contribute to your room’s set-up.

Penn State id+ Card

Load it with LionCash.

Add LionCash funds and set up your mobile credential before you leave home.

Immunization Records

Upload your records.

All incoming students must submit immunization records prior to arrival on campus. Visit University Health Services to upload your records.

Setup Your Devices

Get connected.

University housing offers access to the Penn State Network. Visit Getting Connected to learn how you can get your devices registered before arrival.

Pay Your Bill

with LionPATH.

The Bursar will process your semester bill and post it on your LionPATH account. Bills are generated monthly and specify a bill due date. Room and board charges will be added to your semester bill.

What to Pack

What to Leave Behind

What's In Your Room

What to Pack

Anchor Destination

Alarm Clock
Baskets for toiletries and storage
Bed risers
Bedding (Twin XL)
Cleaning supplies and paper towels
Laptop, printer, and cables
Desk lamp, desk supplies
DVD player and cables
Face mask, hand sanitizer
Fan (portable), box fan for window

Financial items (checking/savings account, credit/debit card, health insurance card, Social Security card, driver's license, etc.)
First-Aid kit (band-aids, cotton balls, cotton swabs, cold/cough medicine, COVID at-home tests (4), face masks, pain relievers, thermometer)
Food items (can opener, coffee maker with automatic shutoff, one set of dishes and flatware, snacks, dish detergent/towel)
Games (cards, board games)
Game consoles and cables

Hangers
Laundry bag/basket and detergent
Padlocks for desk, laptop, and bike
Reusable water bottle/coffee mug, reusable shopping bag(s)
Room decorations^
Sewing kit/safety pins
Snow shovel to store in your car
Smart TV or TV plus streaming device
Toiletry items
Towels
Umbrella, rain boots

What to Leave Behind

Please refer to your HFS Contract Terms, Conditions, and Regulations for more detailed information.

Anchor Destination

Air Conditioning units, including portable units and "swamp coolers"
Alcohol+
Ashtrays*
Candles and incense

Ceiling fans
Firearms
Grills
Halogen lamps
Heaters
Pets (small fish tanks are allowed)

Vacuum cleaners (available for use from RA)
Waterbeds
Window Treatments (blinds, draperies)
Wireless Routers

What's In Your Room

University housing offers the basic amenities you need to be comfortable and organized in your new home! Then comes the fun part: making it your own.

Anchor Destination

Bed frame (bunkable) and mattress (80" x 36")
Chest of drawers
Closet
Desk with lamp and chair
Drapes
Mirror**
Microwave/refrigerator**
Recycling can**

Smoke detector**
Waste basket**
WiFi, roomgear network for smart devices
Wood flooring

^Posters and photos must be hung with plastic tack.

+ Alcohol is prohibited on campus, regardless of the resident's age

* Smoking is prohibited on campus, including in Harmony Hall and Brodhead Bistro.

** One per room

During Arrival

Beyond the checking in and moving into your home away from home, you’ll find plenty of on-campus activities as well as areas to explore or grab a tasty bite.
Refer to the following links for What to Do, Where to Eat and Where to Stay as you prepare for Arrival.

What To Do

Engage in the activities.

Check out the Welcome Week schedule to view events and activities happening on campus during and after your arrival. Along with the Welcome Week activities there are many other things to do while visiting Penn State.

Where To Eat

Satisfy your cravings.

Sample top-notch fare at The Brodhead Bistro during arrival or choose one of the many local restaurants.

Where To Stay

Get rested.

Need to make hotel accommodations? There are local hotels available, many only a few miles from Lions Gate.

Beyond Arrival

It's no secret that the transition from living at home to living on campus is fairly monumental.
The following resources are provided to kick start your on-campus experience with the right information.

Academics

Academic advising is a key to your success at Penn State. Visit Academic Affairs for more details regarding advising as well as information about the advising portal, StarFish and the student information system, LionPATH.

Housing

Learn about your room, living on campus, contract details, medical accommodations, room and board rates, and more by visiting liveon.psu.edu/beaver.

Jobs

Job opportunities provide more than a paycheck, they provide vital networking and professional experience that will enrich your time on campus. Take the time to discover some of the exciting places to work on campus.

Residence Life

Residence Life provides students with a safe, comfortable, secure and nurturing living-learning environment that is conducive to students' academic pursuits and personal growth while fostering a sense of community, civic responsibility and an appreciation of diversity.

Student Life

Vibrant is one way to describe student life at Penn State. Discover clubs, organizations, support towards your academic goals, and more about Student Life.

Contact Staff

Housing and Food Services

[email protected]
724-773-3775
Food Services Building
110 University Drive
Monaca, PA 15061-2799

Residence Life

[email protected]
724-773-3959
113 Student Union Building
100 University Drive
Monaca, PA 15061

Get Connected Follow Us

Get connected with us on social networks!

Facebook

Be Our Friend

Instagram

See Our Pictures