Check-in Schedule
Log on to eLiving to view your prescheduled arrival date and time.
Prescheduling has been implemented for optimal social distancing as you move into your room. However, you can choose from other available times that may better fit your travel or arrival needs.
Wednesday, August 19
First-Year Students
8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
McKeesport Hall
Friday, August 21
Upper-Class Students
8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
McKeesport Hall
All McKeesport Hall residents will check in at the Housing and Food Services Office in the Community Center.
If arriving outside of scheduled move-in times and the office is closed, contact University Police or Residence Life for assistance.
Check-in Information
NEW: You will need to display your eLiving Arrival Move-In Time page on your phone when you check in.
What to bring to check-in:
- Photo ID (First-Year Students will receive their id+ Card when they check-in)
- Yourself (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+.
Remember to bring your Penn State id+Card with you for check-in. Add LionCash funds 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.
What to Pack
- 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 masks, 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, pain relievers)
- Food items (can opener, coffee maker with automatic shutoff, one set of dishes and tableware, 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.
- Air Conditioning units, including portable units and "swamp coolers"
- Alcohol+
- Appliances
- 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.
Room Amenities
- Bed frame
- Chest of drawers
- Closet, desk, lamp, and chair
- Drapes
- Mattress (80" x 36")
- Microwave/refrigerator**
- Mirror
- Smoke detector**
- Waste basket**
- WiFi, roomgear network for smart devices
Building Amenities
- Laundry facilities
- Vending machines
- Central lobby area with community kitchen
- Game room
- TV room
- Study room
^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 McKeesport Hall and Café Metro.
** One per bedroom
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 our top-notch fare at Cafe Metro during arrival or choose one of many local restaurants.
Where To Stay
Get rested.
Need to make hotel accommodations? There are local hotels available, some only a mile from campus.
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 Advising 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 gacampusliving.psu.edu.
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.
Read the Newspaper
The Newspaper Readership Program is provided to enhance your living and learning experience. The local paper (Pittsburgh Post Gazette) and national favorites (USA Today and The New York Times) are available free of charge Monday through Friday throughout campus in special newspaper machines. Your Penn State id+ Card is required to open the machine.
Contact Staff
Housing and Food Services
[email protected]
412-675-9100
Student Community Center
4050 University Drive
McKeesport, PA 15132-7698
Residence Life
412-675-9493
210 Student Community Center
4050 University Drive
McKeesport, PA 15132
Get Connected
Follow Us
Get Connected with us on Social Networks!
Facebook
Be Our Friend