Parents and Families Guide

Penn State Values

The First Year

Partnering with Penn State

First-Year Learning Outcomes

Academic Resources and Support

Money Matters and Technology

Campus Life

Commuter Resources

Housing and Food Services

Health and Safety

Penn State Values 

• INTEGRITY: We act with integrity and honesty in accordance with the highest academic, professional, and ethical standards.
• RESPECT: We respect and honor the dignity of each person, embrace civil discourse, and foster a diverse and inclusive community.
• RESPONSIBILITY: We act responsibly, and we are accountable for our decisions, actions, and their consequences.
• DISCOVERY: We seek and create new knowledge and understanding, and foster creativity and innovation, for the benefit of our communities, society, and the environment.
• EXCELLENCE: We strive for excellence in all our endeavors as individuals, an institution, and a leader in higher education.
• COMMUNITY: We work together for the betterment of our University, the communities we serve, and the world.

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The First Year 

Your student’s first year of college is a transition for the entire family. Parents and family members are a critical part of the support network for students. At Penn State, we use the First-Year Learning Outcomes to guide our work to support new students in this transition. New Student Orientation will introduce you and your student to the tools and resources that will help to set them up for success.

Your student’s first year of college may be emotional for both you and your student. Families who understand the transition to college and the cycle of the academic year can better help their student navigate important decisions and challenges.

The First Weeks: Everything is New

Students are experiencing college life for the first time. They are excited to explore many opportunities and are trying to make connections with other students, staff, and faculty. Students may be:

• Excited, yet apprehensive
• Exploring new freedoms
• Learning to manage new responsibilities
• Solving problems on their own
• Feeling homesick and lonely
• Trying to find their place socially
• Anxious about new academic challenges

Mid-Semester: Reality Check

Classes are in full swing. Early assignments and exams have been returned, and students may be surprised (either pleasantly or unpleasantly) by their grades. Students start to realize that friends from the first few weeks may or may not stick around. The roommate honeymoon may end. Students may be:

• Questioning academic abilities and choices
• Adjusting study habits, learning styles, and time management skills
• Wondering if they fit in socially
• Seeking additional opportunities to become involved
• Dealing with the consequences of poor decision-making
• Selecting appropriate courses for next semester
• Thinking about living arrangements and roommates for the next year

End of Semester: Information and Stress Overload

Students are sorting out how to approach their first final exam period as the first semester winds down. The realization that academic work in college is much harder than high school has set in for many. For those who have procrastinated or stumbled in the early months, the pressure is now a reality. Students who are working or have joined various student organizations may have increased end-of-semester commitments. Students may be:

• Anxious about preparing for final exams
• Finding it difficult to get along with their roommate
• Overwhelmed by their commitments
• Questioning their decision to attend college
• Excited or apprehensive to head home for break

Home for Break: New Expectations

Most students (and families) welcome the first long break, and they are usually eager to return home. They look forward to the comforts of home, privacy, reconnecting with friends, and some much-needed rest. Tensions over curfews and family expectations can happen at this time. Communicating expectations in advance and keeping a sense of humor can help families enjoy this longer visit home.

Second Semester: A New Beginning

While a new semester is a fresh start, the experience students have is heavily influenced by their first semester. Some students will enjoy being home and reconnecting with their families and friends, which may make it harder to return, while others experience challenges at home that make them excited about being back on campus. Other elements, like first semester grades and confidence in the friendships they established the last term, also influence their excitement or apprehension about the start of the new semester. During their second semester, students may be:

• Feeling a renewed interest in opportunities to make friends
• Getting more involved in cocurricular activities
• Finding a better balance between academic, cocurricular, and social commitments
• Contemplating their academic interests, strengths, and choice of major
• Exploring internships and opportunities for summer break

Adapted from Empowering Parents of First-Year College Students: A Guide for Success, by R. H. Mullendore and L. Banahan (2007), and The Happiest Kid on Campus: A Parent’s Guide to the Very Best College Experience (For You and Your Child), by H. Cohen (2010).

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Partnering with Penn State 

We recognize and appreciate the significant role that you have played in the life of your student prior to arriving at Penn State. We want this role to continue by cultivating an effective partnership during your student’s college career even as your role changes to that of a coach or mentor.

Your Student’s Responsibility

At Penn State, we expect our students to:

• Become increasingly responsible for their actions including their academic and social decisions
• Take the lead in solving their problems
• Abide by community standards (see page ## for the Code of Conduct)
• Explore the educational opportunities available, select a major in which they will succeed and enjoy, and put forth their best efforts in the classroom
• Take advantage of the tremendous array of opportunities outside of class by choosing meaningful ways to become active citizens on campus and in the broader community
• Embrace opportunities to experience, interact with, and learn from the broad diversity of people in the Penn State community

Penn State’s Role

Penn State aims to:

• Be a student-centered research university
• Have faculty, staff, and administrators that strive to support our students both in and out of class
• Provide the necessary resources and support services to enhance student success
• Provide a safe, healthy community for students to live, learn, and grow academically and socially
• Take an active role in meeting this goal through outreach and communication to our parents and family members

Your Role

Many incoming college students see their family members as trusted coaches and sources of support, which is not likely to change when they begin their Penn State career. Students need you to support their growth, development, independence, and to also be a stable force in their ever-changing world.

Support Student Autonomy

Young adulthood is a time when your relationship changes from an adult-child relationship to an adult-adult relationship. Support your student’s autonomy by actively redefining your relationship, relinquishing unnecessary control, encouraging personal responsibility and problem-solving, and supporting decisions made by your student. When a problem arises, “move like your feet are in molasses” and allow your student time to learn how to fix their problems.

Stay Connected

Expect that your student will not respond to all your contacts whether by phone/text, email, or even “snail” mail, but know that they appreciate hearing from you. Visit, but not too often and not too soon.

Embrace Exploration

Your student is experiencing new viewpoints and perspectives that may challenge prior belief systems. Allow them to explore ideas without being judgmental. Understand that changes in students’ viewpoints, behavior, dress, eating and sleeping habits, and relationships with family members are all to be expected. However, if you suspect that some of these changes may be signs of bigger problems, trust your instincts. Your student may need you to refer them to the appropriate resources described in this guide for help.

Be Knowledgeable about Campus Resources

Explore the resources available in this guide, the Parents Program website, and email newsletters. By acting as a referral source for your student, you can demonstrate that you are interested in your student’s life at the University, and at the same time, empower your student to explore resources and solve their problems.

Continue Difficult Conversations

You still have an important influence on your student’s behavior. In college, your student will have to make their own decisions about what time to get up in the morning, when to study, when to exercise, which organizations to join, what to eat, whether to drink alcohol, and whether to engage in romantic relationships. Although you cannot force your student to behave as you would want them to, you can create an atmosphere of open communication by listening and sharing family expectations.

Recognize the Challenges

The first year of college can be full of indecision, insecurities, disappointments, and, most of all, mistakes. It is also full of discovery, inspiration, good times, and exciting people. The reality is that there are times in college when your student might experience all the above, which is normal and to be expected.

Welcome Change

Your student will change, and so will you. College and the experiences associated with it can affect changes in social, vocational, and personal behavior. These changes are natural and inevitable. They can also be inspiring or challenging. You cannot stop change, and you may never understand it, but you can accept it and support your student’s decisions. Trust your student and trust the job you have done in getting them to this point.

Adapted from Helping Your First-Year College Student Succeed: A Guide for Parents, by R. H. Mullendore and L. Hatch (2000).

First-Year Learning Outcomes 

The First-Year Learning Outcomes were created to improve student success by increasing academic and social integration into the University. The vision that Penn State has for each student is highlighted in these Learning Outcomes. We hope that your student will complete these outcomes by the end of their first year.

In addition to these Learning Outcomes, students will work towards achieving Penn State’s General Education Learning Objections:

• Understand and meet academic expectations; engage in active learning and use effective time management skills to balance academic work with extra-curricular activities.
• Learn about the value of higher education to both society and to individuals; appreciate the value of the general education curriculum and the worth of lifelong learning and scholarship.
• Be familiar with student services and academic resources on campus; actively use those resources and interact with staff.
• Engage with faculty in and out of the classroom.
• Interact effectively with peers in social settings and through educationally purposeful student activities.
• Refine short-term and long-term academic goals; learn about career management; establish more specific career goals.
• Achieve a higher competency in writing, note-taking, active reading, critical thinking, and quantitative reasoning to be able to master college-level work.
• Expand knowledge of human diversity and cultural competence; effectively interact with others.
• Engage in activities leading to improved personal health and fitness; learn about making responsible decisions in a college environment.

Approved by The Pennsylvania State University First Year Experience Committee, April 2005.

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Academic Resources and Support 

Orientation

Student Orientation and Transition Programs provides programming for new and continuing Penn Staters. Our programs also support the parents and family members of new students. We focus on facilitating successful academic, social, and personal transitions to Penn State. We do this through programs such as:

• Change-of-Campus Orientation
• New Student Orientation
• Transfer Student Orientation
• Welcome Week

Current students serve as members of our Orientation Team. SOTP staff supports new students and their families at each step of their transition to Penn State.

ALEKS Math Assessment

The ALEKS Math Assessment evaluates a student’s readiness to take college-level math and science courses. Since these courses are demanding, students need to begin with the course most likely to lead to success. Students will not be permitted to take a course unless they have demonstrated readiness— either through the ALEKS Math Assessment or by completing high school calculus. Students required to complete ALEKS will do so as part of completing their NSO Tasklist. Students wishing to retake ALEKS to improve their score may do so by using the learning modules within ALEKS. Students may retake the assessment up to two more times after using the learning modules (for a total of three attempts).

Students who have completed high school calculus but are concerned about their readiness to succeed in college-level mathematics and science courses are encouraged to take the ALEKS Math Assessment. They can use the additional information to make informed decisions in consultation with an academic adviser.

Academic Overview

The beauty of the Penn State system of Commonwealth Campuses is choice. Each campus offers four-year programs. Students may also participate in the 2+2 plan, where they would spend the first two years at one campus and then transition to another Penn State campus to complete the remaining two years. Students have opportunities to explore and determine which campus and major best meets their needs. Students may choose to remain at their starting campus or complete their degree at another Penn State campus, including University Park. Factors that impact this decision may include the size of the campus, location, involvement opportunities, and housing options. Working with academic advisers, faculty, staff, and families, students can create a plan that works, in addition to academic considerations, seamlessly.

The Penn State Degree

The Penn State undergraduate degree includes General Education, major degree requirements, and other academic experiences such as minors, internships, and/or undergraduate research. All three components together help students develop a solid foundation upon which they build a breadth of skills as well as the depth of knowledge in a specific content area.

General Education Requirements

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts.

Administrative Enrollment Controls

To be eligible for entrance to majors with administrative enrollment controls, students must be enrolled in the college offering the major or in the Division of Undergraduate Studies, be within a designated credit window, have completed the required prerequisite courses, and have the minimum CGPA required for the intended major. Additional requirements may also apply. Students are strongly encouraged to work closely with an academic adviser and to review the specific entrance criteria for intended majors at bulletins.psu.edu. 

Major Requirements 

Requirements differ for each major and in each academic college. Generally, major requirements include prescribed courses that all students in the major take, additional courses that all students choose from a select list and supporting courses the students choose based on individual interests and goals. Students should work with an academic adviser to clearly understand the specific requirements of majors of interest. General Education requirements may be partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. In addition, Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) degree requirements may differ. Students are encouraged to work with an academic adviser to identify which degree best meets their needs.

Other Requirements

Depending on the college and major, a degree program may also include world language proficiency, internship experience, human diversity courses, and/or electives.

Declaring a Major and Upper Division Campus Choice  

The student’s major choice often plays the most prominent role in determining the upper division campus. “Upper division” refers to the junior and senior years. Most students will choose their major in the spring of the sophomore year. Academic advisers and staff at each campus guide students in exploring majors based on the student’s goals and then plan the final two years at a campus where that major can be completed.  

Students first become eligible to declare a major upon completion of at least 27.1 credits (typically at the end of two semesters) and achieving a minimum cumulative grade point average of a 2.00 and third-semester standing for entrance. While many majors can be started and completed at the original campus, others require the student to transition to another Commonwealth Campus or to the University Park campus. Therefore, the student’s major decision may drive the upper division campus choice.

At the time a student has successfully completed 43.1 credits (typically at the end of the third semester) the student is eligible for a change of campus for the junior year as determined by the major choice. Students will be notified by email when to both declare their major and initiate the change of campus as appropriate. 

Dean’s List

In recognition of academic excellence, selected students are named to the Dean’s List each semester. 

Undergraduate students only (includes nondegree, degree-seeking provisional and degree) 

• Credit load requirement
• Semester GPA of 3.50 or higher
• Satisfactory/unsatisfactory, and audit courses are not included in the determination of GPA or credit load
• Dean’s List notation will appear on the student’s grade report and on the student’s academic record 

Grades and Grade-Point Equivalent

Items to Know: 

• SGPA = Semester Grade-Point Average
• CGPA = Cumulative Grade-Point Average
• Dean’s List = 3.50 SGPA
• Minimum Acceptable = 2.00 CGPA

Minimal competitive CGPA at application:

• Undergraduate internships = 3.00
• Medical school = 3.50
• Law school = 3.33

For more information about medical school and other health professions, visit science.psu.edu/premed. For more information about law school, visit dus.psu.edu/prelaw.
 

General Education Requirements

Foundations

Build a basis of effective communication and quantitative literacy.

• 6 units Quantification (GQ)
• 9 units Writing and Speaking (GWS)
• C or better required
• Single domain courses only (no Inter-Domain)

Breadth

Practice applying a specific way of constructing knowledge to examine a topic.

• 3 units Arts (GA)
• 3 units Humanities (GH)
• 3 units Natural Sciences (GN)
• 3 units Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS)
• 3 units Health and Wellness (GHW)
• Single domain courses only (no Inter-Domain)
• Students choose courses outside their initial major prefix for GA, GN, GH, GS (Example: ECON major may not select ECON courses; does not apply to GHW)

Integrative Studies

Practice synthesizing knowledge from different perspectives to examine a topic.

• 6 units Integrative Studies: Inter-domain
• Select any two Inter-Domain courses that are not used for major program requirements

Exploration

Follow intellectual curiosity to deepen or widen learning.

• 9 units of additional GA, GH, GN, GS, and Inter-domain courses and up to 3 units of World Language. Must include 3 units of GN course which may be Inter-domain.
• Students choose courses outside their initial major prefix for GA, GN, GH, GS, and Inter-domain
• This category may be reduced to reflect courses prescribed by major programs (See details of intended major)
• World Language course beyond the student’s degree program requirements or minimally at the 12th credit level (Example: SPAN 3)
   

Academic Advising

Penn State students receive academic advising from primary-role and/or faculty advisers. Students can find their assigned adviser’s contact information in Starfish, the University’s online advising platform.

An academic adviser will be assigned between the student’s orientation and the start of classes. If a student does not yet have an assigned adviser, they should contact the advising center for the college in which they are enrolled for advising-related questions.

Academic advising relationships at Penn State are initiated by students. Students are encouraged to meet with their assigned adviser at least once a semester and as often as needed to successfully plan and manage their goals. Students are encouraged to build a relationship with their assigned adviser to help them be intentional about the educational opportunities available.

Academic advisers are prepared to:

• Help students identify and achieve academic goals
• Promote intellectual discovery
• Encourage students to engage in both in- and out-of-class educational opportunities
• Encourage students to become self-directed learners and decision makers

Academic Integrity

Penn State expects students to pursue their academics in an honest and ethical manner. The University takes violations of academic integrity very seriously. 

Contacting Instructors

Students are expected to contact instructors if they have questions or concerns about course content, policies, or academic performance. College instructors are available during their office hours or by appointment. Office hours should be listed on the course syllabus (an outline of the course content, expectations, and grading basis). Family members should not contact instructors or academic advisers directly.

Syllabus

A syllabus is a document that summarizes course expectations and should be shared by the instructor on or before the first day of class. In addition to describing the course and listing goals and objectives, syllabi include information about course grading, exams, attendance expectations and policies, course instructors, and required materials for the class. The syllabus should also state information related to instructions for campus closures, academic integrity, procedures for adjustments identified by the Office of Student Disability Resources, educational equity concerns, and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Students are responsible for reading and understanding the syllabus for each class. Any questions a student has regarding the syllabus should be asked early in the semester so that they have a clear understanding of what is expected in the course by the faculty member. Complete information on the Senate Policy on Syllabi can be found in Senate Policy 43-00.

Transferring Credit to Penn State

A student who does advanced work in a secondary school may earn credit through the Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. A-Level exams completed by international students may also be considered for credit. Penn State students may also transfer credits from courses taken at another higher education institution to meet degree requirements.

The online Transfer Credit Tool can be used to search for courses at other institutions. Credit can also be awarded for non-academic training through prior learning assessment.

When awarded, all transfer credits are recorded on the student's transcript, but no grade is recorded, and the student’s grade-point average is not affected. Students should speak with a college adviser regarding the ability to transfer course credit toward their intended degree. Additionally, because there is a lower- and upper-division tuition differential, students should contact the Office of the Bursar for help in determining the potential impact of transfer credits on their tuition.

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Money Matters and Technology 

Tuition

The Office of the Bursar is responsible for maintaining all student accounts as it relates to acceptance fees, tuition billing, charges, payments, and refunds.

Tuition Statement

Account statements are prepared every month. The due date is indicated on the statement. Billing begins in early August for the fall semester, early January for the spring semester, and May for the summer semester. Billing for LEAP and Summer Session II students usually begins in June.

Students will receive notification via their Penn State email account when their statement is available to view/pay in LionPATH. Residence hall charges are included on the statement, if applicable. Paper statements are NOT mailed. The Office of the Bursar, as well as other Penn State departments, will communicate important information to students through their Penn State email account. Students should regularly monitor their PSU email account.

Financial Responsibility Agreement

Students must sign a Financial Responsibility Agreement (FRA) before enrolling in classes each semester. FRA is a student’s promise to take responsibility for payment of their account.

Paying Tuition

The eCheck option is a fast and convenient online method to pay the tuition statement directly from a personal checking account drawn on a U.S. bank. There is no charge to pay by eCheck. Online credit card payments (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express) are also accepted. A service fee will be charged for debit/credit card payments. eCheck and credit card payments are posted to the student account immediately.

If you want to mail a check, a payment stub should be printed and mailed with the payment to Penn State. Please allow seven to ten business days for the payment to be received and posted to the student account. A late fee applies if payment is not posted to the student’s account by the due date indicated on the statement.

Payment Plans

Penn State offers an Installment Payment Plan every semester. Enrollment in the plan allows students/authorized payers to pay the semester charges (tuition, fees, and room and meals, if applicable) over four months in the fall and spring semesters, and three-monthly installments in the summer. There is a $45 non-refundable enrollment fee per semester, which covers administrative costs. The payments can be made with eCheck or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express).

The link to enroll online in the payment plan is available on the student account once the first billing statement for the semester is issued. Students/authorized payers can enroll in the plan online with one-fourth of the balance for fall and spring or one-third for summer. Enrolling after the first installment due date will require an initial payment of half of the balance for fall and spring or two-third of the balance for summer (subject to change). Please check the Bursar’s website for installment dates.

Additional Student Aid

The Anticipated Financial Aid section on a student’s tuition statement reflects the most current known available financial aid. Students with University scholarships, grants, or loans that are not reflected on their statement should contact the Office of Student Aid.

Outside Scholarship Information

Many students will receive scholarships from various organizations, agencies, and foundations as they graduate from high school. To reflect these outside awards on the student’s tuition statement, send the scholarship checks as early as possible to the address below. Checks must be made payable to Penn State (if a check is made payable to Penn State and the student, then, it must be signed by the student for processing). Please include the student’s PSU ID in the memo line.

Office of the Bursar 
Attn: External Awards 
109 Shields Building 
664 Curtin Road
University Park, PA 16802

eRefund

A refund will be issued if there is a credit balance on the student account. eRefund is an electronic deposit of a refund into the student’s bank account and the fastest and most convenient delivery of refunds to students. eRefund is only available to students. Parents receive Parent PLUS loan refunds by paper check.

Tuition Assessment and Planning

Penn State assesses tuition based on the student’s campus, college, major, residency classification, credit load, and semester classification. Once an undergraduate student completes 59.1 or more total credits (which include credits earned through advanced placement or transferred from another institution), the student is considered to have obtained Junior/Senior status at Penn State. The Board of Trustees approves the tuition and fees for the academic year and tuition will increase.

By law, Penn State representatives can only respond or speak about the student account with the student and individuals designated as an Authorized Payer by the student. Be sure to ask your student to share any pertinent student account information with you or grant you Authorized Payer access to their student account in LionPATH.

Remind Your Student to:

• Sign up for eRefund (direct deposit)
• Grant online Authorized Payer Access for parents/others (optional)
• Grant online Delegated Access for parents/others (optional)

Student Aid

The Office of Student Aid administers federal, state, and University financial aid and coordinates multiple funding sources on behalf of sponsoring agencies. The primary sources of student aid funding at Penn State come from federal and state programs.

Applying for Aid

You and your student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year for your student to be considered for financial aid, including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study. The FAFSA is the ONLY application required to be considered for most need-based aid at Penn State. Complete the FAFSA or submit corrections online at studentaid.gov.

Students need to submit the 2025-26 FAFSA to be considered for aid for fall 2025, spring 2026, and summer 2026. Students who are admitted for summer 2025 also need to submit the 2024-25 FAFSA by June 30, 2025, if they wish to be considered for aid for summer 2025.

Student Aid Notification

Students who submit the FAFSA will receive an email notification from the Office of Student Aid with information about the types of aid they are eligible to receive.

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan

To receive Federal Direct Loans, your student must:

• Submit the FAFSA at studentaid.gov
• Accept the loan in LionPATH
• Sign a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) at studentaid.gov
• Complete Entrance Counseling at studentaid.gov

After all the steps above have been completed, the Federal Direct Loan will appear as a credit on the student’s bill.

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan

The financial aid listed on the Financial Aid Offer in LionPATH may not cover all educational costs. As a parent, you may apply for a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan. This is a federal loan available only to parents/step-parents of dependent undergraduate students.

Private Education Loans

If the PLUS loan is not an option for you, your student can seek additional funding from private education loans, which typically require a cosigner.

Scholarships

All admitted students who submit the FAFSA to Penn State are considered for scholarships awarded by the Office of Student Aid. If your student was awarded a scholarship from the Office of Student Aid, it will be listed on the Financial Aid Offer in LionPATH. Some academic colleges, campuses, and administrative units require separate applications.

Work Study 

All students who apply to Penn State and indicate interest in the Federal Work-Study program on their application to Penn State are considered for work-study employment. If your student was offered work-study, it will be listed on the Financial Aid Offer in LionPATH. If your student did not receive a work-study offer, there are many employment opportunities available on campus.

Rights and Responsibilities of a Financial Aid Recipient

As a financial aid recipient, your student must be well informed about their rights and responsibilities. Be sure that your student carefully reviews this important information on the Office of Student Aid's website and understands Penn State’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard and what is required of students to remain eligible for student aid.

FAFSA Verification

The Office of Student Aid is required by the federal government to confirm the accuracy of the information submitted on the FAFSA, a process known as verification. If students are selected for verification at Penn State, they will be notified by the Office of Student Aid. This notification will include the specific information needed and a due date. Please respond promptly to any requests from the Office of Student Aid for verification documents to avoid a delay in the processing of student aid. Not all students are selected for verification. Please do not submit any documents unless you or your student receives a request.

Check Penn State Email Frequently

Students should check Penn State email frequently. The Office of Student Aid communicates with students through their Penn State email account. They will also be able to access their student aid information in LionPATH. Be sure to ask your student to share any pertinent student aid information with you or grant you Delegated Access to their Financial Aid Offer in LionPATH.

Student Records and Privacy

The Office of the University Registrar is responsible for student academic records and related processes including registration, academic transcripts, confidentiality of student records, grade reporting, graduation, diplomas, enrollment verification, and degree audits. Our goal is to provide students with accurate and complete information as quickly as possible.

Student Educational Records

The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, FERPA (also known as the Buckley Amendment), is the federal law that protects the privacy of student education records and identifies the rights with respect to student education records kept by institutions.

Penn State is committed to maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of the student’s Social Security number. The primary student identification number used to conduct University business is the Penn State ID number (known as PSU ID).

Student Rights Under FERPA 

Under FERPA, institutions may not release education records, except under certain circumstances, without written consent from the student. This regulation does not apply to information that the University has identified as directory information (e.g., name, address, phone number, major) unless the student has blocked disclosure of such information. The primary rights of students under FERPA include the rights to:

• Have some control over the disclosure of information from their education records
• Inspect and review their education records
• Request the amendment of inaccurate or otherwise inappropriate education records

Parent and Family Rights Under FERPA

When a student reaches the age of 18 or begins attending a postsecondary institution, regardless of age, FERPA rights transfer from the parent or guardian to the student. This means that you may not obtain your student’s education records (including end of semester grades) without the written consent of your student. Parents may, with the student’s permission, access their student’s grades and other portions of their student’s education record online through Delegated Access in LionPATH. Parents and guardians do not have access to mid-semester grades. We encourage you to discuss this with your student.

Withhold Directory Information

Under FERPA, an institution is permitted to release directory information without written consent from the student. However, a student has the right to prevent this release in one of two ways. The student must complete and sign the Request to Withhold Directory Information form. The signed form must be taken in person or mailed along with a copy of photo identification to the Registrar’s office. Students with access to LionPATH may complete the request in the following ways:

• Complete and submit the Change Directory Info (FERPA) form in LionPATH
• Upload a clear and valid photo identification to your request
• An email notification will be sent to your student’s official Penn State email account when the withholding of directory information is in effect

Withholding directory information means:

• Student name/address is excluded from the online directory
• Student name will not appear in the commencement program
• Verification of enrollment, graduation or degrees awarded will not be provided to third parties, including potential employers
• No information about the student will be released to any person (including the student) on the telephone or via email

Release Directory Information

If a student later wishes to remove the directory hold, the student must complete and sign the Request to Release Directory Information form. The signed form may be taken in person or mailed along with a copy of photo identification to the Registrar’s office.

Students with access to LionPATH may complete the request in the following ways:

• Complete and submit the Change Directory Info (FERPA) form in LionPATH
• Upload a clear and valid photo identification to your request
• An email notification will be sent to your student’s official Penn State email account when the release of directory information is in effect

Enrollment Verification

Insurance companies, financial lenders, or employers may require proof that a student was or is currently enrolled at Penn State. Enrollment verification provides proof of enrollment, graduation, student status, and other related information.

Students can request an enrollment verification through the Academic Records tab in LionPATH Self Service. The student may immediately download an unofficial copy for personal use or to submit to a third party. The student may also request an official verification, containing the University Registrar′s signature and University seal on security paper, to be mailed to the specified address via first-class U.S. mail within three business days. This function is also available to families through the LionPATH Self Service if their student has granted them Delegated Access.

All other parties may contact the National Student Clearinghouse for verification of students′ enrollment and degree information at studentclearinghouse.com.

Leaving the University

Students should carefully consider all the consequences to leaving Penn State before they complete the process. If applicable, there can be ramifications for financial aid, loan repayments, and health insurance. In addition, there are processes that must be followed when a student determines that he or she is ready to return to the University.

LionPATH
 

LionPATH is Penn State’s student information system. Students use LionPATH to enroll in classes, view financial aid, pay tuition, check grades, submit health insurance information, and more.

LionPATH provides two processes to access student information. You can view your student’s data-such as grades, financial aid, and class schedules by using Delegated Access. In addition, you can pay tuition by using Authorized Payer Access. Delegated Access and Authorized Payer Access are two separate functions within LionPATH. You can view tutorials to learn how to use LionPATH.

Using Delegated Access

For you to access student data in LionPATH, your student must first provide access to you.

Step One

Provide your student with your email address to receive your activation email. This email will also serve as your login ID.

Step Two

Once your student has given you access, you will receive an activation email that will contain a login ID, temporary password, and a link for you to log in and view those areas your student has shared.

Note: If you are a Penn State employee or student, the link to view shared information is a different URL than you may normally use to access LionPATH.

• For staff who are students AND use LionPATH in daily work, use lionpath.psu.edu.
• For all staff who have been given Delegated Access by their student, use public.lionpath.psu.edu and click on the Delegated Access tab.

Delegated Access for Multiple Students

If you have more than one student and both delegate access to you, use the same email address and password to access information shared by each student. The email initiated by the first student will include a temporary password. After you reset your password, emails sent from additional students will not contain a temporary password. When multiple students give you Delegated Access, each is listed when you login; however, you can only view one student’s data at a time.

View and Pay Tuition Using Authorized Payer Access 

Your student can give you access to view their Student Account Statement, make payments, enroll in the Installment Payment Plan, and access IRS Form 1098-T by using Authorized Payer Access. Your student grants you access through their student account in LionPATH. After access is granted, a login ID, temporary password, and login link will be sent to you via email.

Federal law prohibits Penn State representatives from corresponding or speaking about the student’s account with anyone other than the student unless the student has designated the individual as an Authorized Payer.

Authorized Payer Access should not be granted to employers, sponsors, or other third-party organizations/entities.

Authorized Payer Access for Multiple Students

If you have more than one student at Penn State, regardless of campus, you can easily link your students’ accounts. You will receive a separate user ID and a separate temporary password for each student via email as each student grants you Authorized Payer Access.

How to link multiple accounts: 

• Visit public.lionpath.psu.edu and click on the Authorized Payer Access tab.
• Use your Authorized Payer user ID and password you received via email. You must use the correct User ID and password when accessing each student’s account and you must log in at least once to each account to be able to link the students’ accounts. Once the student accounts are linked you only need to log in to one of the student accounts.
• Navigate to the My Account section on the left side menu of the Student Account Dashboard to manage your account.
• To use Authorized Payer access for multiple students, click on the pencil icon next to the student’s name on the Overview section on the left side menu.
• The student’s page displays the name of the student you are currently viewing.
• If another student has given you access to view their account, and you have logged in at least once to that student’s account, you will see that student’s account listed as other students (click the View box to switch to the other student account).

PLEASE NOTE: Access to view and pay tuition is provided when your student grants you Authorized Payer Access in LionPATH. Authorized Payer Access is separate and in addition to the Delegated Access that the student grants via LionPATH for academic information.

ID+ Card

Mobile id+ Card

Your student is required by University policy to obtain and carry a Penn State credential. The mobile id+ card is Penn State's primary credential and allows students to use their iPhone, Apple Watch, or Android device to access campus buildings, securely make purchases with a meal plan or LionCash, and so much more.

However, physical id+ cards can be issued in replacement of the mobile id+ card due to the following exceptions:

• Approved personal and religious reasons
• If the student’s device is not a smartphone that is compatible with tap technology
• If the student does not have a smartphone or mobile device readily available

LionCash

LionCash is Penn State’s prepaid spending account. It is a safe and easy way for your student to make purchases on campus and around town. LionCash is accepted at over 200 participating locations, including on-campus printing, vending, laundry, and copy machines. LionCash is the only accepted payment method for on-campus laundry facilities. To activate your student’s LionCash account, make an initial deposit online or at the id+ Office. There are no fees to use the account, and balances carry over from semester to semester and from year to year. Upon graduation, withdrawal, or at the end of the spring semester, your student may request a refund for the balance remaining in their account (less a $10.00 processing fee).

LionCash Deposits 

Family and friends may deposit funds into a student’s LionCash account online with a MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or Discover card. Deposits are processed as a standard purchase, not a cash advance, and are processed in real-time so funds are immediately available. Access to deposit LionCash is also available on the Penn State Go app. Family and friends will use the Guest Deposit option and will need to know the recipient’s PSU ID number.

Your student can manage LionCash and the Campus Meal Plan online. Your student can check account balances, review transaction history, and deactivate a lost or stolen id+ card. If your student works on campus, they may also sign up for payroll deductions into their LionCash account.

Lost or stolen id+ Cards

Lost or stolen id+ cards and/or mobile devices should be deactivated immediately through the Deactivation/Reactivate Portal. Physical id+ cards may also be deactivated in person on campus or by calling the local id+ card office during business hours.

Note: The cardholder is responsible for all transactions and usage of their id+ card or mobile id+ card. However, a temporary physical card is available for inaccessible credentials. Temporary cards can be obtained through the local housing operations commons desk as well as the local id+ Office. A fee will be charged for each temporary card that is issued.

id+ Card and PNC Bank Accounts 

PNC makes banking easy for students. Through an exclusive banking relationship with PNC Bank, your student will have free access to their account at more than 60,000 PNC and Partner ATMs, online and text message banking, and account alerts that help them keep track of their money.

Technology

Penn State IT

The Penn State Information Technology (IT) Service Desk provides 24/7 assistance through an extensive online knowledge base, chat, phone, online request form, or email.

Students also have the option to visit one of the walk-up service desk locations where they can get assistance with any of their technology needs. Walk-up locations and additional IT support information are available at help.psu.edu.

Student Technology Guide
connecttotech.psu.edu
This comprehensive guide introduces students to the University’s most important IT resources, such as account management, essential IT tools for learning, technology tutoring, where to store their files, and where to get help creating multimedia projects.

Penn State Accounts
accounts.psu.edu
A student’s Penn State Account user ID (e.g., xyz5000) is their digital identity at the University that provides access to secure online resources and services to which they have been granted access. Students are automatically assigned a Penn State user ID when they apply for admission online.

Students will log in to secure University resources and applications such as lab computers, Penn State's wireless network, Canvas, and LionPATH by entering their Penn State user ID followed by @psu.edu (e.g., [email protected]). Students will use their Penn State Account user ID and password to log in to secure University’s sites and services for as long as they are affiliated with Penn State.

Settings within the Penn State Account, like passwords and personal information, can be changed or updated through the Account Management website. The Penn State Account user ID and password should not be confused with the student’s unique nine-digit PSU ID number (e.g., 912345678) which is part of their mobile id+ card.

Wireless Access
bit.ly/wi-fi-FAQ
Secure wireless access is available for students in most University-owned or leased buildings, on or off campus.

Students can visit bit.ly/wi-fi-connect for instructions on how to connect to Penn State’s secure wireless “psu” network.

Students can visit wireless.psu.edu to set up wireless for each of their specific devices.
Campus guests and visitors can connect to the unauthenticated psu-guest wireless network at https://psu-guest.psu.edu. The guest network is not intended for use by students and should not be used for University-owned devices. Guests and visitors can visit bit.ly/wi-fi-guest-connect for more information.

Registering through the Roomgear (roomgear.psu.edu) wireless network within residence halls allows students to connect their gaming consoles, remote-controlled streaming devices, smart TVs, and smart speakers. Students can visit it.psu.edu/students and click on Get Connected for more information.

Protecting Your Student’s Identity and Data
security.psu.edu/education-training 
Penn State takes the security and privacy of your student's personal information seriously. Penn State IT uses robust processes and technologies to safeguard its data and systems to ensure they can only be accessed by authorized users. Students are required to enroll in multifactor authentication (MFA) to help protect their personal information, as well as sensitive and confidential Penn State resources and data. The University also provides information to students on how to protect themselves from phishing attacks, viruses, spyware, ransomware, identity and data theft, and other forms of cyberattacks.

Software at Penn State
software.psu.edu
Software at Penn State provides access to many software applications. Students log in using their Penn State credentials to access titles such as Office 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud. Discipline-specific apps such as Matlab, SAS, EndNote, SPSS, Qualtrics, and Esri are also available via Software at Penn State.

Penn State Student Systems
These Penn State systems are frequently used by Penn State students to navigate life on campus.

Canvas – Penn State’s online system for teaching and learning where students and professors can upload course materials and conduct online discussions
eLiving – On-campus housing portal, including roommate assignments and housing lottery process 
LionPATH – Student information system to register for classes, check end-of-semester grades, and pay bills 
Penn State Go – The official and all-in-one mobile app available to download in the Google Play Store and Apple App store 
myUHS – University Health Services portal to submit immunization records, make appointments, and communicate with doctors 
Starfish – Communication portal that gives students centralized access to advisers, instructors, and others who provide academic support.

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Campus Life 

Information about campus life at Penn State Behrend.

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Commuter Resources 

Commuter resources at Penn State Behrend.

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Housing and Food Services 

Information about Housing and Food Services and Residence Life at Penn State Behrend.

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Health and Safety 

Information about health and safety at Penn State and on the Behrend campus.

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