Budgeting the meal plan

A message from The Mill:

Don’t Go Hungry! Check Your Balance.

Please talk with your student. It saves them and you money!

With the many dining options offered on campus, making your meal plan last a full semester can be challenging. It’s not only important to monitor where and how you’re spending your meal plan dollars, but also to keep track of your account balance. Below are some tips to help ensure that you don’t run out before move out.

  1. Choosing meals prepared at the Mill rather than prepackaged retail items gives you the best value with a 65% discount off the cash price.
  2. Consider buying fountain beverages where possible instead of the more expensive bottled options.
  3. Thirsty? Keep a water bottle with you and become a frequent user of the free filtered water stations in the residence halls and around campus.
  4. If you are a coffee drinker, use a coffee mug to receive a discount on coffee and participate in the coffee club to receive free ones.
  5. Let your friends pay for their own lunches or dinner. Wondering how many dining dollars you have left? Check your balance. It’s easy! Simply visit www.eLiving.psu.edu.

Housing Requests for Next Year

Housing Request Process

Students wishing to live on campus for the 2015-2016 academic year will be able to request a Housing Contract beginning on Sunday, October 12 at noon. Contract requests must be submitted at www.eLiving.psu.edu. It is important to note that Housing Contracts are offered through a random lottery process. The date on which a contract request is submitted has no impact on whether or not a student will receive a contract offer.

The request process for regular spaces at all campuses will end at noon on January 22, 2015. Regular Housing Contracts will be offered beginning at 5:00 p.m. on January 22.

Harrisburg Transportation

The Campus Life Office offers transportation to the Harrisburg train and bus station as well as the Harrisburg airport. The cost is $15 each way. Students may sign up for “one way” if needed. Only the student may sign himself/herself up for transportation. A Penn State ID and cash or check is required at time of sign- up. Please note the times of departure and return when making ticket arrangements. Students should arrive at the designated location 15 minutes prior to departure from campus or stations. Because there are a limited numbers of seats, the student should sign up as soon as possible in the Campus Life Office (Rm. 207, Conklin Hall). Bags are limited to 1 (one) carry on (lap) and 1 (one) average -size suitcase. If there are any questions, please ask your student to stop in the Campus Life office.

The following dates have been scheduled for transportation:

Nov. 21st, returning Nov. 30th (11:30 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. departure from campus)
Dec. 18th, returning Jan. 11th (11:30 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. departures from campus)
Dec. 19th, returning Jan. 11th (5:00 p.m. departure from campus)


11:30 a.m. departure for airport only and 5:00 p.m. departure to bus/train station only
The bus/van will depart the Harrisburg Train/Bus station to return to campus (on return dates above) at 7:00 p.m. sharp!
If a student is flying to the Harrisburg airport to return to campus, the student will need to take a taxi from the airport to the bus/train station in Harrisburg.

*Students are responsible to purchase their own bus/train/plane tickets.
*Please remember that we cannot hold the vans/buses because your student is running late.
*Please keep in mind that because of costs we may need to consolidate students onto a particular trip.
*We try to run each of the van trips but a trip may be cancelled due to lack of sign-ups.

Taxi service is available by calling:
Capital City Taxi @ 717-939-6363 or American Taxi (Greg) @ 717-283-7490
(This service is not affiliated with Penn State. Information for this service has been requested by students and family members.)