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Housing is available and guaranteed to all full-time undergraduate students, unless otherwise determined by the Office of Housing. Full-time undergraduate students whose permanent address is more than 50 miles from the University are required to live on campus. The University may also offer housing to graduate students.

Residents are required to participate in a University meal plan. Exceptions to the meal plan requirement may be granted for extenuating reasons. Additional information is available on the Residence Life & Housing website.

The Residence Life student staff is composed of Senior Resident Advisors (SRAs), Community Advisors (CAs), Head Residents (HRs), and Resident Advisors (RAs). The student staff is supported by a team of professional staff members within Student Life. Additional information is available on the Residence Life & Housing website.

Housing options vary from traditional residence halls to group living spaces including suites, apartments, townhouses, fraternity and sorority houses, and overflow houses. First-year students and upperclass students reside on both Main Street (North) Campus and Priscilla Payne Hurd (South) Campus. A variety of unique housing opportunities are available including organizational housing, fraternity and sorority housing, single-gender, and gender-inclusive housing.

Commuter students must reside at their permanent address, registered with the University, with a parent or a legal guardian within 50 miles of the University.

A change from resident to commuter status is only considered during a specified time period prior to the General Selection process early in the spring semester for the subsequent academic year. Exceptions may be granted under extenuating circumstances.

A change from commuter to resident status will be considered as residential space permits.

Maintaining a secure residence hall environment is a shared responsibility. Residents are expected to take appropriate safety precautions, including double-locking room doors and never propping open exterior doors.

• Access to residence halls are limited to residents, their visitors, and appropriate University staff. For community safety, video cameras may be in use in common spaces.
• Campus Police officers routinely walk through campus residence hall common spaces as a matter of safety and security. Common spaces are generally defined as areas for group use. Examples of common spaces include living areas, lounges, hallways, stairs, laundry rooms, and kitchens. Personal space is generally defined as space designated for individual use, such as bedrooms.
• Group housing (e.g. fraternity/sorority houses, apartments, townhouses, and suite-style units) are not subject to routine campus police walkthroughs. However, Campus Police reserves the right to enter areas within these properties for due cause, as described below.
• Campus Police officers reserve the right to enter any space at any time when there is imminent risk of harm or reasonable cause to believe that a violation of law has occurred or is about to occur.

Property and Insurance

The University is not responsible for personal property that is lost, stolen, or damaged. Students are advised not to keep large sums of money or valuables in their rooms and are encouraged to remove valuable items during break periods. All losses should be reported to Campus Police. Personal belongings are not covered under the University's insurance policy, though a family's homeowner insurance may provide coverage for student possessions at college. Students and their families are encouraged to check coverage options under their homeowner's insurance.

Access and Entry

Unauthorized entry into any space that is not their own may result in student accountability and/or criminal charges under Pennsylvania law. Residence Life staff are authorized to use master keys to allow residents into their assigned room, respond to an emergency, during health and safety inspections, or prior to a break period to confirm departure.

• It is a violation of University policy to:
  • Duplicate a University ID or residence hall key;
  • Allow an individual to use a University ID card or residence hall key that was issued to another individual;
  • Leave a University ID, device containing a University ID, or residence hall key purposefully unattended in a public place accessible for others to gain entry into a campus space.
• Solicitation by external organizations is not permitted within residential areas.
• Any suspicious individual should be reported immediately to Campus Police.
• Interference with or harassment of Residence Life Staff, Campus Police, emergency personnel, or law enforcement officials will result in referral to Student Accountability & Conflict Transformation.
• Ground-level rooms are equipped with security window screens; these may only be opened or removed in the event of an emergency.
• Tampering with safety equipment - including but not limited to window seals or screens, electrical boxes, fire extinguishers and life-safety detectors - may result in repair charges, fines, and referral to Student Accountability & Conflict Transformation.

Fire Safety Inspection

The Campus Fire Marshal conducts at least six fire safety inspections in each residence hall during the academic year. Inspections typically occur Monday through Friday after 10:00 am and include checks of fire extinguishers and identification of fire hazards.