Department Directory

College is exciting and challenging for non-traditional undergraduate students. Whether you are coming back after having been out of school for several years, or this is your first college semester, we want to help you navigate campus resources that will complement your academic, personal, and career goals.

Welcome to Campus Recreation

Our people are our greatest asset. Our community is enriched by the commonalities and differences of everyone we serve. We invite you to work with us toward fostering a welcoming environment that enables all to thrive. 

Campus Recreation facilities and programs serve our students, faculty, staff, and community with a diverse offering of well-being opportunities to enhance the student experience at University Park.

Facility Hours

For accurate facility hours members need to use the Campus Recreation app.

• Go to your favorite app store (iOS and Google), search for Penn State Campus Recreation, and download the Penn State CRec app!

Career Services is committed to offering a comprehensive array of programs and services that supports and facilitates career development for all students. Programs and resources are provided to assist students and alumni in specifying career goals, expanding knowledge of career alternatives, understanding effective decision making, and acquiring appropriate strategies and skills to carry out the process.

The Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity (CSGD) provides a comprehensive range of information and advocacy services to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni. We work to create and maintain an open, safer, and inclusive environment honoring gender and sexual diversity. Through social and supportive programming, the CSGD strives to serve the entire Penn State community. Our staff is here to support you on your journey through Penn State.

Please stop by the center to say hello or engage with us virtually. 

It takes us all to create actionable change and support student success by creating pathways to grow.

We're focused on building community by cultivating an inclusive and positive university climate, contributing to academic experiences by fostering students’ ability to think critically and define success on their own terms, providing students with resources to promote social justice, inclusion, and liberation at Penn State and around the world and facilitate students’ individual transformation and engagement.

The largest multi-faith center of its kind in the country, The Pasquerilla Spiritual Center is home to the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Development at Penn State. The center offers a welcoming, safe, inclusive environment, and aims to promote an environment of appreciation and respect for religious and spiritual diversity.

The Penn State Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) is a program of Student Affairs that supports students in recovery from alcohol and other substance use disorders by providing ongoing support for major lifestyle changes, a commitment to help students in recovery find success at Penn State, and a community that reinforces healthy and sustainable habits of mind, body, and spirit.

We are dedicated to connecting students, faculty, staff, and the broader university community with engaging, impactful messaging and resources that support student success and enrich campus life.

Counseling & Psychological Services

CAPS offers a wide range of services for undergraduate and graduate students, including: 

• Wellness and self-help options 
• Group, individual, and couples counseling
• Crisis intervention
• Psychiatric services
• Community education and outreach services for the University community. 
• Training Opportunities

The mission of Health Promotion and Wellness (HPW) is to cultivate a community that supports student success, well-being, and the pursuit of lifelong health. Our staff and peer health educators provide the following one-on-one services.  All services are free, unless otherwise indicated. 

• Alcohol Education Service-BASICS 
  • Students who have a legal or policy violation are required to pay the program fee 
  • Students without a violation can self-refer without a charge 
• Cannabis Education Service-CASECS 
  • Students who have a legal or policy violation are required to pay the program fee 
  • Students without a violation can self-refer without a charge 
• Nicotine Cessation Services 
• Nutrition Clinic 
• Problem Gambling Service 
• Wellness Services 
  • Got Sleep? 
  • Mind-Body Connection 
  • Mission: Nutrition 
  • Relationships 101 
  • Stress Less  

We provide a range of educational workshops. Click here to learn more and request a workshop.

We have a peer education program called HealthWorks. Click here to learn more.  

We also offer a series of free wellness events throughout the semester. Click here to learn more about our events and programs.  

As a center of University community life, the HUB-Robeson Center complements the academic experience by offering students opportunities in leadership, social responsibility, citizenship, volunteerism, and student employment. The HUB-Robeson Center provides a variety of cultural, educational, social, and recreational programs.

The HUB-Robeson Center encourages self-directed activities providing opportunities for individuals to recognize their own competencies, learn the dynamics of group activity, and understand their role as responsible citizens. The HUB-Robeson Center strives to provide an environment, which fosters respect, values all individuals, appreciates diversity, and celebrates the contributions of all its members.

Off-Campus Student Support

Welcome to Off-Campus Student Support! We serve a diverse group of over 38,000 University Park students who live off-campus or are preparing to live off-campus.

We offer resources to help students:

• Decide whether to move off campus
• Find housing options or roommates
• Resolve problems with a roommate or landlord
• Find community services and resources
• Become an advocate for off-campus students
• Get involved in the State College community
• Learn about tenants' rights and responsibilities

Social fraternities and sororities at Penn State consists of a diverse group of men and women who help create smaller communities within the large university environment. Penn State's fraternities and sororities are committed to the basic principles of membership:

• Academic Achievement
• Service and Philanthropy
• Leadership
• Brotherhood and Sisterhood
• Social
• Alumni involvement

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life supports the active and alumni members of the Penn State fraternity and sorority community. The office provides resources to help the student leadership fulfill their mission.

Penn State is committed to fostering an environment free from sexual or gender-based harassment or misconduct. The Office of Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Response ensures compliance with Title IX, a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on the sex or gender of employees and students. The University does not tolerate behaviors, including sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, as well as retaliation for reporting any of these acts. The University is also committed to providing support, resources, and services to those who may have been impacted by one of these incidents.

The many offices under the Vice President for Student Affairs provide students with a web of support and opportunity outside the classroom.  

The Paul Robeson Cultural Center provides programs and support services to encourage and cultivate the appreciation and celebration of the diverse perspectives, experiences, and cultures of many under-represented communities at Penn State.

Welcome Parents and Families

The Penn State Parents Program welcomes you to the Penn State family. We look forward to supporting you as you support your student. We are here to partner with you to ensure your student's success by:

• Serving as a central University resource
• Enhancing parent and family involvement opportunities
• Providing information about the student experience at Penn State
• Communicating regularly with families

We invite you to contact our office with any questions or concerns.

Proactive. Effective. Comprehensive.

Penn State’s Relationship Violence Outreach, Intervention, and Community Education (R-VOICE) Center supports students who have been impacted by sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking, harassment, and other campus climate issues. In addition, the office works to educate the campus community about gender equity issues and to provide workshops and resources for the prevention of sexual violence.

Welcome to Residence Life. Our mission is to provide 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.

Each residence hall/apartment area has student and professional staff members who live in the community and are available 24/7 to provide information and resources, offer help and support, plan social and educational activities, and address residents' concerns. Their goal is to assist residents in creating communities that are inclusive, engaging and caring.

We support and challenge students as they expand learning beyond the classroom, develop personal and professional understanding and skills, and achieve the success they seek at Penn State and in their lives beyond. We also encourage a safe and healthy living and learning environment, in which students can explore endless interests, find their niche within the large and diverse Penn State community, and form lasting relationships.

Your support of Student Affairs increases the potential of each and every one of our Penn State students and elevates the value of a Penn State degree.

The Student Affairs Finance Office is an administrative support unit which serves as the liaison between the Office of the Corporate Controller and Student Affairs. Our goal is to provide exceptional customer service to Student Affairs while maintaining sound fiscal practices.

Student Affairs has its own Information Technology office. Student Affairs Information Technology (SAIT) provides an array of services to the staff in Student Affairs.

Penn State Student Affairs Research and Assessment (SARA) seeks to evaluate and improve the student experience and the educational outcomes of students by providing data relevant to Student Affairs, the academic colleges, and the Commonwealth Campuses. To accomplish this, we coordinate and assist in the development of a broad range of assessment and evaluation efforts, including:

• Designing and administering Penn State PULSE and other new and recurring surveys
• Conducting surveys, focus groups/interviews, and other assessment methods upon request
• Providing consulting services to offices/units related to assessment projects (e.g., survey development, data analysis)
• Assisting in the creation of cocurricular learning outcomes
• Evaluating Student Affairs educational programming

SARA supports the mission of Student Affairs and the University by serving as a leader in gathering actionable data that inform decision-making, planning, and improvement efforts around programs, initiatives, and policies.

College life can be confusing and overwhelming, and sometimes you just need someone to help you sort things out. Student Care and Advocacy coordinates efforts with campus partners to assist students who encounter challenges or concerns in achieving success at Penn State.

Student Engagement Programs provides students with opportunities to get involved in experiences that complement both their in-class and out-of-class learning. 

Office of Student Leadership and Involvement

The Office of Student Leadership and Involvement cultivates student learning by fostering exploration, community engagement, and development through educational and experiential opportunities.

Through participation in programs and leadership opportunities offered by the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement, students will:

• Exhibit knowledge and awareness of diversity around identities, cultures, and communities

• Enhance awareness of and commitment to social justice and active citizenship 

• Improve self-understanding by developing an integrated identity

• Develop the ability to interrelate and establish collaborative relationships 

• Gain knowledge and understanding of resources, policies, and involvement opportunities

• Demonstrate skills to guide a group, organization, or community to achieve its goals

• Utilize critical and reflective thinking to assess assumptions and consider alternative perspectives and solutions

• Develop an appreciation for the arts and creative expression 

About Student Legal Services

Student Legal Services provides advice, referrals, document drafting, and other legal services to University Park and Commonwealth Campus students facing personal legal issues. To get started, please complete our intake form. You may also stop by our drop-in hours, but we will need you to complete an intake form before seeing an attorney. To avoid delay, we strongly recommend you complete the intake form before arriving during drop-in hours.

We also provide free notary services for Penn State students. Notary service is available weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Complete our intake form to get started.

***NOTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IMPACTED BY SEVIS TERMINATIONS***

Penn State Global, together with other University offices, is closely monitoring any potential changes that could impact our international community, including F-1/J-1 students, and their dependents. Penn State Global has information and resources on its website. Please submit an intake with SLS if you would like to speak to an attorney about this issue. 

Whether you are just starting out at Penn State, transferring from another school, or changing campuses, we are here to assist you in your transition to Penn State. Our office coordinates a variety of programs for students and their families, including New Student Orientation, Transfer Student Orientation, Parents and Families Orientation, and Welcome Week. 

University Health Services (UHS) is your comprehensive on-campus health care resource. We specialize in outpatient student health including the treatment of medically acute problems and ongoing health concerns. We provide preventive care, education, and resources to help students live a healthy lifestyle.