Stay Informed and Connected
The Office of Parent and Family Engagement is your go-to source for information, guidance, and timely updates. Whether you’re looking for answers, upcoming events, or ways to support your student, we’re here to connect you with the right resources.
We communicate regularly with families—sharing what’s happening on campus, what your student may be experiencing, and how you can stay engaged throughout their Penn State journey.
Stay Connected to Campus and Resources
Stay connected to your student’s Penn State experience through the Parent and Family Hub, your central resource for updates, guidance, and opportunities to stay engaged. From helpful tools to timely information, the hub makes it easy to support your student and feel part of the Penn State community.
Helping Your Student Use Campus Resources
One of the best ways to support your student’s growth is by coaching—not solving. Encourage them to seek out and use campus resources on their own. Whether it's asking a question, making an appointment, or finding support, each step builds confidence, connection, and independence.
Need help identifying where to start? Share available resources with your student and empower them to take the lead.
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- Help and Tutorials for:
- Setting Up/Using Delegated Access
- Consent to Do Business Electronically
- Adding/Updating Authorized Payer
- Help and Tutorials for:
Campus on the Go: Download Penn State GO
The Penn State Go mobile app is a great way to keep campus close by. Download the app in the Google Play Sore and Apple App Sore and customize your experience by selecting “Change App Experience” and “Parents and Families.”
Problem Solving Resources
When your student faces a challenge—academic, social, or personal—they may turn to you for advice. It’s natural to want to step in, but one of the most valuable things you can do is guide them in learning to solve problems on their own. Listen with empathy, encourage them to take action, and support their decisions—even when they differ from your own.
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Is your student attending class regularly? Encourage your student to meet with their professor and/or academic adviser to discuss grades, attendance, test preparation or other related issues. All faculty hold weekly office hours that students and encouraging your student to visit the professor during office hours often is more productive than trying to speak with a professor before or after class. Penn State Learning offers tutoring and guided study groups to students.
Resources for Students
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Share your views on illegal and/or excessive drinking. Talk with your student about how much they are drinking and how it might be affecting their health, safety, and academics. Ask your student if they would make an appointment to talk with someone.
Resources for Students
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Penn State’s Counseling and Psychological Services offers a range of mental health supports designed to help students navigate challenges, build resilience, and care for their well-being. Most students begin with a brief phone screening, which helps connect them with the right services and next steps. While staff can discuss your concerns about your student, they can only share details about a student’s treatment if the student has provided written permission.
What to Do if You’re Concerned About Your Student
If you’re worried about your student’s well-being, a counselor can help you think through how to approach the conversation and when it may be helpful to encourage them to schedule an appointment. Students are adults and schedule their own care, but families play an important role in offering support and helping them take the first step.
After-Hours or Urgent Concerns
If you are concerned about a mental health emergency after CAPS business hours, you or your student can:
- contact the 24/7 Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400
- Visit a local emergency department at Mount Nittany Medical Center of Penn Highlands State College
If you have a family emergency or are unable to reach your student and are concerned for their safety, you can contact:
- Residence Life: 814-863-1710 for students living on campus
- Student Care and Advocacy: 814-863-2020 for additional support
Referrals to Community Providers
CAPS offers short-term individual therapy, and students who need ongoing, long-term, or specialized care may be referred to local providers. Families can help by ensuring students have access to insurance information or understand their coverage. A community provider locator is available to help students connect with private practitioners in the local area.