Manage Your HFS Contract

University Park offers a variety of housing options!

Incoming First-Year Students

• Building Types: traditional residence halls, renovated residence halls, and suite-style halls

• Room Types: double-occupancy rooms and suite-style (2-bedroom/4-person), and limited single-, triple-, and quad-occupancy rooms available. Some students may be assigned to supplemental housing.

Upper-Class Students

• Building Types: traditional residence halls, renovated residence halls, suite-style halls, and apartments

• Room Types: double-, single-, triple-, and quad-occupancy rooms; single-occupancy room with in-room bathroom; suite-style (2-bedroom/4-person); 4-person apartments; supplemental housing.

Penn State values diversity, and we believe that living with individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and ethnic groups enriches both the college experience and residential community. We are committed to providing equal access to housing and maintaining an environment that is free from harassment and discrimination.

To support this commitment, the University does not utilize a roommate matching survey or ask questions about personal preferences. Instead, students are randomly assigned to live together, match students to reside together, creating opportunities to build meaningful connections across differences. First-year students will be assigned to live only with other first-year students, helping to foster shared experiences and support.

If you would like to room with a friend, both of you must indicate each other as roommate preferences on your HFS Contract using their Penn State Access Account (i.e. abc123). Be sure to verify your selection before the preference modification deadline. 

Incoming First-Year Students

When room assignments are processed, only mutual roommate requests will be paired together. The housing preferences of the first student's account to be processed will be used to determine the assignment location. If space is not available based on those preferences, the system will review the second student's preferences. If neither set of preferences can be accommodated, the pair will be assigned to any available space.

Current Students

Roommate Requirements:

1. Both students must have an accepted HFS Contract for the same type of housing option.

2. If your friend has a different housing option, they must add their name to the Preferred Housing Option Waitlist for the same space and indicate you as their roommate preference on the Waitlist entry to be considered for placement together. 

3. Adding a roommate does not guarantee placement together. Assignments depend on space availability. 

4. If your friend does not have an accepted HFS Contract, adding them as a roommate will not release an HFS Contract offer to them.

5. If you added a friend during the LiveOn Housing Process, they must also be listed as a roommate preference to be considered for assignment together.

Housing Preferences can be updated until 12 p.m. (noon) on the indicated date below in eLiving > Contracts > Summary / Update Preferences

Students can also utilize the Room Exchange eBoard available starting and ending at noon to manage their room assignment. 

eLiving > My Info > Room Exchange eBoard

Visit Room Exchange eBoard Instructions site for additional information.

The Open Room Change process opens and closes at 12 p.m. (noon).

2026 Spring Open Room Change

1. Review current room rates and speak with the person(s) responsible for paying your student bill to ensure that the rate adjustment (if applicable) is permissible

2. Select My Info > My Room, then UP - Spring 2026

3. Select Change Assignment

4. Search for a room by selecting area, building, and/or room

5. Select Take This Room to confirm your new assignment 

6. You may continue to view available rooms and change your room assignment until the deadline of noon ET Tuesday, Dec. 9

7. Your spring semester bill in LionPATH will be updated with any changes to your room cost

8. Students completing a room change for spring will be expected to vacate their fall assignment when they leave for the winter break. Instructions for checking out of your current assignment and into your new spring semester assignment will be emailed to you closer to the end of the semester. Your new spring room assignment may not be available for you to drop your items off; in these situations, Housing Operations may be able to provide limited storage. Additional information will be provided before the end of fall semester.

Students who are planning to graduate early or who will be away from campus for study abroad, student teaching, an internship, a co-op, or a leave of absence, will accept an HFS Contract for the entire academic year.

During the fall semester, the student will file their intent to graduate, schedule study abroad, or file a leave of absence in LionPATH. Once this information is posted in LionPATH, the student can submit an HFS Contract Cancellation request in eLiving. The Housing Assignment Office will confirm the student's LionPATH account and process the HFS Contract cancellation for the semester the student will be away from campus.  No cancellation fee will be charged.

If you're interested in joining the LiveOn community, simply add your name to On-Campus Housing Waitlist in eLiving:

• 2026 Spring Semester: Waitlist opens at 12 p.m. (noon) ET, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025

• 2027 Spring Semester: Waitlist opens at 12 p.m. (noon) ET, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026

Starting in mid- to late-November, Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract offers will be released to students who add their name to the On-Campus Housing Waitlist and have scheduled spring semester classes at University Park based on availability. While joining the Waitlist is a great way to explore on-campus housing opportunities, please note that receiving housing is not guaranteed. 

Learn more about the spring semester LiveOn Housing Process. 

A student may submit an HFS Contract Cancellation Request ONLY if extenuating circumstances exist:

1. Failure to Enroll. The HFS Contract may be canceled if the student does not attend or enroll at Penn State during the term of the accepted HFS Contract. If a student withdraws but then re-enrolls after the HFS Contract is canceled, the HFS Contract will be reinstated and the student will be obligated to fulfill the terms of the HFS Contract.

2. Extreme Circumstances. A student may submit an HFS Contract Release Request Form to indicate an extreme circumstance the student is dealing with. Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

3. Withdrawal or Academic Drop. A student is no longer eligible for University Housing when the student has voluntarily withdrawn or has been academically suspended; the HFS Contract will be canceled. 

4. University-Sanctioned Academic Activity. A student may be released from the HFS Contract if the student submits a Request Contract Cancellation for a University-sanctioned academic activity that requires the student to be away from campus (e. g., practicum, study abroad, internship). The HFS Contract will not be canceled until such activity is verified on the student's LionPATH account. If a student does not participate in the academic activity but re-enrolls after the HFS Contract is canceled, the HFS Contract will be reinstated and the student will be obligated to fulfill the terms of the HFS Contract.

1. Non-enrollment, withdrawal, leave of absence, transfer to another PSU campus, transfer to another university, study abroad, internship, graduation:

eLiving > Contracts > Request Contract Cancellation

The Housing Assignment Office will review the request and respond by email within 1-2 business days with confirmation or denial of request. Action to cancel the HFS Contract may not occur until the student's LionPATH account is updated to reflect the reason (such as intent to graduate, study aboard credits, classes cancelled, etc.).

If the HFS Contract is canceled for any of these reasons and then the student proceeds to schedule classes during the contract period, the HFS Contract cancellation will be revoked, the HFS Contract will be reinstated, and the student will be assigned to a room. The student will then be obligated to fulfill the HFS Contract and pay housing and food for the original term.

2. Extenuating circumstances - financial, marriage:

Submit the completed HFS Contract Release Request Form (PDF file) to the Housing Assignment Office, include supporting documentation to substantiate request. Contract Release Requests are reviewed by a University committee, who meets on a regular basis. The student will receive an email within 7-10* business days with confirmation or denial of request. If a request is granted, the response will indicate the penalty fee associated with the cancellation.

For requests related to medical conditions, the Request for Reasonable Accommodation in Housing form needs to be completed instead of the Release Request form. 

*The 7-10 business days is an estimate; during certain times of the year, the response time may be longer due to the volume of requests. The Committee has a set meeting scheduled, and requests to expedite a review will not be honored.

The student has the right to submit an appeal to a determination for an HFS Contract Release. The appeal should be submitted to the Housing Assignment Office, and include additional and specific documentation to substantiate request. The appeal will be reviewed by the Director, Ancillary Services, and a response will be sent to the student via email within 7-10 business days.

A student may submit an exemption request from the residency requirement if one of these conditions is met:

1. The student is 21 years or older at the time of their initial registration with the University;

2. The student is married and their spouse will be at the University;

3. The student has actively served in the military prior to their admission to the University; or

4. The student graduated from a high school in Centre County (this applies to only these high schools: State College, Bellefonte, Grace Prep, Centre County Christian Academy, Penns Valley, Bald Eagle, Philipsburg-Osceola, and Saint Joseph) and will be living with their parent or legal guardian in Centre County in a permanent residence (parent or guardian is a permanent Centre County resident and paying Centre County taxes).

An exemption request may only be submitted for the entire academic year; exemptions will not be processed mid-year to release a student for the spring semester.

Unless a student meets one of these conditions, the expectation is for the student to reside on campus for the full HFS Contract period.

If a student accepts the offer of admission after the deadline date, the request must be received within ten (10) days of the acceptance date. Exemption requests approved after the deadline are subject to a $100 administrative processing fee.

Exemption requests will not be honored beginning the first day of class for the appropriate semester.

An exemption request may only be submitted for the entire academic year; exemptions will not be processed in the fall to release a student for the spring semester.

The following documents must be submitted together by the deadline based on the student's semester of admittance to Penn State:

1. Housing Exemption Form (pdf file)

2. Supporting Documentation as necessary (identified on form if required)

The following documents must be submitted together by the deadline based on the student's semester of admittance to Penn State:

1. Housing Exemption Form (pdf file)

2. Signed letter of support from the student's parent or guardian

3. Letter of support from the sponsoring entity. The sponsoring entity must be a recognized University partner, and cannot be a relative or family friend.

If a student accepts the offer of admission after the deadline date, all three (3) completed items must be received within ten (10) days of the acceptance date. Exemption requests approved after the deadline are subject to a $100 administrative processing fee.

Exemption requests will not be honored beginning the first day of class for the appropriate semester.

An exemption request may only be submitted for the entire academic year; exemptions will not be processed in the fall to release a student for the spring semester.

What is the CTO?

The CTO interest form is managed through a Microsoft Form during a designated timeframe. The form is how a student indicates their request a transfer of their HFS Contract obligation to another eligible student. The student is not required to identify another student - the Housing Assignment Office is responsible for identifying the other student and processing the transaction.

Students of third (3rd) semester standing or higher and enrolled with scheduled classes at University Park for the contract period are eligible to add their name to the CTO form. The student who transfers the obligation of the HFS Contract will have a $100 administrative fee applied to the student's LionPATH account once the CTO has been processed. 

The University is not able to guarantee a student will have their CTO request successfully processed.

How is a CTO Processed?

1. The student with an accepted HFS Contract completes the CTO interest form, available starting at noon Thursday, Nov. 20, which implies:

   • Agreement to cancel the HFS Contract

   • Consent to a $100 administrative fee, charged to their LionPATH account upon successful completion

2. The Housing Assignment Office identifies an eligible student to receive the HFS Contract (only the obligation of the HFS Contract is transferred, the housing option is NOT transferrable)

3. HFS Contract offers for a CTO exchange are processed between 2 - 5 p.m. Monday afternoons during the designated timeframe.

4. Once the new student accepts the HFS Contract, the original student's HFS Contract is cancelled and the $100 fee is applied.

5. The original student will receive an email to confirm cancellation of their HFS Contract.

The CTO interest form will be available starting at noon Thursday, Nov. 20. The Housing Assignment Office will process CTO exchanges every Monday afternoon, from Dec. 1 through July 27, based on the number of students on the CTO interest form and ability to identify eligible students to process a CTO exchange with. 

*The University is not able to guarantee a student will have their CTO request successfully processed.