Supplemental Housing
Learn more about Supplemental Housing. All three of the videos in the UP Supplemental Housing playlist will play in order.
What is Supplemental Housing?
Housing utilizes supplemental housing space to offer more students the opportunity to enjoy the on-campus living experience. Supplemental Housing space is typically lounge space converted to permanent living space - the rooms are located within the residence hall buildings and offer the student all of the same amenities as a regular room - bed, desk, chest of drawers, wardrobe or closet, Internet and cable TV connection, microfridge - but since the room is larger, the space will accommodate 4-8 roommates. Some supplemental space may be designated as sharing a room with a Resident Assistant (RA).
Both first-year and upper-class students are assigned to supplemental housing.
First-year students
As students are accepting the offer of admission to Penn State, all regular housing space is allocated. Regular housing space fills as the deadline to accept the offer of admission to Penn State draws nearer, and students are then assigned to supplemental housing space. Therefore, the closer to or after the May 1 deadline that a student accepts the offer of admission, the greater likelihood of being assigned to supplemental housing. Use of supplemental space allows Housing and Food Services to accommodate as many students as possible. Some students decide not to attend Penn State either prior to the semester beginning, or after the semester has started. As these cancellations occur, students assigned to supplemental housing can then be moved to regular housing space.
Upper-class students
During the Housing Contract process for upper-class students, offers are made for regular and supplemental housing. An upper-class student that accepts a supplemental housing contract will be assigned to a supplemental housing space.
Moving to Regular Housing Space
The amount of time that a student spends in supplemental housing varies. As regular housing space becomes available, students will be moved from supplemental housing based on the location of the current vacancy as well as the student currently assigned to the room. All attempts are made to keep the student who is moving within their current building or housing area and assigned to with a student who is of similar semester standing. Ample notification of the new assignment will be given so the student can prepare to move within a four-day allotted time frame.
Supplemental Housing Room Rate
During the time that a student is assigned to supplemental housing, the room rate will be reduced. Once the student is reassigned to regular housing space, the room rate will be prorated to the new room rate.