Fall 2015 PREFACE Student Guide to Penn State University Park Welcome Week Schedule • Campus Map • Programs and Services Welcome Message from the President Welcome to Penn State! Since 1855, the University Park campus has been home to a talented and diverse group of students, faculty, and staff, and we’re pleased you’re joining this vibrant community. I encourage you to make the most of your college experience. Explore a wide array of academic and cocurricular experiences. Get involved! You’ll develop new skills, make new friends, and, along the way, find your future. We look forward to getting to know you and helping you achieve your educational goals. At Penn State, we’re committed to student success in the classroom and in all you do. I wish you the best as you begin your journey at our University. Thank you for choosing Penn State. President Eric Barron Preface has been designed to provide information about resources available at the Penn State University Park campus and help you prepare for your arrival. We hope you will keep Preface as a helpful reference guide throughout your Penn State experience. The center section, Welcome Week Schedule, is an easy-to-follow listing of new student academic and welcome programs. Welcome Week schedules are also available at welcomeweek.psu.edu. Special Message to Parents and Families: Preface has been developed to meet the needs of your student. The information in Preface magazine is available to you in the Parents & Families Guide. For parent and family information, please visit www.parents.psu.edu. PREFACE Blue Band cover photo by Matthew Casey 1 PREFACE Welcome to State College ................. 4 Welcome Change-of-Campus & Transfer Students ...........................6 Academic Life orientation.psu.edu Your Penn State Degree ............10 102 Wagner Building 814-865-4178 Academic Advising .....................10 The Office for Student Orientation & Transition Programs, through collaborative Resources for partnerships, provides a comprehensive learning experience for Penn State Undergraduate Students ....12 undergraduate students that supports a successful academic, social, and personal Academic Support Services ......12 transition to the University. This is accomplished for new and continuing students, Technology @ Penn State .........14 and their parents and family members, through programs such as: Business of Being a Student .....16 • Change-of-Campus Orientation Tuition & Financial Aid ...............16 • Link UP (a one-day visit program for students considering a campus change) Campus Employment ...............18 • New Student Orientation Academic Calendar ...................20 • Transfer Student Orientation • Welcome Programs (at each semester start) Student Life @PennStateSOTP Campus Map ..............................24 Involvement Opportunities & Campus Resources ...............26 Recreation & Athletics ...............29 2015-16 Penn State Reads Living On Campus ......................30 pennstatereads.psu.edu Cable TV Guide ...........................32 Penn State Reads is an initiative sponsored by Undergraduate Education, Student Off-Campus Living .....................34 Affairs, the Office of Student Orientation and Transition Programs, and the Health & Wellness ......................36 University Libraries. It is designed to provide a shared experience among new Campus Safety ...........................38 first-year students, encourage intellectual engagement within and beyond the Student Rights, Responsibilities classroom, stimulate critical thinking, and foster a deeper connection to Penn & Resources ............................40 State’s mission and core values. First-year students will receive a copy of the Alcohol & Drug Saftey .................41 book at New Student Orientation, and they should read it prior to participating in Welcome Week activities. The Boom: How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution Resources and Changed the World By Russell Gold Getting Around ...........................43 The Boom addresses fracking, an issue that is relevant to the News & Media ............................45 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The book is a balanced What’s Everyone account of the history and personalities that made fracking Talking About .......................46 the force that it is today. The discussion of fracking leads to Quick Reference Guide ..............47 a consideration of the broader implications of the country’s energy and environmental policies. Russell Gold is a senior investigative journalist for The Wall Street Journal. He won the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism and a was a finalist for the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on the Deepwater Horizon Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Gold will be visiting University Park in October. 2 PREFACE Welcome to the State College Area Message from the Mayor For some of you, State College feels like a small town and for others it seems quite large. But, most who call this place home think State College is the perfect size. On and off campus, State College and surrounding areas offer a wide range of restaurants, live music, theatrical performances, sporting events, as well as shopping in our thriving downtown business district and throughout the Centre Region. State College is nestled in the Nittany Valley, offering an abundance of natural resources, which provide ample opportunities to bike, hike, fish, swim, and explore the great outdoors. State College takes pride in being recognized as a safe and welcoming place. Students comprise a large percentage of the community, and Penn State graduates frequently stay and build their lives here – we hope you will consider doing the same. The knowledge and experiences students gain through their studies at Penn State contribute to keeping State College a vibrant and innovative community. State College Borough and its citizens benefit from student involvement in local non- profits and Penn State organizations, helping our community respond better to current needs and improve the quality of life in State College. You are now a citizen of State College and I encourage you to get involved, know your neighbors, and, most importantly, to feel at home. This is a perfect place to try on new ideas and new roles that build upon the connections that bring us together. As your Mayor, I welcome your questions and comments. Each week during the academic year, I hold on-campus office hours at the HUB-Robeson Center to make it easy for students to contact me, present ideas, suggest changes, and find ways to work together. I hope we have a chance to meet while you call State College home. Elizabeth Goreham Mayor, State College Government: County seat is located in Bellefonte Geography: 1,000+ square miles in central Pennsylvania, created on February 13, 1800 Distance to: Pittsburgh, PA: 140 miles; 2 hours 45 minutes Baltimore, MD: 175 miles; 3 hours 10 minutes Philadephia, PA: 195 miles; 3 hours 30 minutes Washington, DC: 215 miles; 4 hours New York, NY: 235 miles; 4 hours Population: 155,171 Education: 40% of persons age 25+ have a Bachelor’s degree or higher State College Area www.crcog.net The State College Area consists of State College Borough and College, Ferguson, Halfmoon, Harris, and Patton townships. Most students who live off campus live in the State College Area, with most of those students in State College Borough. State College Borough statecollegepa.us Geography: State College Borough is 4.5 square miles located to the north and south of Penn State University. Population: 42,034 (75% of Borough residents are students) Education: 63% have a bachelor’s degree or higher 4 PREFACE Welcome Change-of-Campus & Transfer Students Welcome to University Park! As a change-of-campus or transfer student, your previous college experience will help you adjust to life at University Park. A new campus will present both exciting opportunities and a few challenges along the way. Whether you are living on or off campus,Preface magazine contains important information for you to have during your transition. You are encouraged to participate in Welcome Week activities when you arrive on campus at the beginning of the semester. Programs offered during Welcome Week are designed for students to new University Park, not just new first-year students. There are some events and activities just for change-of-campus and transfer students. Check out the Welcome Week Schedule insert in this magazine for more information. Should you need more information about welcome programs for change-of-campus or transfer students, don’t hesitate to contact the Office for Student Orientation and Transition Programs at 814-865-4178 or orientation@psu. edu. Change-of-Campus Student Welcome The Change-of-Campus Welcome program offers you an opportunity to learn about the classroom environment, continuing your involvement, academic advising, navigating campus, the CATA Bus system, and much more. You will also meet current University Park students to hear about their transition experiences from commonwealth campuses. Visit orientation.psu.edu for more details about the program. You are expected to attend this program to pick up important tips for a successful transition. I am a transfer student who came from Massachusetts. Get involved. Your college experience, no matter your age, gender, ethnic background, religion, or any other factor, will be based solely on your level of involvement. Get out there, even if it means getting out of your comfort zone, and besides, you