Navigate to www.eLiving.psu.edu; login with your Penn State Access Account and password

<https://www.absecom.psu.edu/eliving_student/student-pages/dashboard.cfm>

screenshot of eLiving system showing the Contracts Menu Item, with the drop-down menu showing the select "Summary / Update Preferences"

Click the "Contracts" icon, then "Summary / Update Preferences" link

eLiving system page which shows the student's HFS Contract. You can click the Contract name that is a hyperlink to access the screens to update housing preferences

Click "Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract FY student" link to open the HFS Contract.

Summer Admits: there will be 2 separate HFS Contracts, one for summer and one for academic year. Summer options are limited; all students will be assigned to a double room, renovated residence hall in East Halls, and there is only 1 level for the Campus Meal Plan. You can indicate different roommate preferences for each HFS Contract.

on this eLiving screen, you can enter up to 2 housing area preferences and room types from the drop-down menus

This screen is for entering your HOUSING AREA / ROOM TYPE preferences. You can indicate **none**, 1, or 2 choices.

Click the dropdown for "Area" and select your 1st housing area preference.

No Preference
East Halls
North Halls
Pollock Halls
South Halls
West Halls

this screen is demonstrating where to click for the room type drop-down menu

You can then select your preferred Room Type. This is not required. The room types that appear are based on the housing area selected.

Note: some room types are not available for incoming first-year students, but still appear in drop-down menu. For example, first-year students are NOT assigned to a double room, renovated residence halls in South Halls - those rooms are reserved exclusively for upper-class students.

No Preference
Double Room, Renovated Residence Hall
Quad (1 room/4 students), renovated residence hall
Triple Room, Renovated Residence Hall

showing the 2nd choice drop-down menu for housing area

Indicate your 2nd choice if interested. 

**\*\*\*Do not enter** the same housing area that you indicated for your 1st choice - enter a different housing area. Indicating the same housing area does not improve your chances of being assigned to that area.

showing drop-down menu for 2nd choice room type

at the bottom of this page, you will click the 'next' button to advance to the next screen

this screen is for entering Roommate preferences

Roommate Preferences:

You do not need to have a roommate preference. The University will randomly assign your roommate(s).

If you know a student whom you wish to live with, you can enter their Penn State Access Account ID (example, abs1855). Hit "enter" to confirm the student is found.

up to 3 roommate requests can be entered by typing in the student's Penn State Access Account ID. When you hit the enter button, the system will confirm student's name

If the Access ID is correct, the student's name will appear. 

To remove the student, click on the red X button.

This page displays 2 statements: 1st statement is about housing preferences, which are not guaranteed and processed in random order. 2nd statement is about gender inclusive housing - change the radial button to "yes" if you need gender inclusive housing

Review the statements regarding HOUSING PREFERENCES and Gender-Inclusive Housing.

If you are interested in Gender-Inclusive Housing, select the "yes" button - a staff member will reach out to during the summer to discuss available housing options.

click the "next" button to advance to the next screen

this screen allows you to enter up to 2 selections for a Living Learning Community. A drop-down menu for choice 1 and choice 2 have the list of LLCs available to select. LLC information is available at liveon.psu.edu/up-llcs

Living Learning Communities (LLCs)<https://liveon.psu.edu/university-park/living-learning-communities>

You can select 1-2 LLCs - simply click the drop-down menu for Choice 1, select the LLC, and then Choice 2 will appear.

If you are not interested in an LLC, leave the selection as "No Preference".

If you need Break Access/Holiday Housing, select that as a LLC preference.\
<https://liveon.psu.edu/university-park/manage-your-hfs-contract#breakhousing>

the drop-down menu showing the list of LLCs available to select

The drop-down menu shows the list of available LLCs. Additional information is available at <https://liveon.psu.edu/university-park/living-learning-communities>

you can indicate your Campus Meal Plan level on this screen; the drop-down menu shows the 3 levels available, which are 1, 2, 3. System will default to level 2

Campus Meal Plan: for the academic year, 3 levels are available. The HFS Contract defaults to level 2. Recommendation: select level 2 - you will be able to modify your CMP level until the last day of finals.

There is only 1 level for summer session.

Learn More about CMP:<https://liveon.psu.edu/university-park/meal-plans>

After entering the meal plan level, the next screen shows an overview of the preferences that were entered

The screen will display the selections that you indicated. You can update your preferences until **noon May 15**. Requests to make changes/additions will NOT be accepted after this time.

Click "Next"

this screen highlights the additional statements that you agreed to when you accepted the HFS Contract. the first statement is for students who are under the age of 18

The screen will display this information:

Contract Legal Signing Statements <https://liveon.psu.edu/university-park/contract-signing-statements>

Terms, Conditions, and Regulations <https://liveon.psu.edu/university-park/tcrs-2025-2026>

You already accepted the HFS Contract when you accepted the offer of admission - therefore, the next 3 steps will show a checkmark indicating your acknowledgment and will not be selectable.

Nittany Lion     
Access Account ID: liveon
PSU ID: 900000001
Housing and Food Service Contract
Fall 2025-Spring 2026 - University Park
Review the instructions prior to accepting the Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract. The HFS Contract is legally binding once accepted and cannot be canceled if you attend Penn State. Preferences can be modified until 11:59 AM on May 15, 2025.


Contract Type
Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract FY student
Status
Accepted
Date Accepted
Feb 12, 2025   10:24 AM


Modification Deadline
May 15, 2025   11:59 AM


 
View the PDF version of the HFS Contract.




This Housing and Food Service Contract (“HFS Contract”), made effective on the date of signature below, is a legally binding agreement between The Pennsylvania State University (“University”), a state-related institution and instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania subject to the Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation laws and the above-named individual (“Student”) for an assignment in University-owned residential spaces (“University housing”).

Term. The Term of this HFS Contract is for the academic semesters identified in the HFS Contract offer. Specified dates for occupancy during the academic semesters will be finalized and posted at www.arrival.psu.edu no less than six weeks before the contract term begins. A student must select the Break Access/Holiday Housing option when accepting the HFS Contract in order to occupy their assigned housing during the official University closures for fall break (late November), winter break (late December/early January) and spring break (early March). Specific dates for such closures can be found at https://liveon.psu.edu/university-park/important-dates.


Eligibility. To be eligible for residence in University housing, the student must be in registered status, scheduled for courses as a degree-seeking student and at least 16 years of age during period of occupancy.


Campus Meal Plan Required. All students residing in University Housing, with the exception of students who resi

This statement is regarding Housing Preferences, preferences are not guaranteed and room assignments are processed in random order

Incoming first-year students can update their housing preferences until noon, May 15.

How To Indicate Housing Preferences through eLiving