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Penn State University Profile

Susquehanna Valley, Pennsylvania

Penn State University Profile

Founded in 1855, Penn State University has developed into a very large state university system with 24 separate facilities including the main campus (State College P.A.). The main campus is located in the scenic Susquehanna Valley of Central Pennsylvania and can be considered a “Rural City” because it has a footprint of 15,984 acres of suburban and rural farmland. The State College community can be considered a rural city because the area is self contained with public services, commercial & residential properties, cultural resources, sports & entertainment, and finally travel & tourism. Penn State is unique because it has a large suburban school feel to it, while still being small in regard to student activities. The campus also has a very big PSU football presence with it’s stadium and Nittany Lion Shrine, but it feels smaller than the observed geographical footprint when you step onto the actual university campus off Curtin Road.

The university has a large footprint of approximately 15,984 acres of park like property within the town of State College. The physical layout observes numerous historic buildings, sport facilities, and cultural meeting places shared by students, and local residents. The campus itself has approximately 758 buildings including lecture, residential, research, and dining facilities. PSU also has a large sports pavilion on the eastern edge of campus that houses several fitness centers and team facilities. The overall campus map is typical for a university setting with wide sidewalks, grass field meeting places, and park like benches. The pedestrian flow of traffic within the facility was centered between Bigler, Curtin, and Burrowes Roads within the sprawling footprint during my daytime visit.

Students were also observed walking down the hill from Pollock Road to College Avenue going to, and from lunch. My student tour guide told me that students take advantage of the numerous dining options on College Avenue that cater to PSU students. These areas of the campus get busy at all hours of the day when school is in session according to my student guide. The main internal areas of pedestrian traffic were found on the sidewalks from the dining halls to the academic buildings and student union.

The PSU campus also has several green areas within the footprint for outside activities and socializing including the Hetzel Union Building (HUB) Great Lawn, The Campus Mall, and Fisher Plaza. I observed heavy pedestrian traffic from these areas of the campus. The physical footprint of the massive university also observes several roads and parking lots that allow students to walk onto campus at several different locations. The internal campus setting provides students and employees with several types of student services including health, physical fitness, library, and cultural meeting places.

The campus buildings and open spaces were very clean and well maintained during my observations. These open spaces allow students the ability to interact with each other in a non-educational manner due to the high number of observed meeting places on campus. The school is so large that it needs 32 acres of Pennsylvania real estate to house it’s 116 lighted sports fields for football, softball, soccer, basketball, and tennis. Penn State also has an 18-hole golf course within the 32 acres sports complex. PSU students, faculty, and employees enjoy a community, within a community lifestyle in regard to on, and off campus activities and resources. The university also provides several critical student resources including student housing on campus for all 4 years, which helps students connect with each other throughout the year.

The published demographic information for the university describes a culturally diverse student population with students from all across the world. Penn State has developed a large campus community to offer students a Liberal Arts and Science, Research, and Engineering educational format to enhance it’s commitment to different types of career endeavors.

The University is home to a very large campus population of approximately 19,481 male, and 15,966 female full, and 814 male, and 554 female part-time students. The school also has a large graduate population of 3,500 male, and 2,733 female students enrolled in graduate school programs. The average age of a freshman is 18 years old. 74% of students are from Pennsylvania. Others are from 50 states, and 37 foreign countries. Students on campus provide a diverse multi-cultural makeup including 85% of students are white, 6% Asian Americans, 4% are Black, 4% are Hispanic.

Published Academic Standards for Admission Programs

PSU has a very large educational system for a state school, which offers Liberal Arts, and Sciences, and Engineering programs. Below is a specific list of under graduate admission requirements.

Student Housing

The purpose of student housing is to provide safe and reasonable accommodations for students living away from home. The issue of housing and dormitory life is a critical element of overall campus life because students spend a large amount of time in their rooms. Student housing units historically come in 3 different styles including traditional corridor, suite, and apartment style units.

Penn State University guarantees on campus housing for all four years of campus life. Students who have filed their intent to reside on campus by the stated deadline and who have continuously registered as full time students receive housing. PSU also has a unique way of providing housing for students. The university has developed student villages that have self-contained residence halls, dining facilities, computer labs, health care facilities, and recreation resources all within one area. An example of this type of student housing can be found within the East Hills Complex located on Bigler Road between Park Ave and Curtin Road.

Penn State University has over 40,000 students on campus and the school has a total of 70 residence hall buildings on campus. The student village concept helps manage the large student population in regard to daily student services. PSU also has several upper classman apartment facilities within the total housing resources. An example of upper classman housing facilities can be found within the West Residence Halls off Curtain and Burrowes Roads, and the White Course Apartments at the end of the campus on West Campus Drive.

The issue of Greek housing within the campus is also a big issue due to the large student involvement in the Greek system. PSU has a total of 81 national fraternities & sororities represented with 12% of the men, and 11% of female students participating in this type of campus life. On campus fraternity & sorority housing can be found on Burrowes Road within the campus map. Information about housing can be found on the quick links page of this document.

Residence Life Resources

PSU has additional campus resources for students who require urgent medical care, or general medical services including immunization, physical therapy, pharmacy, or medical counseling. PSU’s Ritenour Building provides these services with the help of the school’s ambulance service. Contact information for health services can be found on the quick links page.

Media & Communications Students at Penn State University enjoy several media, communications, and library outlets including the Daily Collegian published within the James Building on Burrowes Street, the Wagner Building that houses the school’s television station (channel #3), and 2 libraries including the Paterno, and Pollock Library Centers. Students can also enjoy walking over to the Kern Graduate Center to image what life would be like as a graduate student on campus.

Off Campus Housing

Penn State has been described as a big public university within a small residential community. The reason I have mentioned the overall community is to re-assert the point that PSU’s network of facilities has encapsulated it’s real estate holdings within the area. The campus footprint allows every student to have housing within walking distance to university facilities. The issue of off campus housing has a different feel to it compared to other university housing demands. The university itself has 90% of it’s student population living on campus which reduces the need, or demand for off campus housing. Students who want off campus housing can find information about available resources on the quick links page.

Campus Life

When you first arrive at State College (Happy Valley) you are mesmerized by the Nittany Lion sports facilities. The first thing you see in the distance as you’re driving on Route 322 is Beaver Stadium rising up from the central Pennsylvania landscape and you realize that Sports activities for Penn State Division I athletic teams is a big deal on campus. But, as you walk onto the campus you realize that PSU is more than school sports, not to say that everyone in “Happy Valley” loves sports, but the educational community is bigger than a school’s logo. The university has developed a national reputation as a premier liberal arts & sciences, engineering, and research facility in the northeast. Penn State University is also a multi-cultural campus environment that provides students with an outstanding social, and educational atmosphere.

The admissions demographics paint a picture of a very diverse community with students from all over the world. The local community of Susquehanna Valley only adds to the universities international status because the community has multi-cultural roots as well. PSU also addresses the issue of ecology in a positive way. The physical campus environment is clean and well maintained and the economic conditions are favorable to students and local residents due to the available services in walking distance to the school.

The emotional climate of the entire community is positive because students are involved with local community, and campus groups. An observation of this very positive emotional climate can be found by looking at the endless student flyers posted throughout the campus on walls, doors, windows, and light poles. These flyers describe upcoming activities and they invite all students to enjoy the clubs, performing arts, and public discussions on world events. Penn State’s students went as far as hanging banners inside the student union and residence halls to invite students to attend social events on campus, which was very nice to see.

This issue of school culture and emotional attachment is also a very important part of campus life because everyone wants to have a connection and emotional fit to their new school and community. Penn State has done a great job developing positive social systems with it’s students by providing a series of coordinated programs including workshops and seminars for freshman students. This type of process provides a foundation for learning and personal growth providing over 661 academic clubs, student organizations, and over 34 intramural sports activities. Recreational sports are so big at PSU that the school had to build several venues including the previously mentioned lighted outdoor facilities and the intramural building (the I.M off Curtin Road). Penn State University also has a large Greek presence on campus with 12% of male students belonging to 53 national fraternities, and 11% of female students involved with 29 national sororities.

Penn State is also home to more than 30 men’s, and women’s teams that compete in the NCAA Big 10 conference. The university has several state of the art sports facilities for the teams including Beaver Stadium and the 118,000 square foot Holuba Hall indoor facility for football, and the Bryce Jordan Convention Center for basketball games. The university also has a state of the art swimming pool and diving facility called McCoy Natatorium that can seat 1,300 people. Students who enjoy volleyball can root on fellow students within Recreation Hall (Rec Hall), or they can go ice-skating within the Greenberg Sports Complex. As you can see, PSU is more than football, its year round activities.

Social networking beyond the campus walls is also a very important issue to be observed at PSU. Students at the university are encouraged to participate in externships with alumni to gain real world experience. These programs, along with internships and global learning centers offer important information about studying abroad. These types of programs help to round out educational activities on campus. Penn State understands the importance of building relationships in the real world and has taken steps to help it’s students with the transformation. PSU has a building called McAllister Hall, which is used, as an interview center for student recruitment. The facility provides students a comfortable (on campus) facility that gives PSU students a home court advantage in regard to applying for intern, and externships with national, and international companies.

Campus life at PSU can be considered very active due to several notable student venues including the Hetzel Union Building (HUB), which is the main student center on campus. The HUB is a muti-story facility that provides student activities, meeting rooms, and a main contact point for all the university’s student clubs. The union building also has a food court in the basement that provides students with several different food options during the day. The university also has several student run performing arts venues, a 35,000 square foot music building, and a Modern Art Museum that allows students to enjoy more than athletic excellence, it gives them the opportunity to experience performing arts, history, cultural events, restaurants, and local museums. PSU students also enjoy hiking up to Mt. Nittany to enjoy spectacular views of the entire campus.

Penn State University Bus System: Public transportation resources for PSU students is available through the PSU Loop & Link Bus System which provides bus service for daily classes, student activities, links to CATA Transit, and general commuter needs. This service is crucial to students who don’t have cars. PSU is located in a suburban/ rural neighborhood and most of the shopping can be found on College Avenue within the school’s bus service area. PSU Transportation Services provide much needed transportation resources for students who have classes on different sides of the campus. The service is excellent because it starts early approximately 7:00AM, and it runs late in the evening to 2:00AM. The PSU bus service runs through out the campus and provides reliable bus service to students who don’t, or can’t have vehicles on campus.

Local weather

Weather is also an issue to consider for students preparing for a college experience. State College enjoys all four seasons of weather including large amount of snow in the winter months. Northeast weather patterns sometimes allow for temperatures to drop below 32 degrees for a considerable amount of time during the winter. Pennsylvania also gets it’s share of rain during the spring and summer months as well. A strong indicator of pedestrian traffic around the university can be identified by the northeast weather patterns. Student facilities within close proximity to university housing services help reduce the exposure literally and figuratively. PSU also has a relatively large network of campus buses to help students get where they have to go.

Community Profile

State College Pennsylvania has been described as a quiet small town that was built around it’s local college with students, and local residents enjoying the Susquehanna Valley landscape. The town has also been described as a family centered residential community within driving distance to several large cities including Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. State College also has an intellectual side due to its historical neighborhood architecture and close physical relationship to Penn State University. The town is favorable to students and local residents because it offers several local pedestrian walkways along College Avenue, and Beaver Street until you reach Buckhout Street, which links students, and local residents to several restaurants and local shops within the western edge of town.

The community has a small town feel to it when you are walking to neighborhood eateries on the eastern & western edges of town. Residents and students also enjoy several social destinations when walking, or driving on the PSU campus, including one of areas most popular destinations to enjoy fresh, home made ice cream. Penn State’s Berkey Creamery serves almost 500,000 ice cream cones to hungry students, employees, and campus visitors each year because the ice cream is relatively cheap ($2.00 per Cone), and delicious. PSU also has several performing arts venues including the Pavilion Theatre across the street from the ice cream shop for students, and local residents to enjoy theatre in the round. Penn State students can also enjoy music theatre productions within the Eisenhower Auditorium, and the Paul Robeson Cultural Center. You can also find several national food, and consumer chains in the area on College Avenue and Route 322 on the southeastern edge of the campus.

The Town of State College itself is located within the center of the state, which makes it convenient to several suburban communities and highway networks. Amtrak provides regional rail service along the Harrisburg Line which links to several large cities within the northwestern corridor. State College also has several main roadways that connect the community to major state highways including Route 322 west to Pittsburgh, and 322 east to Harrisburg. Local transportation networks continue to the northeast with connections to Route 80, and 476 that links to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and Interstate 95. Shopping, restaurants, and hotel chains can be found within these major transportation networks after a short drive from the campus.

The following demographics for the town of State College Pennsylvania describe a multi-cultural community within a total population of 38,436 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Penn State has strong relationship with the township because they share community services including public safety, and cultural resources. An example of this commitment can be observed through the university’s community services handbook that describes educational, and health care programs and services.

A Census Bureau community survey highlights several characteristics to describe the population including: 51% residents are male, 49% are female. 84% of residents are white, 4% are African American, 3% is Hispanic or Latino, and 9% are Asian. The median age of population is 21 years old. 95% of residents are 18 years old or over, and 5% of town residents is over the age of 65. The issue of housing in State College is also interesting. 85% of all housing units within the township are occupied. 78% of housing units are renter-occupied, while 22% of units are owner-occupied. 15% of total available housing was vacant.

Penn State University Quick Links Page

State College Pennsylvania Area Hotel Quick Links Page

Nittany Lion Inn
200 W. Park Avenue
State College P.A. 16803
Hampton Inn State College
1955 Waddle Road
State College P.A. 16803
Courtyard by Marriott State College
1730 University Drive
State College P.A. 16803
Hilton Garden Inn State College
1221 East College Avenue
State College P.A. 16801
Ramada Inn Conference Center
1450 S. Atherton Street
State College P.A. 16801
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
2215 N. Atherton Street
State College P.A. 16803
Days Inn State College
240 South Pugh Street
State College P.A. 16801
Springhill Suites by Marriott
1935 Waddle Road
State College P.A. 16803

Sample list of local restaurants in State College P.A

National Restaurant Chains

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