After a Campus Change is Approved

After your campus change has been approved, follow these steps:

  1. Review the Suggested Academic Plan in the Undergraduate Bulletin for your major at your new campus to schedule appropriate courses for the upcoming semester. You should schedule courses during your enrollment appointment. Be sure to review your Academic Requirements report and use the course schedule for your new campus.
  2. Secure housing for your new campus
    • If your plan is to live on campus, visit eliving.
    • If your plan is to live off-campus, be sure to read the terms of your lease, including move-in information, closely. Note that a lease is a legally binding document and you should not sign a lease until your campus change is approved. Student Legal Services has a wealth of information to help you, and you can find off-campus support resources at University Park through the Off-Campus Housing website. 

For University Park Students

If you have decided to begin your transition to University Park, your journey doesn’t end after your change-of-campus request has been approved. There are a variety of support programs that occur prior and throughout your first semester. Please take advantage of these opportunities to ensure you have a smooth transition to University Park:

  1. Monthly Newsletter – The Change-of-Campus and Transfer Student newsletter includes timely information about your transition to University Park, information about campus resources, and upcoming events. You will start receiving the newsletter to your Penn State email just prior to your semester start and will continue receiving it throughout your first semester.
  2. Virtual Change-of-Campus Orientation – Hosted virtually prior to your semester start, this orientation program will introduce you to resources for a successful transition, allow you to meet former change-of-campus and transfer students, and ask questions. You will find information to register for a virtual orientation session through your Change-of-Campus tasklist.
  3. Change-of-Campus and Transfer Student Welcome – Your first semester at University Park is just beginning! Hosted by Student Orientation and Transition Programs, this welcome will allow you to learn more about the University Park community and connect with fellow change-of-campus and transfer students. This program will take place in-person at the University Park campus the Sunday before your semester start. You will find information to register for your in-person welcome program through your Change-of-Campus tasklist.
  4. College Support – The ways in which each academic college supports their change-of-campus students varies. Your academic adviser at University Park may reach out to you and complete an academic review, wherein they provide suggestions for your fall classes and next steps. Your adviser may also request a virtual meeting with you. Lastly, your college may host in-person and/or virtual summer programming options for change-of-campus students. Whatever support is provided by your college, take advantage of it! Use Starfish to schedule a meeting with your new academic adviser.
  5. Change-of-Campus programming during the semester – You are now a part of the larger change-of-campus community at University Park! Student Orientation and Transition Programs continues to support your transition by hosting a variety of informational and social events throughout the academic year. You can learn more about these opportunities through your Change-of-Campus and Transfer Student newsletter as well as through Penn State Discover.
  6. Change-of-Campus and Transfer Student Advisory Board – The Change-of-Campus and Transfer Student Advisory Board has open membership to all change-of-campus and transfer students at University Park. The board meets monthly and discusses important topics to change-of-campus students, resources to further support in transition, and plans and hosts change-of-campus and transfer student programming. To express interest in joining the board and to receive information about upcoming meetings, fill out the interest form here.

For International Students

Follow these steps to ensure you remain in compliance with the reporting requirements for your immigration status (for F-1 and J-1 students only):

1. For each time your local address in the U.S. may change, update it in iStart

  • iStart > Other Requests > U.S. Local Address

NOTE – Additionally, International Student and Scholar Advising (ISSA) encourages you to keep all your contact information updated in Account Management as well.

2. Request an I-20 with your new campus information by visiting: 

  • iStart > I-20 or DS-2019 Requests > Change of PSU Campus

Navigating Your New Campus Resources

As you navigate your first semester at your new campus, you should become familiar with the support resources available to you. View the Transfer and Change-of-Campus Student Affairs resource page to learn more.