University Park, Pennsylvania


University Park is the name given to the Pennsylvania State University's largest campus, and University Park, Pennsylvania is the postal address used by Penn State. The University Park campus is located in State College and adjacent College Township, Pennsylvania. The campus post office was designated "University Park, Pennsylvania" in 1953 by Penn State president Milton Eisenhower, after what was then Pennsylvania State College was upgraded to university status.

History

The school that later became Penn State University was founded as a degree-granting institution on February 22, 1855, by act P.L. 46, No. 50 of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania. Centre County, Pennsylvania, became the home of the new school when James Irvin of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, donated of landthe first of the school would eventually acquire. In 1862, the school's name was changed to the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania, and with the passage of the Morrill Land-Grant Acts, Pennsylvania selected the school in 1863 to be the state's sole land-grant college. The school's name changed to the Pennsylvania State College in 1874; enrollment fell to 64 undergraduates the following year as the school tried to balance purely agricultural studies with a more classic education.
In 1953, the university sought a name change for the town called State College to reflect the new status of the school as a university. As the name change referendum failed to pass, the resolution ended with a new postal address to be called "University Park".

Student run media

Media originating from University Park include Onward State; the world's most-read student-run news website, WKPS, a student run radio station; and The Daily Collegian, a student run newspaper.

Student government

Within the campus, a student government is a set of elected positions by the student body to represent the students with relations with the university. It is divided between undergraduate and graduate students.
Special interest groups representing minorities also exist within the campus also have an influence towards university policies that get enacted by the university.

Major buildings

Residence Commons

The residence commons are common areas for each of the residence hall areas. Each one has a dining hall and a computer lab. At one point in time, each had a radio station. WEHR, which operated in Johnston Commons until 2005, was the last to survive.
Houses a TV lounge, laundry facilities, Commons Desk, Residence Life/Housing Office for residents of Nittany Apartments and Suites.
Houses a TV lounge, Commons Desk, Residence Life/Housing Office for residents of White Course Apartments.
Houses a TV lounge, Front Desk, Residence Life/Housing Office for residents of Eastview Terrace.

East Halls

East Halls is the largest group of residence halls on campus, and is served by Findlay/Johnston Commons. It is reserved primarily for first-year student housing, and most residents share a double room with a roommate. The area's special living options are First-Year Interest in Liberal Arts and Education and Tri-Service ROTC. All of the buildings in the East Halls residence area are named after former governors of Pennsylvania. All of the halls and commons within East Halls are connected via an underground maintenance tunnel system. The residence halls are:
North Halls is the smallest residence hall complex at the University Park campus, consisting of five residence halls. They are known as the most comfortable on campus, with all rooms being carpeted and having their own bathroom. Nearly all rooms in North residence halls are suites for two or four students, however there are a few rooms for only a single resident. The two- and four-person suites are made up of four rooms with two bedrooms with a shared living room separating them, and the bathroom connected to the shared living room.
Leete was the first hall converted to this format. North Halls special living options are Arts and Architecture, Business and Society House, and EARTH House.
Pollock Halls is the third-largest residence hall complex on campus, consisting of co-ed and female only residence halls. Most rooms are shared by two students. Pollock Halls houses nine special livings options: Be House, Discover House, EASI, Forensic Science Interest House, HEAL, HAC, ILH, LIFE, and WISE. Pollock Halls also contains housing for eleven sororities.
South Halls offers housing for Schreyer Honors College students in Atherton and Simmons, and in addition offers male, female and co-ed residence halls. At one point both McElwain Hall and Simmons Hall both contained a dining complex, but as of May 2011 their dining areas were eliminated to increase residential room space. South Halls also contains housing for sororities. On a Residence Life basis, McElwain has been moved to the Pollock Residential Life area.
These two buildings are connected to each other:
These two buildings are connected to each other:
These two buildings are connected to each other:
These two buildings are connected to each other:
*A Wet Core restroom concept eliminates the need to have "gender specific" restrooms in that there is a common sink space that everyone shares with every toilet/shower in a separate room behind a locked door. The wet core concept eliminates the traditional restroom design and allows for more privacy for any student without having to worry about gender obstacles.

Nittany Apartments and Suites

Nittany Apartments and Suites provide the luxury of apartment and suite living while allowing students to still live on campus. Nittany Apartments houses same-sex students in either two-bedroom or four-bedroom apartments, complete with bathroom, living room, and kitchen. Nittany Suites—made up exclusively of Nittany Hall—houses single upperclass students in two-bedroom suites. Four people live in each suite. These living areas are available to upperclass students.

Eastview Terrace

Eastview Terrace is a residence location specifically for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. It houses 806 undergraduates, providing a private bedroom and bath for each student. Its location, east of South Halls, is perfect for an atmosphere that feels as though it off campus while remaining on campus. Additional charges do apply to Eastview Terrace rooms.
West Halls offers male, female, and co-ed housing in single, regular double, small double, and triple rooms. West Halls also includes the oldest residence halls on campus that are still in use. Several special living options are offered in West Halls, including EMS, IST Interest House, Ally House, and E-House.
This living area has previously only been available to full-time graduate students. As of Fall 2008 the area is open to undergraduates. The area provides housing for single graduate students, as well as graduate students in relationships and with families. The area provides one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, as well as townhouses.