Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgStudent Guide
Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg. Core organization is free for students.
Public Research University in Middletown, PA. Operating on a semester system.
Looking for dorms? Scroll for the dorm and housing breakdown below.
The semester, explained for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.
Relevant term
Fall 2026 - First 7-Week Session
Campus terms
14
Local details
14
Academic calendar
Fall 2026 - First 7-Week Session runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 20, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
16 entries
→
Fall 2026 - First 7-Week SessionFall 2026 - Regular SessionRelevant now
→
Fall 2026 - Second 7-Week Session
→
Spring 2027 - First 7-Week SessionSpring 2027 - Regular Session
→
Spring 2027 - Second 7-Week Session
→
Summer 2027 - Maymester
→
Summer 2027 - First 6-Week SessionSummer 2027 - Regular Session
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Summer 2027 - Second 6-Week Session
→
Fall 2027 - Regular Session
→
Spring 2028 - Regular Session
→
Summer 2028 - Maymester
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Summer 2028 - First 6-Week SessionSummer 2028 - Regular Session
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
14 terms
Showing 14 of 14 terms
B
Biscotti's
The coffee shop and cafe located within the Madlyn L. Hanes Library.
C
CAB
Campus Activities Board, the student-led organization that plans major campus events.
L
LionCash
A prepaid account linked to the student ID card used for laundry, printing, and local dining.
LionPATH
The university-wide student information system used for enrollment, grades, and finances.
M
MCC
The Multi-Cultural Center, which hosts diversity-focused programming and student groups.
O
Outtakes
The convenience store and grab-and-go food outlet located in the Student Enrichment Center.
S
SGA
Student Government Association, the representative body for the student population.
Stacks
Stacks Market, the main dining facility located in the Student Enrichment Center.
Starfish
The online platform used for academic advising appointments and progress tracking.
T
The Burg
A common shorthand for the surrounding Harrisburg/Middletown area.
The Court
Refers to Nittany Court, a specific section of the on-campus housing units.
The Place
Refers to Nittany Place, a specific section of the on-campus housing units.
The Village
Nittany Village, the primary on-campus apartment-style housing complex.
THON
The Penn State Dance Marathon; specifically the Harrisburg campus chapter (Harrisburg THON).
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
14 details
biscotti_s
Biscotti's
Canvas
The Learning Management System (LMS) where students access course materials and submit assignments.
CAT
Capital Area Transit, the public bus system that provides transportation between campus and downtown Harrisburg.
Commuter Lot
Designated parking areas (such as Lot 1 or Lot 2) for students who do not reside on campus.
cow_and_cookie_stacks
Cow and Cookie @ Stacks
CUB
The Capital Union Building, which houses the fitness center, gymnasium, and student lounge.
EAB
The Educational Activities Building, used for classrooms and faculty offices.
id+ Card
The official Penn State identification card required for building access and meal plans.
Madlyn
The Madlyn L. Hanes Library, often referred to by students simply as 'the library' or 'Madlyn'.
Olmsted
The Olmsted Building, the main academic and administrative building on campus.
provisions
Provisions
SEC
The Student Enrichment Center, containing the bookstore, dining, and student services.
stacks_market
Stacks Market
the_outpost
The Outpost
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
What academic term is relevant now?
Fall 2026 - First 7-Week Session runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 20, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
14 approved campus terms and 14 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included?
Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from?
Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.
Class of 2030 · Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
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The four months ahead don’t need to be one giant open tab. Sign up and we’ll only email you when Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg actually needs you to do something this summer — orientation, housing, course registration, immunization. That’s the whole product.
A social fraternity committed to the mission of promoting the highest standards of friendship, scholarship, and service for its members. Their philanthropy is the Children's Miracle Network.
Invite only
Club Baseball
Competitive club baseball team that competes against other universities.
Tryout required
Resources & spaces
Penn State Harrisburg Library
Provides students with access to a vast collection of books, journals, and digital resources. Offers research assistance, study spaces, computer labs, and technology lending.
Open to all
Recent Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg Syllabus Analyses
Browse syllabus breakdowns from Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg courses
BA243Calculus and Analytic Geometry IElementary Spanish IIntroductory Macroeconomic Analysis & PolicyMATH 140 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry IRhetoric and CompositionSmeal College of Business Pre-Major Seminar
Life in Middletown for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg Students
Everything you need to know about living and studying in Middletown.
Timezone
Eastern Time (ET)
Median Rent
$1,050
Cost of Living Index
93
Student Population
12,000
City Transportation
Walkability
65
Bikeability
55
Public Transit
Capital Area Transit (regional bus service), Intercity bus services via nearby Harrisburg
Nearest Airports
Harrisburg International Airport (adjacent to Middletown)
Climate Averages
Climate
Humid continental
Avg Annual Temp
51°F
Avg Snowfall
28 in
Campus Operations Snapshot
Parking and Transit
Student Lot 42
surface_lot
Primary parking area for students with valid permits.
Visitor Spaces
surface_lot • Good
Limited to 2 hours maximum for campus visitors only.
Campus News
Latest updates from Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
Harrisburg, OLLI to host intergenerational criminal justice lecture series
Penn State Harrisburg and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute are partnering to present a lecture series focused on criminal justice across generations.
ICDS announces 26 co-hires in support of AI initiatives
The Institute for Computational and Data Sciences has announced new co-hires to bolster artificial intelligence research across campuses, including Harrisburg.