Adult Learner Orientation

Can't attend the Orientation Session?

Students who cannot attend the Orientation Session may find the following information useful as they begin the semester.

Penn State ID Card:

You will need to sign up for a photo identification card, the Penn State ID card, which will allow you access to University services such as the library, meal plans, building and lab access, and sporting events. By putting your meal plan on the ID card, you will receive a discount on food. This may be obtained Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. - noon and 2 - 4 p.m. in the ID Office of Housing & Food Services (610-396-6353) located on the second floor of the Perkins Student Center.

Penn State Access Account Information

You will also need to sign up for a Penn State Access Account. A Penn State Access Account is a user ID and password combination that allows Penn State students, faculty, and staff to use the full range of Internet services.

You need a Penn State Access Account to use the Information Technology Services (ITS) Student Computing Labs, send e-mail, post to Netnews, use dial-up services, obtain your academic records, charge printing to your Bursar account, and change the unofficial information in your directory entry.

If you attended the First-year Testing, Counseling, and Advising Program (FTCAP) during the summer, you should already have a Penn State Access Account. If not, take your Penn State photo ID card to the Computer Center Help Desk and complete the Access Account Form. Make note of your user ID and password when they are displayed on the screen. Your account should be fully active within one business day. Student accounts remain active during periods of continuous enrollment (fall and spring semester) and for six months after graduation.

By accepting your Penn State Access Account, you are agreeing to abide by Penn State policies and guidelines. You are expected to exercise responsible, ethical behavior when using the University's computers, information, networks and resources. Violation of policies or laws may result in suspension of network or other information access privileges, disciplinary action, and legal proceedings. For more information about ITS policies and guidelines go to: http://its.psu.edu/policies/

Parking Information

All vehicles on campus must be registered with Police Services. Permits are to be renewed each academic year. There is no registration fee, however, unregistered vehicles are subject to a fine.

All student vehicles must be registered online at parking registration. After printing out the Summary Page, bring it to the Bursars Office (Room 125, Franco Building) to obtain your permit. During the fall 2021 semester, parking permits may only be obtained between the hours of 12:15-2 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and 3-5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Permits must be renewed each academic year.

Academic Advising

Every student enrolled at Penn State Berks is assigned an academic advisor. This information, along with your student records, can be obtained electronically through e-Lion (https://elion.psu.edu/). In order to log onto e-Lion you will need to supply your Access Account User ID and Access Account password. If you have not been assigned to an advisor or would like to speak with someone in the Berks campus Academic Advising Office (Franco Bldg. Room 161), please call (610) 396- 6280 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

FTCAP

The First-Year Testing, Counseling and Advising Program (FTCAP), conducted by Penn State's Division of Undergraduate Studies, assists new first-year students in evaluating their educational plans by providing them, prior to initial registration, with a comprehensive program of testing and individualized educational planning and academic advising. For more information please go to: http://www.bk.psu.edu/FTCAP/

Information Technology

Lisa Glass, Manager
Computer Center Help Desk: (610) 396-6195

Computer Lab Hours - Luerssen Room 143:
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Information Commons Hours (in the Thun Library):
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: noon - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 2:00 - 10:00 p.m.

An updated listing of the Berks IT lab hours is posted on our Web site

Don?t forget to get a Penn State Access Account - you only need to be registered for one credit to get computer access (Penn State photo ID required).

Penn State Access Account Storage Space (PASS) is document storage available for all students, faculty, and staff.  It is accessible on the Internet through the Penn State Portal.  Further details can be found by visiting: http://aset.its.psu.edu/ait/storagespace.html

The Thun Library and Information Commons

John Shank, Head Librarian 

Reference Desk: (610)-396-6338

Circulation Desk: (610)-396-6339

Dining on Campus

Tully's Courtyard in the Perkins Student Center:
Monday thru Friday: 4 - 6:45 p.m.;
Saturday and Sunday: 4 - 6:30 p.m.
Late Night Dining: Sunday thru Thursday: 7 - 11 p.m.

Cyber Cafe in the Thun Library:
Monday thru Thursday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.;
Friday: 9 a.m. thru 2 p.m.

The Learning Center and The Writing Center

The Learning Center - Franco Room 161
Sonia Delaquito, Learning Center Director, Franco Room 167

The Writing Center - Franco Room 141
Dr. Holly Ryan, Writing Center Coordinator, Franco Room 148

Free peer and professional tutoring is available in many subjects at the Learning Center. Professional writing tutors can help you in the Math and Writing Centers. Assistance is available for students with learning disabilities in the Learning Center.

Campus Bookstore

Philip Marshall, Manager
(610) 396-6100

The campus bookstore is located in the William G. Hintz Building. Course texts & supplies are arranged on shelves in the rear of the store. Mastercard, VISA, Discover, and American Express are welcomed. Payment by check is possible (photo ID required). The bookstore has year-round buy-back of new & used books.

If you decide to drop a course for which you have already purchased a book (or you purchased the wrong one), you have 7 days from the beginning of class to return it for a full refund. Please retain your receipts and new books must be in the condition in which they were purchased.

Bookstore Hours:
Monday-Thursday - 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.;
Friday - 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.;
Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.;
Sunday - closed

During the first two weeks of classes, the Bookstore will stay open until 7:00 pm (Monday - Thursday).

Please contact the bookstore toward the end of the semester for information about textbook 'buy-back'.

Police Services

Penn State's police are professionals. In addition to handling all security concerns, they provide first aid, issue parking permits, and serve as the campus' lost and found office. Police Services will also try to unlock cars in case of lock-outs. However, they will not jump-start vehicles.

Parking

All registered students require parking permits for all campus lots. Police Services ask that you familiarize yourself with campus parking and traffic regulations.

Being Safe at Night

Berks Campus has 24-hour police protection. Here are some tips for getting help in case of emergencies after the Police Services Office is closed:

  1. Throughout the campus, we have installed 8 black pillars with "code blue" phones. Pressing the phone's black button will give you an open line. Pressing the phone's red button will connect you with 911 (for serious crimes and life threatening emergencies only). If you press the red by mistake, please tell the operator you have made an error.

    #1 located on the old dorm parking lot
    #2 located on the old dorm parking lot
    #3 located on the new dorm parking lot
    #4 located on the new dorm parking lot
    #5 located at Alumni Pavilion
    #6 located at Luerssen Bldg parking lot
    #7 located in center of campus
    #8 located at Franco parking lot

  2. Police Services Pager - (610) 856-4822 - dial, input your contact number, and wait for a return call.
  3. You can dial 911 (for serious crimes and life threatening emergencies only) from all phones on campus. There is no need to deposit any coins. Please contact campus police, rather than 911, as your first option.
There are several hallway courtesy telephones on campus that will work only for campus, local and phone card calls. Dial 8 to get an outside line. These phones can be used to call for assistance. The registration desk is open until 9:00 p.m. and the number is 6085. From 4:00 p.m. to Midnight there is a student monitor in the Bowman Center (dial 6080). Either the evening staff assistant, or the monitor, can contact Police Services by pager and directly by radio. Hallway phone locations:
  • In the lobby of Franco
  • Near the elevator on the ground floor of Luerssen
  • On the first floor outside of the Game Room and on the second floor outside of Tully's in the Perkins Student Center
  • In the Thun Library
  • In the Beaver Community Center

Student Clubs and Organizations

At Penn State Berks, there are many clubs, recognized by the Student Government Association, which offer students the opportunity to lead, serve others, expand knowledge in their major, perform, compete, and make new friends. For more information go to: http://www.bk.psu.edu/campuslife/studentorg.html

Snow Delay and Cancellation Information

Local radio stations will announce snow delays and/or cancellations. Be sure to listen for Berks Campus to be specified, as announcement by other Penn State campuses may also be included in any radio listing. Alternatively, you may want to contact our snow announcement line at (610) 396-6375.

Evening Students

The evening staff assistant is a key figure in providing services for adult learners. The is available at the Registration Desk (610-396-6085) in Franco, Monday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and handles forms, registrations, payments, counseling appointments and other administrative details. She is a wealth of information on services, events and courses. She can issue parking permits and is a good contact in case of emergencies (she has a radio link with Police Services). It is also important for you to know that class schedules change during finals week. Please consult your individual faculty members for this information.

Use of Recreational Facilities in the Beaver Community Center

Tim Coleman, Coordinator of Intramural and Recreational Activities
Telephone: (610) 396-6151

The gymnasium and weight-lifting equipment are available for student use in the Beaver Community Center during the general hours of operation, however, availability is based on class use. These hours are posted each semester in the building and are:

Monday thru Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 11p.m.;
Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.;
Saturday 3 - 8 p.m.; 
Sunday 6 - 11 p.m.

 

Child Care Subsidy

Effective October 4, 2005, Penn State has been awarded $300,000 a year for the next four years from the U.S. Department of Education to provide child care financial assistance to student parents University wide.

The Federal "Child Care Access Means Parents in School" program authorized by the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, assists universities and colleges across the country to improve child care access for student parents.

World Campus

The World Campus mixes tradition and technology to offer you courses in a variety of paced and self-paced delivery formats outside of the "traditional" classroom setting. World Campus courses are developed and taught by the same Penn State faculty members teaching in ?traditional? Penn State classrooms. The credits you can earn from your living room are the same credits you would earn on campus. For more information please ask for a World Campus catalog at the Berks campus Registration window located in Franco 125 or visit the World Campus website located at: http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/pub/index.shtml