The Office of Student Activities is committed to helping you have a successful experience at ÂÜÀòÔ´´. Many opportunities and resources are offered to benefit commuter students with their educational and social experience. Our programs and services will provide you with opportunities to:
- Meet others with similar interests
- Be informed of campus events
- Make connections with campus units, staff and faculty
- Study and/or relax
All services provided by the university staff are available to commuting students.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What should I do in between classes?
There are many things commuter students can do on campus between classes. Below are a few ideas:- Study for upcoming tests in your favorite on-campus study spot.
- Meet with class group to work on a project.
- Work out at the gym.
- Grab a bite to eat at one of the .
- Schedule an appointment to meet with a peer tutor in the Academic Success Center (105 Bernardine Hall).
- Enjoy beautiful fall and spring weather outside in an Adirondack chair on at a picnic table.
- Attend one of the daytime activities that Student Activities or Campus Activities Board sponsors.
- Stop by one of your professors’ offices during their office hours to ask questions or get clarification.
- Hang out with your friends.
- Visit the Penn Medicine – ÂÜÀòÔ´´ Medical and Counseling Center if you are not feeling well or would like to utilize counseling services.
- Sign up for a trip or activity in the Office of Student Activities (204 Campus Commons).
- Check in with your Navigator (104 Bernardine Hall).
- What are some spaces on campus where commuters can hang out?
There are many places on campus where students can spend time. Below are just a few:- Bernardine Hall – Lobby and Kestrel Cafe
- Student Center – First Floor Dining Area and Holleran Patio
- Student Center Game Room – First Floor
- Student Center – Second Floor
- Campus Commons – Living Room (First Floor)
- Physical Education Center (PEC) – Courtside Cafe
- Franco Library
- PLEX – Lobby and Mezzanine
- Quad and other outside areas and patios
- The John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne – Starbucks and lounges
- Where can I meet with a class project group or study group?
Students can reserve study rooms in Franco Library that include technology and whiteboards. Study rooms can be reserved at the circulation desk in the library. In addition to study rooms, study groups can meet at other locations in the library and general spaces on campus such as the Bernardine Hall lobby, the first and second floors of the Student Center, the Campus Commons Living Room, the PLEX mezzanine, the PEC mezzanine, the Starbucks at CollegeTowne and more.- What are the on-campus dining options?
There are several dining options on campus:- Dining Hall, Student Center, first floor: All you can eat
- Kestrel Cafe, Bernardine Hall, lobby: Starbucks drinks and pastries, sandwiches
- Courtside Cafe, Physical Education Center (PEC), mezzanine: Made-to-Order Items (sandwiches, chicken tenders, fries, etc.), Grab and Go Items (wraps, salads, drinks, candy), Novelty ice cream items
- Freshens, PLEX, lobby: Smoothies, Salads, Rice Bowls, Flatbreads
- Starbucks, John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne: Traditional Starbucks menu
- Can I get a student meal plan?
Commuter students can purchase a commuter meal plan or Vern Bucks for on-campus dining. All dining locations also accept cash and debit/credit cards.
- Commuter Meal Plan: A Commuter Meal Plan is a block of five-meal blocks. Commuters can purchase as many blocks as they want. The meals do not expire for commuters and roll over from semester to semester.
- Vern Bucks: Vern Bucks are dollars that commuters can put on their ID card and they act as a declining balance. Vern Bucks may be used to purchase food at any food service location on campus. When purchasing Vern Bucks, commuters are given a 10% bonus of the dollar amount they are requesting to be put on their card – for example, if a student chooses to put $50 of Vern Bucks on her card, the 10% bonus would give her an additional $5 of Vern Bucks for a total of $55 available. Vern Bucks do not expire for commuter students.
- Are there microwaves that I can use on campus?
Yes, there are several microwaves on campus that commuters can use:- Bernardine Hall Lobby
- Campus Commons Living Room
- Student Center, first floor (counter near the register) and the second floor hallway
- Is there an ice machine that I can use on campus?
Student Government Association (SGA) purchased an ice machine for all students to get ice at any time of day. The ice machine is beside the soda machines in the Student Center's Dining Hall. Each building on campus also has water filters at the water fountains.- How do I get a parking permit?
Parking permits can be obtained from the Public Safety office on the first floor of the Franco Library and open 24/7. You must appear in person with your vehicle registration card and complete a parking permit application. Students are only allowed to register two vehicles on campus. The cost of registration and application is free.- Where are commuters supposed to park?
When you receive your parking permit, you will also receive a color-coded map with designated parking lots. The main commuter parking area is Lot C located across from Bernardine Hall.- What are the health services available to me?
All students, regardless of commuter/resident or full-time/part-time status, can use the Medical and Counseling Center if they are enrolled in classes at ÂÜÀòÔ´´. Some of the on-campus services that the Medical and Counseling Center can offer are: wellness, sick, virtual and minor procedure visits; bloodwork and rapid testing; flu shots and vaccines; commonly prescribed medications available onsite at a minimal cost; mental health counseling. Health services are billed to insurance. Counseling appointments are available by appointment and are free of charge and not billed to insurance.
ÂÜÀòÔ´´ students also have 24/7 access to , a virtual care service staffed by expert Penn Medicine providers. If your primary care doctor’s office is closed, you can schedule with Penn Medicine OnDemand for treatment of your urgent, non-emergency medical needs. Penn Medicine OnDemand providers treat many common conditions and are available for virtual visits 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.- Do I have access to counseling support services?
All students, regardless of commuter/resident or full-time/part-time status, can use the Medical and Counseling Center if they are enrolled in classes at ÂÜÀòÔ´´. Counseling appointments are available by appointment and are free of charge and not billed to insurance. Health services are billed to insurance.- Is there a gym on campus?
The Fitness Center is located in the Campus Commons and open to commuter students all year. To use the Fitness Center, you will need to stop at the front desk when you enter to submit your ID while you are working out. The Fitness Center has lockers to store belongings while students are working out. There are two private shower rooms and two private bathrooms for student use. The Fitness Center does have abbreviated hours during the summer months.- How can I get involved on campus?
Commuter students can get involved in a wide variety of activities and organizations, including the Commuter Student Association, a student organization led by commuters for commuters. You can and other student organizations on , ÂÜÀòÔ´´â€™s online platform for student organizations to promote events, manage finances, and gather information about student groups.- How will I know if there are any class delays or cancellations due to the weather?
ÂÜÀòÔ´´ may decide to open late, close early or move to virtual learning to protect the safety of the ÂÜÀòÔ´´ community. The University will notify the ÂÜÀòÔ´´ community by 6 a.m. for day classes and by 4 p.m. for evening classes. The university will utilize the ÂÜÀòÔ´´ website and Omnilert to communicate this information with the community. If you are not enrolled in Omnilert, .
