Information for Students

Dean's Message

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Fall Semester

• Visit Penn State's Back to State page to learn more about learning in the fall semester.
• International students: visit the Global Penn State page for important information about remote learning for fall 2020.

Important Updates

The following information is intended to answer questions that members of the Penn State Smeal community might have regarding the college’s response to the evolving COVID-19 situation. Updates will also be available on the Penn State Coronavirus Website.

• Will classes continue as scheduled?
  • Visit Penn State's Back to State page to learn more about fall semester courses.
• Will I still be able to schedule an advising appointment?
  • Yes, undergraduate students should work with their adviser through e-mail or schedule a Zoom web conferencing appointment through Starfish. All previously scheduled appointments will automatically be moved to a Zoom appointment in Starfish. Students will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to access Zoom. 
• Can I still connect with Smeal's Business Career Center?
  • Yes. Acquire more information about Smeal's Business Career Center's upcoming employer and professional development events here. Career coaching appointments can be scheduled 48 hours in advance through Nittany Lion Careers. You can also find information on how to schedule an appointment.
• Will the University relax any policies or requirements for doctoral students?
  • The Graduate School has identified several policies and other requirements that will be impacted by the current situation and is prepared to offer exceptions or other adjustments that will allow students to continue to make progress toward their degree. Find the Graduate School’s academic and administrative policies here. Doctoral students should register their need for an exception or adjustment by emailing Dana Campolongo.
• Is there a way to access e-textbooks?
  • Yes. You can now get access to most of your books as e-textbooks on Bookshelf from VitalSource. This access is granted to Penn State students who were enrolled in courses as of March 16, 2020 and will be available through May 25, 2020. Follow these steps to ensure your access:
    • Visit bookshelf.vitalsource.com where you can either log-in or create a Bookshelf account.
    • If you are accessing Bookshelf for the first time, instructions on creating an account can be found here. After creating an account, log in and click on the “Explore” tab in the upper left corner of the screen. This tab provides access to the freely-available e-textbooks.
    • If you already have an existing Bookshelf account through your Penn State email address, log in and click on the “Explore” tab in the upper left corner of the screen. This tab provides access to the freely-available e-textbooks.
    • If you already have an existing Bookshelf account but it is not linked to your Penn State email address, an article explaining how you can access your Bookshelf account and change it to a Penn State email account is available here.
  • If you have additional questions, please visit Penn State’s Remote Learning FAQ website.
• If you or a fellow student are experiencing emotional distress, financial hardship, difficulty accessing food, or a similar challenge, please consider the following resources:
  • Make an appointment with Penn State Counseling and Psychological Services, which is operational and providing services via telephone at 814-863-0395.
  • Visit the Student Care and Advocacy website.
  • Visit the Lion's Pantry, located past East Halls and the Katz Law Building, in between Lion Surplus and the Blue Band Building.
  • Take out a hot meal on Thursday evenings, 5-7pm, at St. Andrew's Community Café, located at 208 West Foster Avenue, State College.
  • For more information about support for students, visit the Penn State Resources and Support FAQs page.
• Town Hall Information
  • Is there a way to watch the recent town halls? Yes. The sessions have been archived and are available to watch online on Penn State's Live Events webpage. Faculty and staff members can review the FAQs on the Penn State Coronavirus FAQs webpage.
  Will the university offer refunds for housing and meal plans?
  • Yes, on a prorated basis. Visit the Penn State Coronavirus FAQs webpage to learn more.
• Please visit the Penn State Coronavirus FAQs webpage for information about the following:
  • Tuition, housing, and meal plan refunds
  • Returning to on-campus and off-campus housing
  • Required credits for graduation (i.e. lab, internship)
  • Student wage positions

 Updated Thursday, September 24