Student Support FAQs

Our thesis and dissertation page lists deadlines, requirements, and support resources. Find information about forming a committee in policy GCAC-602 Ph.D. Committee Formation.

Use our resource library to find support for graduate students across the University. For campus-specific resources, visit:

• Penn State Hershey and College of Medicine
• Penn State Harrisburg
• Penn State Erie, the Behrend campus
• Penn State Great Valley
• Penn State World Campus

Visit our information for new students page.

• Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs
• Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity

• Find competitive Penn State funding opportunities on Infoready. Most funding is for faculty or units, but there are some student opportunities.
• The Office of Student Aid provides information on financial aid for graduate and professional students.
• Find information on graduate assistantships for students who currently have an appointment. Assistantships are awarded by programs, colleges, and administrative units, so please contact your program if you are interested in an assistantship.

The following policies and resources outline academic integrity at Penn State for both undergraduate and graduate students. Please also refer to the syllabus for your course(s) for additional information.

• Academic Integrity Policy
• Faculty Senate Policy 49-20
• University Policy G-9
• Graduate Education Policy on Student Conduct GCAC-801
• Academic Integrity Videos

• Academic deadlines and those related to theses and dissertations
• Commencement
• Summer Tuition Assistance Program
• University Holidays (no staff on campus)

We recommend these resources:

• Find free or reduced cost software, including subject-specific software, on the Software at Penn State site.
• University IT helps students, faculty, and staff with navigating technology concerns.
• The University Knowledge Base has tips and tutorials related to using technology.
• The Get Connected site can help you with Wi-Fi and multifactor authentication.

The Penn State Learning Resource Network lists some training you may be required to complete as a graduate student. You should also check your Penn State email regularly, as required training notifications will be sent there.

Graduate Education policies apply to graduate students and programs. This list of graduate student policies highlights the primary policies applicable to students, but we strongly encourage you to review all graduate education policies.

We recommend that you start with the Graduate School’s recommendations for addressing concerns. You can also take advantage of the Graduate School ombudsperson program or similar programs at academic colleges for assistance and guidance from a third party.

We recommend the two resources below. Your college or campus may also have additional career support.

• Graduate School Career and Professional Development
• Penn State Career Services

First, make sure you are aware of the graduate education policy on the resolution of problems (GCAC-802). You can also visit our addressing concerns page, which outlines the recommended steps for resolving concerns, as well as advising and mentoring best practices for students. For third-party assistance, contact someone from the Graduate School ombudsperson program. Additionally, certain academic colleges have similar types of ombudsperson programs.

Refer to the policy on leaves of absence (GSAD-906), which includes frequently asked questions.

Balancing graduate education with other aspects of life can sometimes be challenging, but there is a wealth of support at the University. For an up-to-date list of these, visit our resource library and choose the wellness topic. The following resources may also help:

• Graduate School well-being and student life support
• Counseling and Psychological Services
• Penn State Psychological Clinic
• Student Care and Advocacy
• Red Folder, which includes campus-specific resources
• University Health Services
• Centre County Mental Health

Explore LGBTQ+ Resources lists several support and community resources.

• RIDEPass (regional bus transportation through the Centre Area Transit Authority (CATA))
• Parking information
• State College Airport

Visit the Student Fee Board site for up-to-date information on these investments.

The Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) represents the graduate student body and organizes community and professional development events for graduate students. GPSA has college and campus delegates for you to contact. You can also find a list of all registered graduate student organizations in Org Central.