There are three places where you can purchase books for your courses: The Penn State Bookstore, located on the lower level next to the Hetzel Union Building (HUB); The Student Bookstore, 330 E. College Avenue; and the GotUsed Bookstore, 206 E. College Avenue. All three stock book lists for each semester, and carry supplies, souvenirs, cards, art supplies, and Penn State items. Shortages are inevitable, but among the three stores you can usually find what you need. All three stores provide book buy-backs at the end of the semester and will accept returned books (with receipts) within the first few weeks of the semester. Used textbooks are often available from these stores at considerable savings.

Procedures and Regulations

An on-line Graduate Student Resource Guide is available with links to many services and facilities at Penn State.

Parking and Traffic Regulations--Automobiles, Motorbikes, Motorscooters, etc.

All provisions of the Vehicle Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as supplemented by University Regulations, will be enforced on campus, and all Non University Park locations.

All vehicles to be registered must have a current license plate, a current inspection sticker (if required by the state where the vehicle is registered), and the applicant must have a valid driver’s license.

All graduate students who possess, maintain or operate a motor vehicle on any University property must register their motor vehicle(s) with the Parking Office in the Eisenhower Parking Deck. Motor vehicles are defined as automobiles, motorcycles, motor bikes, and motor scooters (except “mopeds,” which can be considered as bicycles under these regulations).

Parking is authorized ONLY in lots matching the color of the assigned parking permit and designated as student parking. If the assigned lot is full or unavailable for any reason, vehicles must be parked in another lot within the same classification as the registration permit. Each lot entrance has signs listing specific hours of reservation and any other lot restrictions. After 4 p.m., select faculty/staff lots are open to students with current permits displayed.

Parking regulations for students shall be in effect at all times, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to include the final examination periods, semester breaks and holiday recesses, unless otherwise publicly announced.

Ownership. Vehicles registered with the University by a student must be owned by either the registrant or a member of his or her immediate family. Vehicles must be registered by the first day of class each semester or by first business day following arrival on campus.

If you require access to marked handicapped parking spaces, you must apply for a state-issued handicap parking placard. Applications are available from the Parking Office; however, please keep in mind that the Parking Office is not authorized to issue the placards. All handicap parking placards, permanent or temporary, must be obtained from the state. You can download a Person with Disability Parking Placard Application (Form MV-145A) at the PENNDOT Web site.

In the event of accumulating snow, day or night and regardless of the amount, parking is prohibited in all faculty/staff surface lots from midnight to 7 a.m when "Midnight Clear" is announced. This restriction is necessary to clear lots for plowing and scattering of anti-skid material. During periods of snow, permit holders wishing to leave their vehicles on campus overnight must use either East, Eisenhower, the HUB, or Nittany parking decks, under covered areas only. Vehicles must be returned to their assigned parking areas by 8 a.m. the following day. Student storage lots are not on the priority snow removal list. Plowing the service drives and parking lot aisles may cause snow piling around your vehicle. Each permit holder is responsible for shoveling out their vehicle. Midnight Clear activity is announced over local radio and television stations and on the L-PSUPARK listserv.

Questions concerning procedures or interpretation of parking rules and regulations should be referred to the Parking Office, 1a Eisenhower Deck, (814) 865-1436, or email.

Bicycles and Mopeds

Operation. All bicycles must be operated according to the provisions of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Vehicle Code as it pertains to bicycles, as well as to Penn State’s rules and regulations.

A moped follows the same driving and parking rules and regulations as an automobile, however, is registered and parked as a bicycle.

Registration. Students having bicycles or mopeds on campus must register them and obtain a permit. There is no fee for this registration. Register them at the kiosks in the visitor parking lots Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. This service is available at the University Police in the Eisenhower Parking Deck outside of these times.

Those bicycles/mopeds registered by the police department of the Borough of State College are valid on University Park Campus. Also, the University Park-issued permits are valid in the Borough of State College. This is by reciprocal agreement, and identical permits are issued. Upon expiration, bicycles/mopeds must be re-registered.

Registrations and/or permits are not transferable. In the event of the sale of a bicycle/moped, or transfer of ownership, the new owner must register it in his/her name.

As a bicycle owner, all provisions of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Vehicle Code and the rules and regulations of Penn State affect you. With regard to the Vehicle Code, you must operate your bike as though it were a motor vehicle; i.e., you must stop at stop signs and travel the correct way on one-way streets. Failure to do so may result in a citation. The license period is identical with that of the Borough of State College--expiring on May 31 of each year--and the vehicle must be re-registered by that time.

Regulations. The enforcement of bicycle/moped regulations will be in effect at all times.

These vehicles may be ridden on bicycle routes and automobile thoroughfares only. Riders must walk their vehicles at all other places. Specifically, bicycles may not be ridden on paths, walkways, malls, or any other pedestrian-used way, with the exception of those paths clearly marked as dual-usage routes.

Bicycles may be parked on campus at places clearly designated by the presence of bicycle racks. Specifically, a bicycle/moped must not be parked in automobile parking spaces, on lawn areas, shrub or flower beds, streets, driveways, or in any building, including residence halls. Parking is also prohibited on sidewalks, entrance ways to buildings, or places that would hinder pedestrian travel.

In the event a bicycle rack is full, the bicycle may be parked upright in the general vicinity, provided it does not impede pedestrian traffic.

Any abandoned or non-registered bicycle parked on campus, or any bicycle parked hindering University Operations, obstructing steps or a handicap ramp may be removed and impounded by the University Police. If unclaimed within three months after impoundment, it will be deemed a gift to the University, to be disposed of through appropriate University channels.

Any bicycle parked on campus shall be parked at the risk of the owner. When unattended, bicycles should always be locked to avoid theft.

Penalties. Violations of these regulations may result in a citation including financial penalties. Student penalties are payable at the Parking Office, Eisenhower Parking Deck. All penalties are payable within 48 hours after receiving a violation notice. Penalties may also be paid the next school day if the final due date falls on a holiday or weekend.

Any person receiving a violation notice (ticket) who feels that the charge is unjust or in error, and who wishes to appeal, should complete an Appeal of Parking Violation Form. All appeals must be received by the Parking Office within 20 days of the date of violation.

Vehicle Accident Reports

An Accident Report must be submitted for any accident involving departmental or Fleet vehicles. Every employee driver must complete this form no matter how minor the accident. Complete all sections of the Vehicle Accident Report, located in the glove compartment of the vehicle, and submit the form to the Administrative Assistant for processing through the University system.

Research

The Use of Human Subjects in Research

University policy requires institutional review and approval of All research involving human subjects by the University’s Office for Research Protections (ORP) prior to involvement of the subjects in the project. Forms to obtain approval for the use of human subjects in research can be obtained from the ORP. Externally funded projects involving the use of human subjects should be approved by the ORP prior to acceptance of funding. The ORP coordinates review of activities involving subjects by the Human Subjects Institutional Review Board (the Biomedical Committee and the Behavioral + Social Sciences Committee).

Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals

Approval by the University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is required prior to the actual involvement of a vertebrate animal in any University activity. Any project involving an external sponsor should be submitted for IACUC review before funding is accepted. The records of the IACUC are subject to regular unannounced inspections by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).