Frequently Asked Questions about
Urban Service Experience (USE)
Urban Service Experience gives incoming Penn State students the opportunity to engage in community service in Philadelphia while making friendships that will help ease the transition from high school to college life. Working side-by-side with other new Penn State students, the participants will learn about the benefits of serving a community and become more aware of the needs of those appreciating their service.
What are the 2 credits for?
RPTM 297C counts only as elective credits.
Where will we be staying?
Chamounix Mansion Youth Hostel in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia. It is an old mansion converted into dormitory-style housing, with bunk bed-filled rooms. (Note: this is NOT a hotel.) Males and females will sleep in separate rooms. The participants are asked to bring bed sheets. Please do not bring a sleeping bag.
What will we be doing?
The projects will vary throughout the week and depend on the week you are enrolled. Typical projects include outdoor work in Fairmount Park, such as planting trees, building/repairing trails, removing invasive plant species, building fences, or controlling erosion. Other projects include working at Philadelphia’s food bank and at a senior center in the city.
How many students participate in the program?
There are twenty students per session. We break them up into two groups of ten. There are two leaders per group. The leaders are typically undergraduate and graduate students, who will share their insights about life at Penn State as well as supervise your six-day program experience.
If I live closer to Philadelphia than to State College, may I meet the group in Philadelphia rather than in State College?
Yes. A couple of weeks before the program, the participants meeting us in Philadelphia will be contacted by e-mail regarding the meeting place. The meeting time is 3:30 p.m., at the Chamounix Mansion Youth Hostel. A leader will meet you at the hostel. Please do not be late.
If you decide to change your meeting location (Philadelphia instead of State College or vice versa), please let us know as soon as you do.
If I live in Philadelphia, may I leave the group to go home during the week?
No. Once you arrive for the first day of the program, you are considered to be “in class.” Leaving for any reason will result with your being dropped from the course.
May I drive on my own to Philadelphia?
Yes, you may drive on your own to Philadelphia; however, you will not be permitted to drive your car during the week of the course. Parking is available at the hostel, and your car can be parked there, but at your own risk.
Is parking available at the hostel?
Yes. Parking is available outside of the hostel—at your own risk.
Is parking available at Penn State during the week?
Students who drive their cars to the University Park campus and wish to park there for the week can reserve a parking permit through the program office. There is an additional fee of $23. These parking permits will be issued during the welcome session at the HUB-Robeson Center on the first day of the program.
Do I need to bring extra money?
All food will be provided, and the cost of activities will be covered. However, you may want to bring extra money in case you decide to buy something extra (during our night out, for example). We suggest bringing no more than $25.
What clothing and gear should I bring?
A gear list is provided in the welcome packet. Be sure to bring everything on the list.
Many of the photographs included throughout the site are © Sven Zellner. For a listing, please contact us.
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The Pennsylvania State University | This page was last modified on Friday, February 29, 2008
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