Policies & Regulations

University Policies / University Rules & Regulations

Penn State University has established standards of conduct for students, faculty, and staff. Students may refer to the Code of Conduct, implemented by the Office of Student Conduct The University's Policy Manual has more information on rules and regulations that all persons on Penn State University grounds must abide by.

Tailgating Alcohol Restrictions - Police at University Park

Responsible tailgating is a time-honored tradition here at Penn State. In order to provide greater support to the Penn State Football team, Penn State University will no longer permit alcohol consumption in the parking lots while the football game is underway—from kick off to the final play.

Tailgating before and after the game is a great game day tradition—a time for reunions of family, friends, and alumni—and the University is pleased to serve as hosts to these gatherings. Increasingly in recent years, some people have used football Saturdays as simply an excuse to stage an all-day drinking party in the University's parking lots and have lost the true spirit of Penn State football. This restriction has been created to support the tradition of pride displayed by football fans and create a favorable environment for the great majority of our guests. Failure to comply with this directive may result in both administrative and criminal sanctions. Be responsible when showing your Penn State spirit!

State Statutes - Police at University Park

Powers and Duties

From Section 2416.1 of the Administrative Code of 1929 (Act 57 of 1997) and Section 2416.1 Campus Police Powers and Duties

Campus police shall have the power and duty:

To enforce good order on the grounds and in the buildings of the college or university.
To protect the grounds and buildings of the college or university.
To exclude all disorderly persons from the grounds and buildings of the college or university.
To adopt whatever means may be necessary for the performance of their duties.
To exercise the same powers as are now or may hereafter be exercised under authority of law or ordinance by the police of the municipalities wherein the college or university is located, including, but not limited to, those powers conferred pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 89 Subch. D (relating to municipal police jurisdiction).
To prevent crime, investigate criminal acts, apprehend, arrest, and charge criminal offenders and issue summary citations for acts committed on the grounds and in the buildings of the college or university and carry the offender before the proper alderman, justice of the peace, magistrate or bail commissioner and prefer charges against him under the laws of this commonwealth. Except when acting pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 89 Subch. D, campus police shall exercise these powers and perform these duties only on the grounds or within 500 yards of the grounds of the college or university. For the purposes of applying the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 89 Subch. D, the grounds and within 500 yards of the grounds of the college or university shall constitute the primary jurisdiction of the campus police.
To order off the grounds and out of the buildings of the college or university all vagrants, loafers, trespassers, and persons under the influence of liquor and, if necessary, remove them by force and, in case of resistance, carry such offenders before an alderman, justice of the peace, bail commissioner or magistrate.
To arrest any person who damages, mutilates, or destroys the trees, plants, shrubbery, turf, grass plots, benches, buildings, and structures or commits any other offense on the grounds and in the buildings of the college or university and carry the offender before the proper alderman, justice of the peace, bail commissioner or magistrate and prefer charges against him under the laws of this commonwealth.
1. Campus police and municipalities are authorized to enter into an agreement with the municipality wherein the college or university is located to exercise concurrently those powers and to perform those duties conferred pursuant to a cooperative police service agreement in accordance with 42 Pa.C.S. § 8953 (relating to statewide municipal police jurisdiction). When so acting, the campus police of the college or university shall have the same powers, immunities, and benefits granted to police officers in 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 89 Subch. D.
2. When acting within the scope of the authority of this section, campus police are at all times employees of the college or university and shall be entitled to all of the rights and benefits accruing there.
3. As used in this section:
  Campus police means all law enforcement personnel employed by a state-aided or state-related college or university who have successfully completed a campus police course of training approved under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21 Subch. D (relating to municipal police education and training).
  College or university means all state-aided or state-related colleges and universities.
  Grounds means all lands and buildings owned, controlled, leased, or managed by a college or university.

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