As we progress through life we encounter a variety of personal and professional milestones such as beginning employment, the birth or adoption of a child, changing family relationships, retirement, etc. At each milestone there are University offices, benefits, policies, or other programs that provide guidance and/or assistance. This website is your one-stop shopping place for information, assistance, and direction.

This site is divided into four general sections: Beginning Employment, Your Family, Absence from the University, and Leaving the University. If you have difficulty in locating the topic of your interest, please contact the Employee Relations division at 814-865-1412 or contact us at Life Events at Penn State.

This website should answer the questions most frequently asked by employees. It is prepared as a ready reference. However, it is not intended to be definitive on policy matters, nor does it grant substantive contractual rights to University employees. More precise definitions, special cases, and additional details must be obtained from the offices or publications where materials for this website were gathered. Policies affecting employees represented by a union are found in the appropriate Agreements.