By: Chelsea Moyer ‘18, Staff writer

Commuting to campus every day can be a struggle, but Lebanon Valley College offers services to make things a little easier.

Roughly 25 percent of full-time students at LVC are commuters. For some of these students, it can be difficult for them to feel like they fit in.

“It can be tough for commuters to get involved on campus,” Jennifer Evans, director of student activities, said. “Some work full-time jobs or have families, so they don’t have time to participate in activities.”

The commuter lounge, located in the Allan W. Mund College Center, is one of the main ways LVC helps commuters feel at home. It gives them a place to relax and focus before they leave campus.

“We don’t like to hear that students feel the need to sit in their car between classes,” Evans said. “We want to make sure they have a place to hang out for a little while.”

Students may not always have a place to study at home for a number of reasons. With the help of a few commuters, the lounge has been renovated to fit their needs. There are tables and seating for studying along with a separate room in the back, which includes a couch, bean bags and a television.

“If I need a quiet place to go, I’ll go to the lounge,” Jolie Winemiller, a senior applied history and communications major, said.

Afternoon Apps is a new activity LVC will be introducing this semester. Different offices on campus will host each event from 1:30-3 p.m. and provide appetizers for commuting students.

“We hope this will help commuters get to know the campus staff and feel more comfortable,” Evans said.

Metz also encourages commuting students to bring their packed lunch into the dining hall. This allows them to eat lunch or dinner with friends that live on campus.