Setting up Drop-In Locations

Key Takeaways: Know how to adjust and add locations for Drop-In.

Drop-in locations are separate from appointment locations in Penji because they serve different scheduling and operational purposes.

Appointment locations are tied to one-on-one or group sessions that students book in advance with a specific provider, and are often based on that provider’s individual availability.

Drop-in locations represent physical or virtual spaces where students can receive support on a walk-in basis. Students can either physically walk in or log into a virtual room during set hours. 

Providers are scheduled into drop-in shifts, and students join without a booking lead time. However, if multiple students show up at once, they may be placed in a queue and must wait their turn, as tutors handle one student or group at a time. This queue-based system makes drop-in support more flexible but also requires a different setup from appointments.

To edit drop-in locations and hours, follow the steps below:

1. Go to your admin panel, click the “Locations” tab under the “Drop-In” header > Manage > select your most recent import
                                                        
2. Open the .csv file and fill out the columns in exactly the same format as the sample
   • • Name: The name of the drop-in location. Simply input the name of the location as you want it to appear to the students on the "Name" column. 
     • Kind: We support Physical & Online (Zoom, GoBoard, Webex, and Provider Link) locations
     • Mode: The drop-in session style. There are two kinds -- Queue and Log Mode.
       • Queue mode (Online or Physical) operates with a managed waitlist—students are placed in line and matched to a provider when available, often receiving updates on their place in line and estimated wait times.
       • Log mode (Physical only) is more informal—students check in and work with any available tutor based on center flow. Sessions are checked in and out manually via a kiosk.
       • We recommend reviewing our Drop-In Location Quick Guide, which goes over key differences between the two. 
     • Check-in Method: The way a student begins their Drop-In session. This can be set to "Any" or "Kiosk". This must be filled in for physical locations. 
       • "Any" means that the students can check in through Penji or a kiosk. 
       • "Kiosk" means that students can only check in through a kiosk. 
     • Resources: These are non-tutor services or tools that students can check in to use—such as computers, printers, study rooms, calculators, or even general study space. These are only available on Log mode, as these items will appear as check-in options for students.
3. Upload the edited CSV by selecting Choose File > Select your file > Import Locations CSV