- Home
- Offices
- Residence Life and Housing
- Residence Life and Housing For New Students
Residence Life and Housing For New Students
Welcome to Residence Life and Housing
We are very excited to help you as you begin your college career at SUNY Cortland!
If you have specific questions that are not answered on the Web page, please e-mail us at ResidenceLifeAndHousing@cortland.edu, call us at (607) 753-4724, or stop in and visit us in Van Hoesen Hall, Room B-33. We look forward to answering your questions!
News and Updates
APPLY TODAY! Become a leader...live in the Leadership House!
We are accepting applications for returning and transfer students who are looking to enhance their leadership development by participating in the Leadership House program, a unique living-learning opportunity! Accepted student leaders will live in the Judson H. Taylor Leadership House (located across from Cornish Hall). Go here for more information. All participants receive a $200 stipend. If you are interested, you may view and print an application.
New Student Housing Information
Housing Timeline
- Student receives acceptance letter from Admissions Office.
- Student pays $200 Admission deposit.
- Student receives postcard with housing instructions for myRedDragon beginning May 2.
- Student fills out and submits Housing Preference Form via myRedDragon within 30 days of receipt of housing postcard.
- Students interested in requesting housing accommodations must provide medical documentation by July 1.
- Housing assignment and roommate information is available on myRedDragon August 1.
- Housing assignments and tripling are based on a combination of the date the Admission deposit is paid, the date the Housing Preference Form is received, and special interest and roommate requests.
General Housing Information
- Freshmen (including freshman transfers) are assigned to live in a room with freshmen, even in mixed halls.
- Transfers are assigned to live with either another transfer student or a returning student.
- Students can request roommates on their Housing Preference Form if they meet the May 31 deadline.
- Room charges include cable TV, internet, voice mail, and local phone service.
- Student RAs (resident assistants) and professional RHDs (residence hall directors) are available for support in each residence hall.
- Returning students are not guaranteed housing their junior and senior year; their housing will be decided on a space available basis at the time, and whether they meet the posted housing deadlines.
Freshman Housing
- We anticipate that we will need to triple some freshmen for Fall 2012.
- Tripling is based on the date the Admission deposit is paid; the last students to pay their deposit get tripled.
Special Interest Housing Options
Note: All residence halls and the West Campus Apartments are non-smoking/tobacco free.
- Suites – Alger, Clark, Higgins (no freshmen)
- Casey Tower and Smith Tower Suites (mixed housing)
- Glass Tower - Quad Doubles
- Wellness Floor
- 24-hour Quiet Floors
- Transfer Floor
- International Hall – Whitaker Hall
- West Campus Apartments
- Preference given to older transfers over 21 (mixed housing, including freshmen)
- Over 21 building
- Co-ed apartments available
- Transfer building
Housing Requirements
- All new freshmen are required to live on campus for four semesters or two full years.
- All new transfers are required to live on campus for two semesters or one full year.
The only automatic exceptions to the housing policy:
- Student is over the age of 21 by September or January of the semester they begin classes
- Student commutes from home (60 mile maximum)
- Student is married
- Student is a veteran
We're on Facebook
Want to see more updates, reminders, and other information regarding your housing? Check out the Residence Life and Housing on Facebook. Just visit and "like" our page to receive up-to-date information, view photos, and much more.
What to Expect...
...from your residence hall community
The residence hall is a community that you are a member of. We believe a residence hall is more than a place for a break from classes; it is a vibrant and active community- the center for student life. We encourages you to develop an awareness of the many opportunities that this presents and challenges you to take advantage of in this setting to increase your leadership abilities and social development.
We feel that it is very important to ensure that the rights of each individual are respected. We urge each resident to act responsibly toward the rest of the community and himself or herself as well. It is important that each person's actions contribute to the development of a strong, safe, positive community within the residence hall. As a community member, you should be aware of the expectations you will be held to. Please review the Code of Student Conduct and Key to Residence Hall Living to familiarize yourself with SUNY Cortland's policies.
...in your room
The illustration below shows the basic room layout for most residence hall double rooms. The closets are generally built in and cannot be moved, except for closets in Alger Hall, Clark Hall, Glass Tower Hall, Higgins Hall and Whitaker Hall.
Two single beds are also included. With the exception of West Campus Apartments, the mattresses are extra long. Students usually prefer the extra-long size twin sheets that can be ordered through the Residence Hall Linen Program. Standard, twin-size sheets will also work.
To view the approximate room dimensions, visit the the individual residence hall pages.
For more information regarding residence hall rooms, please visit the FAQ or visit the individual residence hall pages.
