Housing Procedures & FAQs

• Changing Rooms

  When warranted, you may request a change in your living situation. Students should be aware that before a change can occur, roommates must be considered and taken into account. All changes must be approved prior to the physical move. Students must move within 24 hours of the approval date.

  Residents can apply to be reassigned for the spring semester. Procedures for end-of-semester changes will be forwarded to you at the appropriate time. Once a change has been approved, residents agree to move before leaving at the end of the fall semester. If this is not done, your change may need to be cancelled.

  Follow these steps:

  1. If you are considering changing your room, you must first talk with a community living team member within your building (CA, CD) to discuss your situation.
  2. If your situation cannot be solved through the interaction with the community living team member within your building, you can visit the Campus Housing and Community Living Office to make arrangements for a room change (provided there are vacancies).
  3. All room changes must be approved and arranged, through the Campus Housing and Community Living Office, before the actual physical move is to take place.
  4. The physical move may only take place at certain times during the semester, and students will be apprised as to when the move can take place.
  5. Your ID card is programmed with necessary security access for your residence hall. Changing buildings requires an update to this programming. To accommodate your physical move, you will have 24 hours of access to the room you are vacating, from the time the move is approved.
  6. Room changes taking place between the end of fall semester and the start of the spring semester, must be approved and pre-arranged before the last week of the Fall semester. Students who have pre-arranged to move for the spring semester must remove all belongings from the room they are vacating before leaving for the winter break. Students will complete the physical move to their new room when they return to campus for the spring semester.
  7. If a student’s room, with a vacancy, is not set up to receive a new occupant (i.e. room set up for single occupancy) over college breaks, that student will be asked to return to campus to move their belongings and set the room up as a double, or will be billed as appropriate for set-up or single occupancy.

Preparing for Breaks

• Thanksgiving

  Residence halls close at noon on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and all residents must leave by then unless prior arrangements have been made with the Campus Housing Office

  The residence hall will generally open at noon on the Sunday following Thanksgiving, when residents will then be allowed back into their residence hall.

  For specific vacation dates, please refer to the academic calendar.

  Before leaving please make sure to:

  • Leave a clean, orderly room
  • Dispose of all food
  • Empty waste baskets
  • Close and lock all windows
  • Leave blinds down but open
• Winter Break

  Residence halls close at 10 a.m. on the Saturday immediately following finals for people not graduating and at 5 p.m. for those people who are graduating.

  All residents must leave by these times unless prior arrangements have been made with the Campus Housing Office.

  The residence halls will reopen for the spring semester in late January or early February. For specific vacation dates, please refer to the Academic Calendar.

  Before leaving please make sure to:

  • Leave a clean, orderly room
  • Dispose of all food
  • Unplug all electrical appliances
  • Empty waste baskets
  • Clean and unplug refrigerators
  • Close and lock all windows
  • Leave blinds down but open
  • Dismantle and clean up holiday decorations

  If you are in a room alone, but not paying for a single, you must leave the room clean, orderly and set up for someone to move in. All students withdrawing from the residence hall at the end of the semester for whatever reason must go to the Campus Housing Office in order to check out of the hall.

• Spring Break

  Residence halls close at noon on the Saturday beginning spring break and all residents must leave unless they made prior arrangements with the Campus Housing Office.

  Residence halls generally reopen at noon the Sunday ending spring break.

  For specific vacation dates, please refer to the academic calendar.

  Before you leave please make sure to:

  • Leave a clean, orderly room
  • Dispose of all food
  • Empty waste baskets
  • Close and lock all windows
  • Leave blinds down but open

Checking Out of Your Room

• During the Academic Year

  If you are moving out of your room for any reason during the middle of the academic year, you must follow these procedures:

  • Go to the Campus Housing Office to inform us that you are leaving
  • Fill out room cancellation form at the Campus Housing Office
  • Remove all belongings from your room
  • Clean your room (or at least your area of the room)
  • Complete your final room inspection and room content form with a member of your building’s community living team.
  • Remove all belongings from your room
  • Clean your room (or at least your area of the room)
  • Check out with the community living team
  • Complete your final room inspection and room content form with a member of your building’s community living team.

  Our building teams will post hours when they will be available to facilitate this check-out process in each building.

• At the End of an Academic Year

  At the end of an academic year in May, all students will vacate their rooms, unless prior arrangements have been made with the Campus Housing Office. Each student must follow these procedures:

  • Remove all belongings from your room
  • Clean your room (or at least your area of the room)
  • Checkout with the community living team
  • Complete your final room inspection and room content form with a member of your building’s community living team. Building teams will post hours when they will be available to facilitate the check-out process in each building

Moving Off Campus

• Requirements

  All students are required to live on campus unless they meet one of the following criteria:

  • Students who can document that they have lived for four semesters (the equivalent of two academic years) on this or another college campus (form required)
  • Married students (no form required)
  • Fully online students (no form required)
  • Veterans (no form required)
  • Branch campus students (no form required)
  • Students with dependent children living with them (no form required)
  • Students living with parents or legal guardians commuting from within 45 miles of campus. Proof of a parental or guardian’s domicile located within this 45 miles radius, using the SUNY Policy for establishing residency will be required. (form required)
  • Students 21 years of age or older, prior to October 1 of the academic year in which they enroll (March 1 for spring semester enrollees) (form required)
  • Students who are closed out of campus housing by the college, and therefore must live off-campus (no form required)
  • Students who feel their situation necessitates an exception to this policy for financial or other extenuating situations, must submit a special request Form, available in the Campus Housing and Community Living Office, seeking an exception to this policy

  If you feel you meet one of these criteria and are not in a current on-campus residence hall room lease agreement, you may be eligible for off-campus housing.

  If you do not meet any of the criteria above, and feel that you have a special circumstance that requires you to live off campus, you can apply for a special exception to the on-campus housing requirement by contacting the Campus Housing and Community Living Office.

• For the Fall Semester

  Applying for a Special Exception to the On-Campus Housing Requirement: Submit the special circumstances form, a print-only form available in the Campus Housing Office, and a letter explaining why you need an exception, unless you feel your reason for moving off-campus is related to a medical, psychological or educational need (see below). If you feel you need to move off-campus due to a financial need, Student Financial Services will be consulted to verify your need.

  Medical, Psychological or Educational Need: If you feel that you need to move off-campus due to a medical, psychological or educational need, you will also need to submit the Student Housing Accommodation Request Form and the Medical/Psychological Documentation for Student Housing Accommodation Request Form. Copies are also available at the Campus Housing Office. This form is to be completed by your provider and submitted to the Accessibility Resources Office. That office will review your request, may require additional documentation, and will notify you and the housing office of the results of that review.

  After considering all of the information in your request and the results of any reviews, a final decision will be made by the Campus Housing Office regarding your request and this result will be communicated to you.

• For the Spring Semester

  Please Note: All students who are currently residing on campus have signed a full year residence hall license agreement (August-May). To apply for a special exception to break your agreement half-way through the school year please see instructions below:

  Special Circumstances Request: Submit the special circumstances form, a print-only form available in the Housing Office, and a letter explaining why you need an exception, unless you feel your reason for moving off-campus is related to a medical, psychological or educational need (see below). If you feel you need to move off-campus due to a financial need, Student Financial Services will be consulted to verify your need.

  Medical, Psychological or Educational Need: If you feel that you need to move off-campus due to a medical, psychological or educational need, you will also need to submit the Student Housing Accommodation Request Form and the Medical/Psychological Documentation for Student Housing Accommodation Request Form. Copies are also available at the Campus Housing Office. This form is to be completed by your provider and submitted to the Accessibility Resources Office. That office will review your request, may require additional documentation, and will notify you and the housing office of the results of that review.

  After considering all of the information in your request and the results of any reviews, a final decision will be made by the Campus Housing Office regarding your request and this result will be communicated to you. Please note that there is a $500 cancellation fee that will be assessed if you are granted permission to break your currently signed residence hall room license agreement.

Bed Bugs

• Identifying and Dealing with Bedbugs

  Our rooms are furnished to be less hospitable to bedbugs than the average living quarters. Bedbugs prefer cloth and wood. Our mattresses are covered with vinyl, and our beds are made of metal not wood. Furthermore, while we currently have no bedbug infestations on campus, we are working to inform our students, so that they will know what to do in the event of one.

  This document outlines steps to take if you think you have a bedbug infestation, as well as the steps the campus will take to assist you. You will find photos, and information about who to contact and what to do next.

  • Download Bedbug Information Brochure.
• Packing Checklist — How to Leave the Bed Bugs Behind

  If bedbugs are found on campus, they often have traveled in linens, clothing, and furnishings that are brought to campus. Knowing this, we offer the following advice If your home/room is being treated:

  • Bring as few items as possible when leaving the residence for fumigation. Remember, a common way for these insects to be introduced into buildings is by hitching rides in suitcases, backpacks, boxes, clothing, bedding and pet cages. Bedbugs have been found infesting small electronic devices, such as alarm clocks.
  • All fabric items taken out of the residence during fumigation should be washed in hot water and dried in high heat in a dryer (140°F) before they are returned to the fumigated residence. This includes clothing, blankets, pillows, stuffed toys and pet bedding.
  • Do not use boxes, suitcases, backpacks, gym bags or any similar items from an infested residence to pack belongings. These items should remain in the residence to be fumigated. Pack belongings needed during the fumigation in light-colored or clear plastic bags, plastic containers, such as sweater boxes, or new luggage not previously stored in the infested residence.
  • Do not place washed or packed items on furniture (beds, sofas, dressers, tables, etc.) or flooring (carpets or rugs) that may be infested with bedbugs. Immediately remove packed items from the infested residence or place them on a clean, hard surface (kitchen or bathroom floor or in a bathtub or shower) until they can be removed from the residence.
  • Mattresses completely enveloped in plastic covers that cannot be removed, such as infant mattresses, cannot be fumigated. These mattresses must be removed prior to fumigation. If there is any evidence that such a mattress is infested with bedbugs or the individual sleeping on the mattress has been bitten by bedbugs, it is advised that a new mattress be purchased.
  • Pet cages and pet bedding should be fumigated. Pet cages with any small gaps, seams, or hollow spaces that could harbor bedbugs should be left in the residence to be fumigated. Food in the cages should be removed prior to the fumigation. The pets should be transferred to new travel cages or housing known not to be infested with bedbugs to remove them from the residence prior to the fumigation. Pet bedding/blankets should not be removed from the residence before the fumigation unless they can be washed, dried, and packed as described above.
  • When traveling, be on the alert. Check bedding at hotels, your luggage and its contents before you bring it into your home or residence hall. Bedbugs are most commonly picked up from public areas like subways, benches, taxi cabs and common-use facilities like hotel rooms. A few minutes of time checking could save you days of time dealing with an infestation along with costly extermination or other treatment. Avoid bringing them with you when you’re traveling!

Living On Campus

• When do I arrive and leave campus?

  Answer: For the fall semester, you will need to arrive on the Friday prior to the start of classes beginning at 8 a.m. Exceptions to this are new international students and participants in fall sports. These groups are to arrive according to instructions from their respective directors or coaches. Note that food service does not begin at the time of these early arrivals.

  Halls open for spring semester check-in at 11 a.m. on the Saturday or Sunday prior to start of classes. Only those students who are new for spring semester must check-in at the housing office.

  At the end of a semester, you must check out and leave within 24 hours of your last final exam or before the official closing date/time, whichever is sooner.

  Visit Opening Week Information 

• What happens if I don’t get along with my roommate?

  Answer: The quality of the relationship between roommates is a major determining factor in one’s satisfaction with college life. Some of the primary components of a positive roommate relationship are the assertive expression of one’s needs, the recognition and respect for the unique needs and lifestyles of others, and the positive management of conflict.

  You are expected to take primary responsibility for ensuring the development and maintenance of a positive roommate relationship. You’re also strongly encouraged to invest yourself fully in working together with roommates to resolve any differences by speaking directly to roommates in sharing concerns, expressing feelings in an honest manner, and jointly negotiating a resolution to conflict.

  On occasion, a student will attempt to resolve problems by talking to a roommate who is unresponsive. In other cases, a student may be having a difficult time approaching the roommate. In either of these situations, seek the help of your community advocate or community director. Community living staff members can assist you in communicating with your roommate or assist in negotiating a living agreement.

• What if it’s noisy on the floor?

  Answer: Residents are responsible for maintaining reasonable conditions for study and sleep in the residence halls. SUNY Plattsburgh is committed to the concept that its residence halls complement and foster the academic and intellectual development of its students. There is an expectation that all residence halls must be conducive to studying, especially in the evenings. To that end, the ability to occupy and enjoy one’s room for the purposes of studying in peace and quiet takes precedence over any other activity.

  Quiet hours are in effect in all residence hall areas on class nights from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m.

  On Friday and Saturday evenings, common courtesy must prevail. Loud noise and disorderly behavior is not acceptable at any time. A 24-hour quiet period goes into effect prior to and during final exams.

  You are expected to confront other individuals who are infringing upon your right to study or sleep. Community advocates (CAs) are available to help maintain a reasonable level of quiet on the floor. However, community advocates should not be expected to be the sole policy enforcer on the floor. No staff member can be available 24 hours a day to handle every possible situation that may arise. At the same time, students are encouraged to practice the skills they will need to be self-sufficient adults. When asked to settle a noise situation, CAs are likely to ask the resident if she/he has made any attempt to resolve the situation. If the resident has made an attempt and did not receive an adequate response, the CA will assist in an intervention. If the resident has not made an attempt, the CA will encourage discussion with the student in question.

  Students who continually show disrespect for the rights of others and/or refuse to cooperate with requests to keep the noise level down are referred for disciplinary action. Repeated violations could lead to a student’s loss of eligibility for campus housing.

• How are residence halls supervised?

  Answer: Each residence hall is managed by a graduate assistant community director trained specifically in working with college students in a residential setting. First-year residence halls are managed by a full-time professional community director.

  Residence hall floors are staffed by undergraduate community advocates (CAs). Low-rise halls have two CAs per floor; high rises have one per floor. CAs are responsible for working with students to create and maintain a floor community conducive to academic, social, and personal needs. CAs are expected to confront violations of college policy, act as role models, encourage residents to take responsibility for their own actions/choices, and encourage respect and appreciation for each other. First-year residence halls have 2 community advocates on each floor.

  Each residence hall office is staffed during the evening by the CA-on-Duty, checking out recreational equipment, answering questions, and attending to administrative tasks within the building.

  Learn more about Campus Housing Staff

• What kinds of activities take place in the residence halls?

  Answer: A variety of social and educational activities are planned for each residence hall. Educational programs are offered in the areas of health, safety and security, and intellectual wellness. Examples of topics that have been the focus of programs include drunk driving, sexuality, alcohol abuse, acquaintance rape, religion, race issues and cultural diversity.

  Social and community development programs have included athletic events and intramurals, tie dyeing, ice cream socials, holiday celebrations, crafts, scavenger hunts, and community service projects.

  Residence Hall Community Governments also plan programs for students. Residents are encouraged to become involved in creating and presenting programs of their own.

• Is there housing specifically for first-year students?
  Answer: Yes. SUNY Plattsburgh is committed to the quality of life of every first-year student. Our first-year residence halls provide additional support to help with your transition to SUNY Plattsburgh and college life. We provide lots of fun and educational programs, encourage students’ success and will help first-year students to stand out from the start.
• Can I live on campus all four years?
  Answer: Yes! And in fact, many do. Living on-campus is hassle free and, based on current research, very comparable in price to living off-campus.
• Can I have a vehicle on campus?
  Answer: Yes, even first-year students! There are on-campus areas designated for student parking. Students are required to pay a registration and a parking fee in order to park on campus. This may be paid on your semester invoice. A hang-tag is issued at the University Police Office upon presentation of your vehicle registration.

  Visit Campus Parking

• Why do I have to purchase a meal plan if I live in the residence halls?

  Answer: First-year students are required to purchase a meal plan. These plans are specially designed for first-year students and provide access to our dining halls for your primary meals.

  All other resident students are required to purchase one of five on-campus meal plans. This ensures access to high-quality, nutritious meals.

  Many students attending college for the first time are not experienced with time management. Having a meal plan relieves the student of the responsibility of shopping, cooking, and cleaning up after meals, allowing more time for academic pursuits. Furthermore, residence halls are not equipped for students to prepare their own meals. Of concern are the potential for fire, activation of smoke alarms, clogged drains, improper disposal of waste and garbage, electrical overload, insects and rodents.

  Learn About Meal Plans

• Can I stay in my room during vacations or breaks?
  Answer: You may prearrange for vacation occupancy by contacting the campus housing office during the week prior to scheduled closing. There is no additional charge for this housing but the office will need to know your plans in order to activate your ID card for break usage.
• Can I have guests?

  Answer: The college permits guests, regardless of gender. However, based on respect for others, each resident is expected to abide by the following guidelines:

  1. The rights to sleep, study and have privacy supersede all other rights, including visitation.
  2. Any overnight guests need advance explicit consent of the roommate. Overnight guests are limited to one per resident and may not remain for more than three consecutive days.
  3. All guests entering the building must be escorted by their host/hostess at all times when they are in the building. Residents are directly responsible for the actions of their guests and are responsible for informing them of rules and facilities. Residents may face disciplinary action and be held financially responsible for any behavior of a guest that results in property damage. The college reserves the rights to deny access to any guest if it has been determined that the guest has disturbed, endangered, or disrupted residents or college activities.

Safety & Security

• What types of safety and security measures are provided on campus?

  Answer: University Police can be reached 24 hours a day at 518-564-2022. In addition, the Housing & Residence Life Office provides on-call coverage from 7:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day. The CA-on-Duty is reachable by phone during this time. (Phone numbers are posted in each hall.)

  Community living staff members are trained to deal effectively with emergency situations. Community advocates make additional rounds through and outside of buildings during the late evening and early morning hours. Each building is locked 24 hours a day. All residents are issued cards to gain access to their assigned building as well as codes to their room and/or suite doors.

  State-of-the-art fire alarm systems with smoke and heat detectors have been installed in all residential buildings to help ensure the safety of residents. Renovated buildings are fully sprinklered and non-renovated buildings are sprinklered to the NYS Fire Code.

  Learn more about the University Police Department

• Are firearms and other such weapons allowed in rooms?
  Answer: No! Neither firearms nor weapons are permitted anywhere on campus.
• Is alcohol allowed on campus?

  Answer: Yes, legal personal consumption of alcohol is permitted in the college residence halls. Alcohol events or parties are not permitted. In general, students who are 21 years of age may consume alcohol within their rooms.

  Personal consumption is limited to reasonable quantities of alcohol. Mass quantities of alcohol are not permitted in and around the residence halls nor are the playing of games that elicit the rapid and mass consumption of alcohol. Students under 21 years of age may not possess or be present where there is an open container of alcohol.

  Further detail on this policy will be available prior to the beginning of the semester.

• Do I need renters insurance?
  Answer: Yes, you do. The college does not take responsibility for losses suffered on campus because of fire, theft, water damage or other cause. It is therefore, advisable that all students who reside on campus check the extent of their current home insurance or seek coverage through a special policy. The risk of having personal property in a college residence hall is borne entirely by the student and not the college or university.
• What happens when a rule or policy is violated?
  Answer: Students who violate policies can expect to experience the consequences of those decisions. Generally, a student will be referred to the Student Conduct Office. If a violation is determined, the office will decide on sanctions or consequences appropriate to the case. Sanctions may include a reprimand, a reprimand with conditions, probation, a judicial registration record hold, suspension or dismissal.

Furnishings & Amenities

• Are the rooms carpeted?
  Answer: No. Students usually bring throw rugs or room size rugs that coordinate with their color scheme. Room size rugs may be purchased at the college store.

  Visit The Campus Store

• What kinds of appliances are allowed in the room?

  Answer: Radios, stereo equipment, personal computers, hair dryers, razors and clocks are permitted, providing they are plugged in within the room and do not exceed the amperage limits of the circuits within the room. Use of irons is permitted only in designated areas. Octopus-type electric plugs, and general use extension cords are not permitted. Surge suppression outlet strips are the way to go, and they protect computers and other electrically sensitive equipment. An outlet strip must have a built-in 15-ampere fuse or circuit breaker protection.

  Cooking is prohibited in any area within the residence halls except kitchenettes, which are specifically designed for such use. Hot pots, popcorn poppers, and coffee pots are to be used in the kitchenette only. Self-contained heater coffee pots (Keurig or similar) are permitted. Microwave ovens, toaster ovens, and hot plates are NOT permitted in individual student rooms.

  Students may bring their own refrigerator, provided it meets the following guidelines. We allow up to two refrigerators per room do long as they meet the following criteria. Each may be no more than six cubic feet in internal size. Also, each must have a three-prong plug and be U.L. approved and must be plugged directly into an electric outlet.

• Can I arrange beds in bunk style?
  Answer: Yes. Beds can be made into bunks in all residence halls. Simply ask your community advocate or your building cleaner/janitor to have this done.
• Is there a laundry or linen service?

  Answer: SUNY Plattsburgh does not have a laundry or a linen service. Washers and dryers are available in common areas of each residence hall that are not coin operated.

  Instead, unlimited use of the facilities is included in the room rent.

• Can I paint my room?
  Answer: No, Residence hall rooms cannot be painted.
• Can I store items on-campus?

  Answer:  The college will designate a room for the storage of clean refrigerators over the summer. Once the area is full, students will need to find another place for their refrigerators.

  Bicycles must be stored in student rooms. Bicycle racks are available outside many residence halls and academic buildings.

  Residents are free to leave belongings in their rooms over break periods but are encouraged to take valuables with them.

Additional Questions

• Are all students guaranteed housing?

  Answer: If all of the students at SUNY Plattsburgh wanted to live on campus, we would not be able to accommodate them, so technically, the answer is no. However, since only about half of our undergraduate students typically request to live in residence halls, we are usually able to accommodate everyone. Room assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis and we would resort to tripling double rooms in order to give students a room when demand exceeds our capacity.

• Can a housing contract be cancelled?

  Answer: The housing contract is a legal document and is binding for both the fall and spring semesters once it has been signed. Students are responsible for both the fall and spring semesters unless they participate in a college-sponsored program away from SUNY Plattsburgh or withdraw from the college. There is a $500 cancellation charge for December cancellations if a student is approved to move off campus.