Living on Campus

Living Learning Communities (LLCs) are residential clusters of students living in specific halls who share a common interest. Students will be a part of a close-knit community that supports academic success, encourages personal growth, and fosters safe and supportive environments. Select communities have corresponding academic courses that help to further student exploration and growth related to specific LLC themes. All students, regardless of major, identity, or background, are welcome to apply for a Living Learning Community. All you need is a passion to make your community a successful and enjoyable experience!

LLCs can make a university's campus feel smaller and more accessible and since they are open to first year students, they can also help make the transition from high school to college easier. Connecting in community is a powerful thing. At SUNY Oswego, we know that community connections are vital to your success. Joining an LLC is the easiest way to make friends, find community, and build a support system to maximize your college success. Students benefit from additional resources, support, and enhanced activities centered around a specific focus to elevate their Laker experience.

1. Apply for housing by completing your housing application through the MyHousing portal.
2. Consider which LLC community is for you and select the one you would like to participate in on your housing application.
3. If selected to participate in an LLC, first year students can expect email notification confirming their selection in June. Returning students can expect notification in February in accordance with the posted housing selection timeline.

For the 2024-2025 academic year we have three Living Learning Communities available. 

All In: Are you a member of the LGBTQIA+ community or an ally? Then our All In affinity housing might just be for you! Students in this Living Learning Community are able to explore and express their whole selves, including their gender identities, expressions, and sexual orientation in a supportive and affirming environment. At SUNY Oswego, we acknowledge the need to provide a supportive and inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ students and their allies to call home. This immersive community is developed for first-year and upper division students interested in learning about LGBTQIA+ identities, history, culture, and social advocacy. When you live here, you’ll work alongside other like-minded students to build a community based on mutual respect, understanding, affirmation, and where identities of all kinds are celebrated.

Live Well: College is a new, exciting experience full of opportunities and challenges! So how do you take care of yourself while you are here? Sign up to live in the Live Well Living Learning Community so you can stay on track while juggling the demands of college. SUNY Oswego’s wellbeing LLC gives first year students the opportunity to be part of a vibrant, supportive community that is committed to helping students cultivate and maintain holistic wellness. You will live with a group of peers who are also interested in engaging in activities across all dimensions of wellness.

Be First: Are you a first generation student? If neither of your parents/guardians hold a four-year university degree in the U.S., then you are a first generation (first gen) student even if you have a sibling who is attending college ahead of you.  As a first gen student, you have what it takes to succeed but sometimes financial, family, academic, or work pressures can make the college seem daunting. To help support you, Residence Life and Housing provides first year, first generation students with a unique opportunity to live in an inclusive environment that encourages your academic and personal success! Being the first in your family to attend college can be challenging and so students in this living learning community are given an extra layer of support to help them along the way!

Regardless of the reason(s) for choosing to live in Substance-Free Housing, all residents of this community agree to hold each other accountable to the following:

1. Students will not possess or consume alcohol, tobacco and/or and other drugs, which are prohibited by state law and/or SUNY Oswego policy (i.e., use of marijuana, misuse and/or abuse of prescription drugs, etc.) in the living environment regardless of age.
2. Students will not return to the Substance-Free living environment in an intoxicated and/or disruptive state.
3. Students will not negatively impact the living community through the decision to use and/or have contact with any substances beyond the residence hall. For example, a resident in this area who has either smoked or been in a smoking environment is obligated to not bring this smell back to the Substance-Free section.
4. Students will not invite guests to this area who are under the influence of any of the above substances prior to entering the Substance-Free living environment. Students must assume responsibility for all actions of their guests.

Communicate with your roommate prior to coming to school. Coordinating the furnishings and arrangements for your room is a good opportunity to become better acquainted with your new roommate(s). It also helps to break the ice so that that first meeting on opening day can be more comfortable. Some things you may want to discuss are:

• Sharing belongings
• Social and academic expectations and desires
• Study and sleep habits
• Who is bringing a TV, electronic equipment, etc.

You and your roommate may share some commonalities; you will also learn that you are different from each other in many ways. All residents are required to complete the Roommate Agreement within the first days after moving in. This is a great time to get to know your roommate and have a discussion about how you want to use your space. Although it may be challenging to have a roommate for the first time, we are confident it will be a learning experience.

Roommates don't always agree on everything. That's OK. But if you and your roommate are having difficulties living together, there are ways to work it out. Moving to a different room without first trying to work things out with your roommate is not an option! So, here's what you need to do to begin to work out those differences:

1. Talk with your roommate! Let them know what's on your mind. Roommates aren't mind readers. Maybe they have no idea that you would like something to change!
2. If you talk with your roommate and aren't able to work out the issues, talk with your resident assistant (RA). They are available to help you and they've been trained to help people work out conflicts.
3. So, you've tried talking with your roommate, AND you've received some help from your RA, but you still have some concerns ... now it's time to get the residence hall director (RHD) involved. In some cases, the RHD may coach you a little on how to approach your roommate differently; in other cases, they may meet with the two of you together to help you communicate with one another.

More often than not, roommate conflicts can be resolved by using these approaches. If your situation isn't resolved by using these methods, your hall director can advise you regarding the next step(s) to take.

Each residence hall floor or quad participates in the development of its own Community Living Agreement or CLA. The CLA defines goals and standards for the community that are determined by consensus. This process allows residents the opportunity to discuss with each other the environment in which they would like to live and assume responsibility for establishing guidelines within that environment. During the first floor meeting of the semester, the RA will discuss University policies and introduce the process for developing the CLA.

Hart, Scales and Waterbury Halls have a computer lab that is open to residents of the hall. This in-hall facility allows ready access to computers, printers, and the campus network. All other halls have a printer available at the front desk.

Each residence hall is equipped with laundry facilities. Cost for use is pre-paid as a fee on the student's university bill.

Oswego State participates in the mandatory Oswego County recycling program. All students are required to routinely bring all recyclables and trash to a Recycling Room located in the basement of each residence hall. Hours are posted on the door of each recycling room.

Students living in residence halls will be assigned a mailbox, located near the front desk. Mail is received and sorted at the front desk, Monday through Friday. Mail sorting is most efficient if mail is addressed in the following manner:

Student first and last name
Name of building, Mailbox or room #
Street Address of building (see below)
Oswego, NY 13126

It’s very important to include all of this information in your address! The University cannot be responsible for cash or valuables sent through the mail.

In the following halls, the mailbox number is different from the room number. To send mail to students in these halls, be sure to include both the name of the building and the student's mailbox number in the address.

Packages sent to residents are received at the front desk of each residence hall. If a package comes for you, you’ll receive an email, instructing you to pick up your package at the desk or to go to the parcel lockers located in your building.

For parcel locker pickups you will receive a code and instructions via email to receive your package at the designated lockers. Shipping via US Postal Service is available at the Oswego Post Office, however prepaid USPS mail may be sent out at the front desk of your building.

Early shipment of belongings

Residence Life and Housing does not accept shipments prior to our announced arrival date for residents. If you must make shipments to campus, please plan accordingly and include your full university address.