FAQ

What should I bring to campus?
When can I move in?
Are single rooms available?
Can I decorate my room?
How big are the residence hall rooms?
Are phones supplied?
What appliances am I allowed to have in the residence hall?
Can I bring my pet?
Can freshmen have cars?
How are room assignments made?
When will I receive my room assignment?
What if I don't get along with my roommate?
What items are prohibited in residence halls?
Can I have guests in my room?
What happens if I get locked out of my room or lose my key?
Can I have my own personal refrigerator?
Are cooking facilities available in the residence halls?
Can I mail belongings to campus before I arrive?
What banks are close to campus in Oswego?
Can I move in early?
Where are the laundry facilities and how much does it cost?
What forms of transportation are available on and off campus?
Is there special freshmen housing?
How many students live on campus?
What furniture does my room come with?
How much does on campus housing cost?
What is there to do in Oswego?
Is there a requirement to live on campus?
Can I change my room assignment?
When do classes begin?
Should I insure my belongings?
Are there storage facilities on campus?
Where do I get my mail?
How many roommates will I have?

What should I bring to campus?
Clothing: Unless your parents decide to move and not provide you with a forwarding address, it is not necessary to bring your entire wardrobe when you first move in! Given that dresser and closet space are limited, consider College recesses as opportunities to change your seasonal wardrobes. The first time the halls close during the Fall semester is for Thanksgiving break.

Typical temperatures in Oswego are:

• September -warm- (mid 60s)
• October - cool - (mid 50s)
• November - cooler - (low 40s)
• December - cold - (high 20s)
• January - colder - (mid 20s)
• February - coldest - (mid 20s)
• March - coolest - (mid 30s)
• April - cool - (mid 40s)
• May - cool - (mid 50s)

Bed and bath linen: You will need to bring your own pillow, pillowcases, sheets, blankets, bedspread, towels and washcloths. A mattress pad will be provided for your use. All SUNY Oswego residence hall mattresses require “extra long” twin sheets (33 1/2” x 80” x 6 1/2" or 36” x 80” x 6 1/2”).

The college does not provide telephones. Residents must supply them.
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What else might I want to bring?

• Alarm clock
• Area rug
• Camera
• Coffee maker
• Compact refrigerator*
• Computer
• Crates/storage bins
• Dishware/utensils
• Electronic equipment
• Headphones
• Hot pot with automatic shut-off
• Iron
• Laundry supplies
• Memo board (provided in Hart and Johnson)
• Power strip (load limiting)
• Recreational Equipment
• Stamps

*Compact Refrigerators must not exceed 6 cubic feet and operate on no more than 2.0 amps.
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When can I move in?
Actual move-in dates are based on the academic calendar. Please refer to the Residence Hall Opening/Closing Schedule for more information.
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Are single rooms available?
Approximately 62 single rooms are available in Lonis Hall. Seniors, graduate students, juniors in the College Honors Program and other students who are at least 21 years of age are eligible to live in this community.
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Can I decorate my room?
Students are encouraged to personalize their rooms, including decorating within these established guidelines (from the SUNY Oswego Student Handbook): It is recommended that masking tape be used to affix posters and other decorations to the walls. The use of other types of tape, staples, or tacks of any kind may result in damage to the walls and subsequent charges for repair. Strips for hanging pictures and other decorative items are provided. Pictures and posters may be hung on the room doors, with tape; paint and marking pens should not be used on doors. Residents will be charged for cleaning or repairing both sides of their room door. Any alteration to the room that causes damage to the room is the responsibility of the occupants of that room. Any decoration which adds significantly to the combustibility of the room is prohibited. Please refer to the Residence Life and Housing Fire Safety policy … for more specific regulations related to Furnishing and Decorations.
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How big are the residence hall rooms?
Residence hall room sizes vary by building. Please see Residence Halls for exact dimensions in each hall.
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Are phones supplied?
The College no longer provides active dial tone in individual residence hall rooms.  For students' convenience, a campus phone is located on each residence hall floor.  Students who wish to have dial tone in their room can request service by contacting the Campus Technology Services (CTS) Technology Support Center at help@oswego.edu.  Students can also arrange for local and long distance service at this address.

What appliances am I allowed to have in the residence hall?
Items not listed below are generally permitted in the residence halls. Students typically bring popcorn poppers and coffee makers, as well as hot pots with thermostats.

The following items are prohibited and will be confiscated, not returned, and disciplinary action may be taken.

• microwave ovens
• torchiere-style halogen lamps
• toasters/toaster ovens
• incense
• candles

• sandwich makers
• grilling machines
• hot plates

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Can I bring my pet?
The Department of Residence Life and Housing has arranged for residents to keep a limited selection of pets in their residence under specific conditions as described in the Pet Policy Brochure found on our Forms web page. All approved pets must be registered with their respective Hall Director.
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Can freshmen have cars?
Yes, all students are able to register cars on campus. For more specific parking information, go to the parking office Web site.
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How are room assignments made?
Returning students participate in the Room Selection process to reserve their rooms for the upcoming year. This process will be handled completely online in the Spring, beginning in March. The first step in the process is payment of a Housing Deposit.

New/entering students room assignments are done online through their "myOswego" account at myHousing.oswego.edu. After paying the Housing Deposit, new students will be sent information regarding when and how to log on to the system. Through myHousing, students indicate their preferences for housing and roommates (if applicable). New students' room assignments are made based on the information provided through myHousing.

Although entering students (first-year, transfer and re-admitted) are given no guarantee of assignment to a specific building or room, every attempt is made to honor students' first or second preferences. Also, the Office of Residence Life and Housing will attempt to honor roommate requests when all students involved have mutually agreed in writing at least 60 days prior to the upcoming semester's first day of classes. The college will assign roommates for students who do not express roommate preferences. In general, entering students are assigned rooms in accordance with the dates on which the college receives their signed Room and Board Agreement and room preference materials. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin or affectional orientation in those assignments.
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When will I receive my room assignment?
Housing assignments are made in late June. Shortly after your assignment is made, you will receive an email notification in your SUNY Oswego email account telling you to visit myHousing.oswego.edu to retrieve your room and roommate information. We encourage you to contact your roommate(s) and begin to get to know one another and start planning what each of you will be bringing for your room. Through the Residence Life and Housing website, you can learn what life in our residence halls will be like. You will also have an opportunity to discuss the residence program and other aspects of college life by attending the freshman orientation program or transfer orientation program conducted during the summer.
NOTE: Some transfer students may not receive room assignments until July. If you have not received your room assignment by August 1 or have questions, please contact Mary Craw in the Residence Life and Housing Office (315) 312-2246, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
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What if I don't get along with my roommate?
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:

• First – talk with your roommate! Let him/her know what's on your mind. Roommates aren't mind readers. Maybe he or she has no idea that you would like something to change!
• Second – If you talk with your roommate and aren't able to work out the issues, talk with your resident assistant, resident mentor or graduate resident mentor. They are available to help you and they've been trained to help people work out conflicts.
• Third – So, you've tried talking with your roommate, AND you've received some help from your RA/RM/GRM, but you still have some concerns … now it's time to get the hall director involved. In some cases, the RHD may coach you a little on how to approach your roommate differently; in other cases, however, s/he 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 one, two or all three of 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.
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What items are prohibited in residence halls?
The following items are prohibited and will be confiscated, not returned, and disciplinary action will be taken.

• microwave oven
• torchiere-style halogen lamps
• toaster/toaster oven
• incense
• candles

• sandwich maker
• grilling machine
• hot plate

Can I have guests in my room?
Residents may host visitors/guests in their residence hall with the consent of their roommate and/or suitemates and in compliance with the Overnight Guests and Visitation and Guests policies.
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What happens if I get locked out of my room or lose my key?
If a student is locked out of his/her room, s/he can go to the front desk and ask for a lock-out key. If a student loses his/her keys, s/he should see the Hall Director as soon as possible to arrange for replacement of the keys.
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Can I have my own personal refrigerator?
Students can bring a compact personal refrigerator, provided it is smaller than 6 cubic feet and operates on 2.0 amps or less. Personal refrigerators are to be registered at the front desk.
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Are cooking facilities available in the residence halls?
Cooking facilities are located in each residence hall. Some halls have kitchens on each residence floor; other halls offer a single kitchen facility located in the basement of the building. Each residence hall front desk has a microwave oven for student use.
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Can I mail belongings to campus before I arrive?
Any packages for resident students should be mailed to arrive AFTER the student arrives on campus.
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What banks are close to campus in Oswego?
The Campus Center has ATMs for HigherOne (which serves the Oswego Debit Card), Alliance Bank, HSBC and KeyBank, and there is a drive-thru ATM for Chase Bank next to the Parking Office. Local banks including Alliance Bank and Pathfinder Bank also have branches on Oswego's west side most easily reached from campus.

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Can I move in early?
Students are able to move into the residence halls on or after the designated dates published each semester. Typically, we are unable to accommodate early arrivals.
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Where are the laundry facilities and how much does it cost?
Each residence hall has laundry facilities within. Cost for using the facilities is covered through a laundry fee that students pay as part of their college bill.
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What forms of transportation are available on and off campus?
On-campus and off-campus shuttle service is available. See the online schedule.
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Is there special freshmen housing?
First-year students are housed in all residence halls except Lonis, Moreland, Sheldon and Onondaga Halls. All halls are staffed and offer programs to assist first-year students. The Johnson Hall First Year Residential Experience is a community focused solely on first-year students.
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How many students live on campus?
Approximately 4,200 students live on campus. If it were a town, our campus would be the third-largest community in Oswego County.
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What furniture does my room come with?
Residence hall rooms are typically furnished with a bed, dresser, desk, desk chair, and closet for each resident. Room furnishings also include one floor lamp, three wastebaskets (two for recycling, one for true trash), wall mirror and venetian blinds. While this setup is standard, by the start of classes each room will begin to show its roommates' personalities. Coordinating the furnishings and arrangements of your room is a good opportunity to become better acquainted with your new roommate.
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How much does on-campus housing cost?
In keeping with the Oswego Guarantee, students will not experience any increase in the cost of room or meal plans for four consecutive years. For students and their families, this means that the major portion of the cost of a residential education will be held constant for four years.
Rates and information for students entering Oswego at any time can be found in the Room and Board Agreement, a document on our Forms web page. The Village Agreement can also be found on the Forms page as well.
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What is there to do in Oswego?
A lot! Many local cultural organizations host concerts, plays and other performances both on and off-campus. The many city parks include places to relax or catch marvelous views of Lake Ontario and the Oswego River. A thriving farmers' market takes place along West First Street during warmer months. Oswego's downtown, mostly 19th-century buildings, features a wide variety of shops, eateries and attraction. Oswego's rich history is reflected in its many museums throughout the city as well as Fort Ontario. And there's always plenty to do on campus during the academic year, which you'll find on our calendar.
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Is there a requirement to live on campus?
Yes, the College Housing Policy explains the requirement in detail:

The college values the educational experiences afforded students by living in college residence halls. These residential experiences create opportunities for informal learning through contact with faculty, staff and peers. Students in residence benefit from ready access to opportunities for active involvement in the intellectual, cultural, and social events and organizations that are a vital part of campus life. Therefore, all full-time undergraduate students are required to live on campus to the extent that facilities are available and utilized, unless they:

• will continue to reside with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s);
• will continue to reside in their official residence, which is separate from that of their parent(s) or legal guardian(s), and at which they had resided for at least three consecutive months prior to their acceptance of the admissions offer from the college;
• are married; or
• are 21 years of age as of September 1 for fall admission or January 1 for spring admission.

Full-time undergraduate students living in college housing who do not fit the above categories may request permission to live off campus for the following academic year by submitting a Petition to Live Off Campus to the Director of Residence Life and Housing or his designee. Generally, requests for permission to live off campus will be granted only for students who first enrolled at the college (as categorized by the Admissions Office) as:

• Fall semester freshmen and have lived in college housing for four consecutive regular semesters (fall and spring);
• Spring semester freshmen and have lived in college housing for three consecutive regular semesters (fall and spring);
• Fall semester transfer students and have lived in college housing for two consecutive regular semesters (fall and spring);
• Spring semester transfer students and have lived in college housing for one regular semester (fall and spring).

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Can I change my room assignment?
Room assignments are effective for the full academic year. If you would to discuss your situation further, please see your hall director.
What to do if you and your roommate aren't getting along
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When do classes begin?
For the spring of 2010, classes will begin Monday, January 25. For the fall of 2011, classes will begin Monday, August 29. You can also find our complete Academic Calendar online, as well as our current Residence Hall Opening/Closing Schedule.
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Should I insure my belongings?
The college assumes no responsibility for the loss, theft or damage to personal property, even if that loss was caused by the failure os a College mechanical system such as a pipe bursting. We strongly encourage you to have insurance coverage before you begin residency. Typically, such coverage may be provided by extension of a homeowner's policy, renter's insurance or insurance specifically for college students. Many vendors offer low cost insurance specifically directed to the college environment. Two such vendors are: Personal Property Insurance Designed for College Life and the Student Personal Property Plan.
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Are there storage facilities on campus?
Storage space is available in each residence hall for residents' storage of small items such as trunks and suitcases. Although all storage areas are locked, security cannot be guaranteed and it is not recommended that students use these areas to store items of significant value. Residents must remove their stored items when they sign out of the residence hall. Fire regulations prohibit storage of cardboard boxes, internal combustion engines, paint and other flammables. See a staff member for access to storage. No summer storage is provided.
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Where do I get my mail?
Mail is delivered to each residence hall six days per week. Each resident has a mailbox in the front lobby of the building. In some buildings, each resident has his/her own mailbox. In other buildings, students share a mailbox with one other student.
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How many roommates will I have?
The standard accommodation is a room occupied by two individuals of the same gender (double occupancy). Plus occupancy is defined as three persons in a room designed for two or four persons in a room designed for three. Once a room assignment has been made, changes of that assignment must be approved in writing by the Director of Residence Life and Housing or his designee. The demand for residence hall space occasionally exceeds designed capacity and results in the creation of plus occupancy. This is considered a temporary accommodation and as soon as space develops in double rooms, students will be reassigned. Those who reside in plus occupancy after the first week of classes are eligible for partial room rental refund for each academic quarter they are in that situation.
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