Residential Life at Ithaca College

Ithaca College is a residential institution offering a variety of on campus housing options. Students are required to live on campus for their first year, sophomore, and junior years, in accordance with the Residency Policy.

The Offices of Residential Life and Student Conduct & Community Standards function as one department, supporting the needs of both residential and off-campus students at Ithaca College. The department oversees all processes and services related to Residential Education, Student Housing, Residence Hall Facility Operations, and Student Conduct. Our philosophy is to support the overall mission of the college by creating inclusive, caring, and engaging residential communities.

Approximately 4,395 students live on campus in 27 residence halls and two apartment complexes. The residence halls are divided into four major residential areas: the Quads, the Towers, the Terraces, and Emerson Hall. The Quads and Towers house primarily the First-year Residential Experience (FYRE). Sophomore students live in Emerson, the Terraces, and a few Quad buildings. Housing offers a combination of single and double rooms and a small number of triples in the Terraces. Emerson Hall is comprised of double rooms and a limited number of triple and 4-person rooms, all with private bathrooms. Triple rooms in Emerson Hall are reserved for students with special needs.

The two apartment complexes are the Ithaca College Circle Apartments and the Garden Apartments. Both apartment complexes house returning students in apartments that can accommodate up to six residents.

The Office of Residential Life employs 25 professional staff members including 6 full-time Residence Directors (RDs) and one Community Director (CD) who live in the residence halls and apartment areas along with the students. We also employ 105 Resident/Apartment Assistants (RA/AA) (returning students who live on the floors and help to develop community, plan events/activities, answer questions, and generally serve as a resource for the residents living on their floor) and many student Office Assistants (OAs).

For room rates, consult the Undergraduate and Graduate Costs information maintained by the Office of Student Financial Services.

Meet the Staff

The Office of Residential Life employs 21 professional staff members and 95 undergraduate Resident/Apartment Assistants (RAs) and a number of student office assistants.
Students explore campus

Staff Directory

This directory will help you to become more familiar with the various staff members, and the roles they play within the Office of Residential Life.

The Residential Life Central Office serves all Ithaca College students. Students most frequently visit the Central Office to ask questions about housing selection, Wait Lists or other application opportunities, or to report an ongoing maintenance concern. Students may also visit the office to obtain a lockout key or new room key after a lock change.

Location: East Tower Lobby

Hours of Operation:

Academic Year: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Summer Term: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday; Closed Friday

Phone: 607-274-3141

The hub of the Circle Apartments complex is the Circles Community Center. The Circles Community Center is more than a place to do laundry, complete a workout, or pick up your mail; you can also visit the Circles office. The Circles office is a place to stop by or call for assistance; please feel free to ask questions. Our office assistants are here to assist you with lockouts, lost keys, moving situations, vacuum cleaner and snow shovel loans, your facilities issues, and much more.

Office Hours while classes are in session

Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 noon to 9:00 pm

*Please note that the Circles office hours are subject to change prior to and during breaks.

A Residence/Community Director (RD/CD) is a professional staff member who lives on campus and selects, trains and supervises our undergraduate Residential Life staff (Resident Assistants). Each RD manages the operational functions of one to six residence halls and/or apartment areas which house from 307 to 694 students. The RD frequently meets individually with students to discuss roommate concerns, talk about transitional issues or conduct hearings.

A Community Director has similar responsibilities to a Residence Director and oversees an apartment area that is significantly larger, and also has responsibility for supervising a community center and area office.

Resident Assistants (RA) and Apartment Assistants (AA) are student staff members who live in a residence hall or apartment area. RAs and AAs are primarily responsible for fostering a sense of community among the residents of that hall or apartment area. They are strategically located in the residence halls and apartments in order to respond to student needs, implement social and educational events and enforce college policies. RAs/AAs are very familiar with the campus and can direct residential students to the appropriate individual or offices for referrals as needed. RAs/AAs regularly relay important information to the residential students in their hall community.

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards is responsible for overseeing the College wide conduct system and coordinating all related processes and functions. The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards provides proactive programming and educational interventions in an effort to foster the development of student responsibility and community. The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards is responsible for the interpretation and enforcement of the Ithaca College Student Conduct Code and Residential Life Rules and Regulations related to all alleged acts of academic and non-academic student misconduct.

Samantha Shaffer, Associate Director, Student Conduct and Community Standards

Jack Bjorkander, Student Conduct Specialist, Student Conduct & Community Standards

Our Purpose

Vision Statement

To foster student growth through the creation of inclusive communities and dynamic residential experiences.

Mission Statement

We provide students with caring, secure, and engaging community environments that support their overall well-being and academic success.

Values

  • CARE – We practice compassion for students through individual outreach and support, inclusive events and resource sharing to help them be their best selves.
  • COMMUNITY – we provide welcoming and caring environments that serve as students’ “home away from home”.
  • COLLABORATION –we partner with campus offices to provide students with access to important college resources and educational information.
  • GROWTH – we support the campus learning community and academic mission through providing residential environments that support learning and provide opportunities for engagement.
  • INTEGRITY – we commit to giving our best work with a focus on honesty, respect, open communication, inclusion and equity.
  • INCLUSION – we support Ithaca’s diversity statement by creating caring and inclusive residential communities that welcome and affirm all voices and identities and that challenge bias and oppression.

Questions or Concerns?

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Office of Residential Life by phone or email using the information provided below. 

For housing related questions or concerns, e-mail housing@ithaca.edu.

(607) 274-3141