What we do
The Office of Residence Life at Niagara does its best to provide every residential student on campus with an environment that will allow them to succeed both academically and socially. The office prides itself on providing for a “once-in-a-lifetime community experience” for all students, whether they are first year students in our first year residence halls or upper-class students in the apartments.
Our Mission
The Office of Residence Life is committed to creating an inclusive, safe and engaging residential environment that supports the academic, social, personal and spiritual growth of all resident students. We provide opportunities for students to take ownership of their communities and to develop abilities in the areas of service, civic responsibility, inclusiveness, personal responsibility, and respect for self and others. We strive to create and assess student focused initiatives that provide opportunities for growth and learning with a special focus on Niagara University’s core values of spirituality, knowledge, creativity, integrity and compassion.
The Office of Residence Life is committed to:
- Creating and supporting a campus environment that is safe, inclusive and welcoming.
- Ensuring that our policies, procedures and practices are based in the values of fairness and equality.
- Promoting opportunities for students, faculty and staff to engage in both self-reflection and open dialogue in order to foster learning and growth related to diversity and mutual understanding.
Location
O’Shea Hall, First Floor
Hours
ACADEMIC YEAR
Mon. – Fri. | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
SUMMER
Mon. – Thu. | 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fri. | 8:30 a.m. – noon
Commitment to Diversity and Social Justice
Residence Life is committed to creating and maintaining safe, inclusive communities that welcome and accept people of all identities. The diverse characteristics and backgrounds of our residents and staff are central to the mission and values of Residence Life. We seek to create an environment that invites the full and equal participation from all who live and work in our halls. We believe that a multicultural, socially-just environment is essential to the personal growth of students and staff, and their involvement in our increasingly global world.
- Our residence halls are global, multicultural communities of individuals representing a diverse blend of backgrounds and academic interests. We strive to work and live together in an atmosphere of positive contact and mutual respect.
- Residence Life recognizes and values the commonalities and differences among students at Niagara University. Discrimination, sexual and bias-related harassment, hate crimes and other violations of student rights disrupt the educational process and are not tolerated.
- Students in our communities have the right to be free of discrimination for reasons of ability, age, color, ethnicity, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, veteran status or unique individual style.
Frequently Asked Questions
The university requires that all Niagara students live in the residence halls for their first two years, except as noted below. The need for this regulation is predicated on statistics that show students who live in residence halls tend to perform better academically, acclimate more rapidly to the collegiate environment, become involved in a greater number of learning experiences that complement classroom teachings, and are more satisfied in general with the college experience.
The only exceptions to the residency requirement are:
- Commuters: students commuting from their parent/guardian’s permanent home address, which is no more than 50 miles from campus.
- Transfers: students who enter Niagara University with junior or senior status as determined at the time of admission.
- Married students (with proof of marriage certificate).
- Veterans (with proof of military service).
- Independents: students who show proof of maintaining financial independence for at least two years prior to submission of request to live off campus.
Requests for exemption of the residency requirement should be made to the Office of Residence Life by December 1st if appealing for the spring semester and July 1st if appealing for the fall semester.
Please contact us, call 716.286.8566, or stop by our office in O’Shea Hall if you are planning to move off-campus.
Single rooms are not available to freshmen students unless it for a medical accommodation. Students requiring medical accommodations should apply through Accessibility Services.
The Office of Residence Life seeks to match students based on the list of questions answered on the housing preference form, including sleep and study habits, and major and academic college. The staff carefully matches students based on their similarities to ensure success in academics, social settings and residential living.
Students will be able to find out their roommate information at the end of July via the myNU portal, where they will be able to log in and obtain contact information for their roommate and their residence hall placement.
- Be clear from the beginning. Talk about your quirks as soon as you can (so you can avoid blowing up about them later!).
- Address issues before they get out of hand. Most of the time your roommate may not even be aware that she/he is doing something that annoys you.
- Respect your roommate’s stuff. Ask before you borrow, use, or take anything.
- Be careful of who you bring into your room – and how often. Your study habits may be different. Your roommate may love quiet while you enjoy crowds. Discuss alternating when someone gets the room for studying if your preferences differ.
- Along those lines, decide if overnight guests are allowed and, if so, how often. Try not to make your roommate uncomfortable with unwelcome guests.
- Lock the door and windows. This is BIG. Theft can occur on campus. Keep safe and lock your room when no one is there and at night when you are asleep.
- Be friendly – without expecting to be best friends. You do not have to be best friends with your roommate. It’s awesome if it happens, but, if not, that is okay, too. Just stay friendly with each other and you’ll be fine!
- Room change requests are not granted except for emergency purposes, beginning with the time assignments are sent through the second week of classes. You should take the time to get to know your roommate and discuss the things that are important to you. When you arrive on campus, you and your roommate will be asked to complete a roommate agreement by your community advisor. It is imperative to complete this agreement.
- While students may request a change of building assignment, these requests cannot be guaranteed. If we can make a change prior to arrival, you will be notified.
- During the school year, students who are interested in a room change should discuss this option with their community advisor or residence director. There are limited opportunities for room changes, particularly in the first-year residence halls. If your request is due to a roommate conflict, mediation will be the first step with your CA or RD.
All first-year students living on campus are required to have a meal plan. Students are automatically assigned the Unlimited Meal Plan.
