Residential Life and Housing

The mission of the staff in the Office of Residential Life and Housing at SUNY Polytechnic Institute is to promote a residential experience that advances each resident’s personal growth and development and inspires lifelong community engagement.

The staff members are guided by principles that support a safe, healthy and well maintained living environment. The Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Associate Director for Residential Life and Secretary for Residential Life manage the department and central office. Residential complexes are staffed by full time Assistant Directors who provide guidance and support to the student staff and the resident students. Student staff in Residential Life includes Resident Advisors, Community Development Specialists and Residential Office Assistants who serve as mentors and sources of information. Our student staff members are hired and trained to assist students in making their SUNY Poly experience positive and successful.

All full-time, first-year and sophomore-year students at SUNY Poly are required to reside on campus in one of our residential communities. Exemptions to the residency requirement for first-years and sophomores are granted to students who reside with a parent or legal guardian within 30 miles of campus, are 21 years old prior to the move in date, are married, are members of the military, or have legal dependents. Unique, special circumstances for off campus or commuter residency may also be submitted and are reviewed and decided upon by the Housing and Dining Exemption Committee. Exemptions must be applied for and granted prior to the start of the semester.

Residential Living Options

SUNY Poly’s Utica campus offers on-site housing in traditional residence halls and suite style buildings for undergraduate and graduate students. The residential life staff is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and supportive experience for all students. We offer a variety of gender-inclusive housing options to ensure that residential living is a positive experience for residents of all gender identities and gender expressions. When sharing a residence, all students can specify and/or select the preferred gender of their roommate. If you are interested in additional information regarding gender-inclusive room or suites, we can provide you with a personal and private assessment of the available options and assist in finding the best arrangement for you. To discuss your interest or preferences, please contact Jennifer Adams in Residential Life & Housing at 315-792-7810.

Our residence halls include Oriskany Hall, Mohawk Complex, Hilltop Hall and Adirondack Complex in Utica. Our SUNY Poly Albany students are housed at Freedom Apartments hosted by the University at Albany.

Oriskany Hall opened in 2011 was awarded LEED Silver Certification as part of SUNY Poly’s dedication to a sustainable future for our environment. Oriskany is comprised of double, triple and single rooms in suites with multiple restrooms, a shared kitchenette, shared conference/study room and shared living room. Oriskany also hosts three large classrooms and a full kitchen for building events and academic courses. Oriskany has traditionally been home entirely to first year students.

Some first-year students, upper-class students and graduate students reside in Mohawk and Adirondack complexes. Buildings hold 16 students in 4-person suites with a shared bathroom and common living room. Bedrooms in Mohawk and Adirondack are primarily singles, with a small number of double and triple rooms available in Adirondack, only. Both Mohawk and Adirondack have an efficiency kitchen and lounge available in a common area for resident student use.

In the Fall of 2020, SUNY Poly will open SUNY’s first zero-net, carbon-certified residence hall, representing a new level of energy performance in college student housing. Hilltop Hall will have rigorous requirements that ensure outstanding levels of energy savings and provide a healthy living environment for students. In the early spring of 2020, residential students of all class years will have their first chance to apply to be residents in this state of the art community as part of the housing application and selection process for 2021-2022. This unique residential complex will bring together students from any major who are interested in being part of an ecologically, socially and economically healthy environment. Residents will be expected to have a commitment to sustainable living within the building, as well as expectations to be active members of opportunities to experience, discuss, and contribute to healthy environments on and off campus. Experiences for Hilltop residents may include a trip to a local food cooperative, a local farm, a recycling facility, reservoir or landfill, hiking, biking, and on campus landscaping, student sustainability initiatives, etc.

Housing at the SUNY Poly Albany campus is hosted by the University at Albany and the residential experience is managed and supported by the full time professionals in the Residential Life Office at the University at Albany. SUNY Poly residents in Albany will reside at Freedom Apartments, in 3 or 4 person apartments that include in-apartment storage space, living rooms and full kitchens. Freedom Apartments are located directly adjacent to the academic buildings, labs and clean rooms at the Albany campus.

Utica Resident students are required to purchase a residential dining plan with Sodexo Dining Services.  Albany Freedom Apartment residents choose from various University at Albany meal plans and/or dining options on the SUNY Poly campus.

For more information regarding housing, dining, or the terms of the housing license, please contact the Residential Life and Housing Office at (315) 792-7810, or visit the SUNY Poly website.