Room Selection Process

• If you entered SUNY Cortland in August 2023 as a freshman, including freshman transfers (0-25.5 credit hours) you have a freshman and sophomore year on-campus housing requirement
  • Required to live on campus for four semesters; you must participate in RSP
• If you entered SUNY Cortland in January 2024 as a transfer (including current junior and sophomore transfers) you have a one year on-campus requirement.
  • Required to live on campus for two semesters; you must participate in RSP

All housing processes will take place from the housing portal via myRedDragon. To access anything housing-related, complete the following steps or select the direct link:

1. Log in to your myRedDragon.
2. Select the “Student” tab.
3. Under Residence Life and Housing select “Housing Process and Information.”

1. Select Forms.
2. Choose "Room Selection Process Form."
   1. If you are not living on campus next year, choose the "Release From Housing for Fall 2024" form.
3. Complete Personal Information: contains the roommate matching questionnaire and housing questions; once done, click Continue.
4. Review the confirmation page.

View screenshots of how to fill out your RSP form

1. Choose "Set Up Roommate Profile" and then "Roommate Profile."
2. To allow others to search for you in the advanced roommate search, keep your profile public; otherwise, make it private.
3. Set up your contact preferences.
4. Complete My Profile using the below guidelines; profiles must not contain language that is discriminatory or harassing in any nature.

Guidelines for Roommate Profile

The roommate profile is designed to give potential roommates an idea of who you are as an individual. The profile can be a simple or as detailed as you wish but note that the more information you reveal the better the chance of finding a well-suited roommate.

Ideas of what to put in your profile:

• Your major
• Your class year
• Area demographic (Long Island, Western New York, etc.); we recommend not putting hometown
• Your interests
• Favorite sports and sports teams
• Favorite past-times
• Favorite books/genre
• Favorite restaurants
• Favorite travel destinations
• What kind of environment you wish to live in
• What kind of roommate you are looking for

What you should not put in your profile:

• Any personal contact information (phone number, etc.)
• Your current room address or home address
• Your current or upcoming schedule
• Information about anyone other than yourself
• Any harassing or discriminatory information
  • Be aware that all language is monitored and will be addressed accordingly

There is a messaging feature included within the roommate selection search. You will be able to contact potential roommates via email if you wish to find out more information.

We encourage you to please reach out to a staff member within Residence Life and Housing if you need any assistance or have any concerns regarding this process.

View screenshots on how to setup your roommate profile

Students participating in RSP are no longer required to have a roommate to select prior to the occupancy restriction being lifted. The housing selection process has been divided into two different tracks to accommodate all participants. Housing tracks will lock after the March 1st roommate deadline. Students looking to change/remove their roommate matches will need to wait until the occupancy restriction has been lifted. 

• SUNY Cortland Red Track
  • All rooms and suites in this housing selection track must be filled to meet the set occupancy requirements.
    • Example: to select a suite, you must have a roommate group size that matches the suite occupancy capacity.
    • IMPORTANT: Suites, quads and apartments have limited availability. Though you may have the appropriate group size to fill a suite as outlined above, there may no longer be any available. More than half of current freshmen will be unable to select a suite, quad or apartment.
  • All roommate groups should make backup plans for your 2024-2025 housing prior to your selection time.

• SUNY Cortland White Track
  • Selection process for students without roommate requests. Students are able to request roommates until 11:59 p.m. on March 1, 2024.
    
    • Important: only students without roommates will be eligible for this housing selection track. Students with roommate requests will not be eligible to select rooms in this housing selection.
  • Rooms and suites available in this track do not have a set occupancy requirement.
    • Example: to select a bed space in a suite, you do not need a roommate group size that matches the suite occupancy capacity. 

Choosing a roommate/roommates in the housing portal:

1. Choose "Housing Information" and select "Select Roommate."
2. Select "Fall 2024" for the term 
3. Select a roommate:
   • Know who you want to live with? Search with their name in the simple roommate search.
   • Not seeing their name? They need to complete the RSP form to be searched and selected.
     • Incoming students not currently enrolled in Spring 2024 are not able to be selected as a roommate.
       • If you wish to potentially be placed with an incoming student that will be enrolled in Fall 2024, review that process here. 
4. Send a request to the person(s) you want to live with. They will need to accept or decline.
5. Accept or decline roommate requests sent to you.
6. Continue with these steps until you have the desired number in your group (up to a total of six individuals.)

View screenshots of how to form your roommate group

1. On the main page of The Housing Portal, scroll down to see the selection processes you are eligible for.
2. Each process will display a start date and time. This is when you will be able to choose your room.
3. If you are selecting with at least one other individual, the person with the earlier selection time can choose for all in the roommate group.
4. Select "Select a Room/Suite."
5. If you are in more than one process, you will choose the process you want to choose a room from.
6. Search for a room.
7. Select "Select Room" or "Select Suite."
8. Assign all individuals in your group to the beds and/or rooms.
9. Select "I Agree- submit my room selection."
10. Confirm your housing by viewing your assignment for Fall 2024 on the main page.

It is possible that someone else may choose your room/suite as you are selecting. If this happens, you will receive a message that this has happened. Search for another room.

View screenshots for how to choose your room

For students looking to swap a space for another within an apartment/quad/suite, email residencelifeandhousing@cortland.edu. Room switches will not be offered during the 2024-2025 selection.

Pay one of two ways:

• At Student Accounts, Brockway Hall, Jacobus Lounge, between 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• With your Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover Card on myRedDragon
  • Under the Student Tab and the Residence Life and Housing section choose "Pay Room Deposit Online"
  *Student staff members, EOP students, and C.U.R.E. students will receive a room deposit waiver. Waivers will be processed by the residence life and housing staff.

If you do not require on-campus housing next year for any reason (met requirement, withdrawing, transferring, internship, student teaching, etc.) complete the Release from Housing form for Fall 2024. Follow the same steps as the Fill Out Your RSP Form section.