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Cornell University

Commencement Housing On Campus

Commencement Housing 2024

Check back for 2025 info in late December 2024.

Residence Hall Accommodations on Friday, Saturday and Sunday Nights for Families and Guests

On-campus housing in the residential hall on North Campus will be offered for guests during the 2024 Commencement Weekend as a 3 night package for Friday, May 24, Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26, 2024. Degree candidates participating in Commencement may make reservations for up to 10 beds, or 2 Townhouses, for family members or friends to stay in on-campus housing.

Before Coming to Campus

If you have already secured on-campus accommodations for Commencement Weekend, please take the following actions before arriving on campus.

  • Step 1: Graduates, you should have received an email with instructions on how to add additional occupants and their emails to your reservation. Please log into your housing portal to complete this by April 28th, 2024.
  • Step 2: Everyone will receive an email after this date with the Housing Terms and Conditions that will need to be signed by every person staying in on-campus housing. If you have not received an email to sign your Housing Terms and Conditions, please contact your graduate to ensure your name and email are entered correctly. Please email commencement_housing@cornell.edu if you have any questions.

Checking In 

Check-in begins at 10:00 am on Friday, May 24, 2024. Check-out is by 10:00am on Monday, May 27, 2024 for all guests. Early check-ins and late check-out requests cannot be accommodated. 

There will be two different check-in locations based on where you will be staying. 

  • Red flags will direct you to the red check-in held in the Wendy Purcell Lounge in Robert Purcell Community Center. This is for the following buildings: Ganedago, Ecology House, Townhouses, Court-Kay-Bauer, Toni Morrison, Mary Donlon, Jameson and High Rise 5
  • Yellow  flags will direct you to the yellow check-in held in the Hu Shih Lounge. This check-in is for the following buildings: Hu Shih, Barbara McClintock, Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Please note: Yellow Check-in will be open from 10:00am – 9:00pm, after 9:00pm please check in to the Red Check-in location.

The service center will be open for check-in and guest assistance 24/7. Contact information for the service center will be posted at all residential hall building entrances.

Housing Terms and Conditions Forms: At check-in, every guest staying in on-campus housing must have agreed to the Housing Terms and Conditions and will provide an email for each guest staying in Commencement Housing. Those guests will receive an email prior to check-in to agree to the Housing Terms and Conditions. We cannot accept one signature for the group reservation; we will need one signed form per person.

Each guest will have their bed made with a mattress pad, sheets, blanket, bedspread, pillow and pillowcase. There will be towels and facecloths provided as well.

Guest Parking & Transportation

Free parking in the residence hall lots and A lot is available on a space-available basis beginning at 10:00am on Friday, May 24, 2024 through 9:00pm on Monday, May 27, 2024. The Robert Purcell and the Program House Drive Parking Lots will be reserved for Passenger and luggage Drop-Off and 20 minute Check-In on Friday. Vehicles displaying accessibility permits/license plates may park in designated accessible spaces. For assistance locating accessible parking, view the accessible parking map or call 607-255-4600. 

Free event parking with bus transportation to Schoellkopf Field and other campus locations is available on Saturday. Complete transportation information will be available from the Office of Commencement Events website in early May. 

If you need help navigating campus, please visit the Cornell Maps & Directions page for assistance.  

Housing

On-Campus Housing is available in the following climate-controlled buildings (subject to change):

On-Campus Housing is available in the following buildings without air conditioning (subject to change):

All buildings have elevators, except for Townhouses and Ecology House. Jameson Hall and High Rise 5 have elevators; however, most rooms have a half-flight of stairs.

Rooms in Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Barbara McClintock, Court-Key-Bauer, and Hu Shih Hall are pod-style with shared bathrooms. Each pod has 2 double corridor-style rooms and 1 single corridor-style room sharing a bathroom. Below is a sample layout:

Pod-style floorpan for Conference and Event Services

Rooms in Ganędagǫ:, and Toni Morrison Hall are suite-style with 4 or 5 bedrooms sharing 1 full bathroom and 1 half bathroom. 5-person suites include 3 single rooms and 1 double room and 7-person suites include 3 single rooms and 2 double rooms.

Jameson Hall and High Rise 5 are suite style with 2 double rooms, and 2 single rooms and a full bathroom per cluster (please note the exterior suite door does not lock). Since High Rise 5 and Jameson do not have air conditioning, this 6 bed suite is priced at a 5 bed suite price.

Below is a sample layout:

Suite-style floorpan for Conference and Event Services

Ecology House offers double rooms with a private bathroom. Townhouse Apartments have 2 double rooms, a shared bathroom, a living area, and a kitchen.

Beds: A single room has 1 twin bed, and a double room has 2 twin beds.  

Included: Rooms are furnished with bed sheets, blankets, pillows, and towels. Hair dryer, hangers and irons are not provided.  

Air conditioning, climate control: The Townhouse Apartments and Ecology House offer air-conditioned housing. Ganędagǫ:, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Barbara McClintock, and Hu Shih Hall are climate-controlled buildings, but do not have individual air vents in each room, nor thermostats. All climate-controlled buildings have a temperature setting between 71 and 74 degrees.  Rooms in Jameson Hall do not have air conditioning.

Disabilities: Adaptive accommodations are available for those with disabilities. Please refer to the Disability Housing Requests section at the bottom of this page.  

2024 Rates for a Friday, Saturday and Sunday night stay

Commencement Housing offers 4 packages. Individuals making the reservation acknowledge that all fees and costs associated with Commencement Lodging do not include, but may be subject to, federal, New York State and local taxes. Individuals will be responsible for paying all applicable taxes.

Single Corridor-Style Rooms: $287.00 single (1 twin bed) room for 3-night stay. Includes breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Available buildings are Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Barbara McClintock, Court-Key-Bauer, and Hu Shih Hall.

Double Corridor-Style Rooms: $574.00 double (2 twin beds) room for 3-night stay. Includes breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Available buildings are Ecology House, Mary Donlon Hall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Barbara McClintock, Court-Kay-Bauer, and Hu Shih Hall.

Ganędagǫ:, Jameson Hall, and Toni Morrison Hall Suites: $1,435.00 for a 5-person suite for a 3-night stay. Includes breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Jameson Hall features 6-person suites for $1,435.00 for a 3-night stay.

$2,009.00 for a 7-person suite for a 3-night stay. Includes breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Townhouse Apartments: $1,435.00 for a 4-person townhouse for a 3-night stay. Includes breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Limit of 2 Townhouses per Registrant.

Commencement Dining

For each guest staying in on-campus Commencement Housing, two meal tickets will be provided. These tickets will be redeemable for breakfast or lunch, on either Saturday or Sunday. Below is a list dining locations will be accepting Commencement Meal Tickets. Additional meals are available via credit/debit card at the Dining Halls. 

Saturday, 5/25/24

  • Morrison Dining
    6:30am - 10:30 am - Breakfast
    10:30am - 2:30pm - Lunch
    2:30pm - 4:30pm - Late Lunch
  • 104West!
    12:30pm - 2:00pm (2nd Meal) and 3rd Meal
  • Jansen's Dining Room at Bethe House
    6:30am - 10:30am - Breakfast
    10:30am - 3:00pm - Lunch

Reservations are required and are now open for 
Commencement Dinner at Morrison Dining and North Star Dining Room, 5:00-8:30pm on Saturday, May 25.

Sunday, 5/26/24

  • Morrison Dining
    6:30am - 10:30 am - Breakfast
    10:30am - 4:00pm - Lunch
  • 104West!
    6:30am - 10:30am - Breakfast
  • Jansen's Dining Room at Bethe House
    6:30am - 10:30am - Breakfast     
    10:30am - 3:00pm - Lunch       

Other eateries will be open throughout the weekend. Check Cornell Dining Now for what's open when near you.

  
  

How to Make Reservations

Only students may reserve housing for Commencement Weekend. Students may reserve housing for up to 10 family members or guests. Students living in on-campus housing may log into the housing portal beginning at 10:00am Monday, January 29, 2024. Students living off-campus may log into the housing portal beginning at 10:00am on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. Once logged in, select the tab for Commencement Housing, and make the reservation. We will stop taking reservations after Sunday, May 12, 2024.

Note to current residents of Co-ops, Hasbrouck Apartments, The House at Cornell Tech, and Veteran House: Please email your reservation request to commencement_housing@cornell.edu. You cannot make a reservation online.

Payment: For reservations made before 8:00am April 8, 2024, the charge for Commencement Housing will go on your bursar account if you are registered at Cornell for the Spring 2024 semester. If you are not currently registered during this time, you will be contacted for a credit card payment. All reservations made after 8:00am on April 8, 2024 require payment at the time of reservation. Payment can be made by a credit card. Commencement Housing accepts VISA, Master Card, Diner’s Club, American Express and Discover.

Cancellations and Refunds: Cancellations through Monday, April 8, 2024 will incur a $50 per bed cancellation fee. All cancellations must be in writing to Commencement Housing at commencement_housing@cornell.edu

No refunds will be made after Monday, April 8, 2024. 

Disability Housing Requests

Some residence hall spaces are adapted for people with disabilities. Because these facilities are very limited, we ask that anyone requesting accommodations for a guest who requires ADA-accessible bathrooms to do so by end of day Wednesday, January 24, 2024 by completing a request form.

Your disability housing request must include the following information:

  • Name and gender of the guest and assistant (if needed).  
  • Description of the personal needs or limitations of the guest.  
  • Name, address, email address, telephone number of the guest.  
  • Name, address, email address, telephone number of the degree candidate.  
  • Total number of people in the group, to help us accommodate the rest of the group in close proximity.  
  • If elevator is needed  

To best accommodate all requests, disability housing reservations are not confirmed until after the Wednesday, January 24, 2024 deadline. 

After Wednesday, January 24, 2024, contact commencement_housing@cornell.edu to inquire about the availability of disability housing. 

 

Questions? 

Please contact:  Commencement Housing
Email: commencement_housing@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-253-8368 
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm, ET