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Cornell University

Housing & Residential Life

Ujamaa Residential College

Ujamaa Residential College

Ujamaa Residential College, Ithaca, NY 14850

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Ujamaa (pronounced "OO-juh-muh") celebrates the rich and diverse heritage of Black people in the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, and other regions of the world.

The word Ujamaa in the East African language of Kiswahili means the process of working together as an extended family to build and maintain a cohesive community. This theme characterizes the atmosphere at Ujamaa Residential College, a friendly, warm, and cooperative living environment that supports its members and helps students excel at Cornell.

Since its founding in 1972, Ujamaa has supported its mission through a variety of activities and events such as lectures by internationally renowned speakers, dinners hosted by affiliated faculty members, celebrating Black History Month, and hosting the State of Black America Conference, the annual Festival of Black Gospel, and the weekly student-organized forum Unity Hour - at which lively and educational discussions are never in short supply.

Strong associations with Ujamaa often extend after graduation, resulting in mentor-type relationships that become an extension of the entire living and learning experience. Ujamaa's vast and loyal alumni network becomes a valuable resource for information and advice on academic decisions, career choices, and personal goals.

Explore the Ujamaa community pages in CampusGroups.

Community features:  

  • Open to first-year, transfer, and upperlevel students 
  • 144 residents 
  • Located on North Campus, near Robert Purcell Community Center and Appel Commons, and within a short walking distance to the Africana Studies and Research Center 

  • All student rooms are within clusters. Each cluster of rooms includes one double, one triple, two singles and a shared bathroom. Clusters are single gender; floors are mixed gender.

  • Several clusters make up a “unit.”  Each unit has a study room, social lounge and kitchen.

  • TV/social lounges, a computer room, study lounge, a piano, and a library 
  • Bedrooms contain, for each occupant: an extra-long twin bed, a closet and a bureau (or wardrobe/bureau combination), a desk and desk chair, a desk lamp, a wastebasket, and floor carpeting 
  • Wireless Internet access

Ujamaa Residential College rooms do not have air conditioning.

Faculty involvement:  

Ujamaa has several Faculty and Community Fellows that provide students with opportunities to explore and cultivate their academic, intellectual, and cultural interests. You will find them attending events in your building, dining with students, and leading on and off campus trips to lectures, plays, films, concerts, and regional points of interest.

How to apply for residency:  Application instructions and links can be found at Application Process: New Undergraduate Students and Application Process: Current Undergraduate Students. You will be asked to answer brief essay questions for each community to which you apply.

Dining options:

Learn about Cornell Dining's meal plans

Questions?  

For more information about Ujamaa, call (607) 255-4922 or email ujamaa@cornell.edu. 

To learn more about the House and meet Ujamaa residents, attend Unity Hour on Sunday evenings at 8:30pm in Ujamaa's main lounge.