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Housing & Residential Life

Ujamaa Residential College

Exterior view of Ujamaa program house

 

Low Rise 10, home to Ujamaa Residential College, is a vibrant community that, while open to students of all backgrounds, celebrates the rich and diverse heritage of Black people in the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, and around the world. The name Ujamaa, a Kiswahili word meaning "extended family" or "brotherhood," reflects the community's founding values of cooperation, mutual support, self-reliance, and collective growth.

Today, Ujamaa offers residents the opportunity to engage deeply with Black culture, history, leadership, and scholarship through a wide variety of academic, cultural, and social programs. Signature events include faculty-hosted dinners, Black History Month celebrations, the State of Black America Conference, the Festival of Black Gospel, and the student-led Unity Hour discussion series. These experiences encourage thoughtful conversations, cultural awareness, leadership development, and community building.  

More About Ujamaa Residential College

Opened in 1970 as part of Cornell's North Campus residential expansion, the building quickly became an important gathering place for Black students. In 1972, student leaders helped establish Ujamaa as an official program house dedicated to exploring issues affecting communities of African descent and fostering a strong sense of community and belonging. While the building officially remains Low Rise 10, it has long been identified with Ujamaa and its enduring mission.

As both a Program House and part of the broader North Campus community, Ujamaa is an ideal fit for students who value shared identity, cultural exploration, community engagement, and meaningful dialogue while remaining connected to the energy and opportunities of undergraduate life at Cornell.

Students who live in Ujamaa gain more than a place to live. They become part of a supportive and welcoming network that promotes personal growth, academic success, and lifelong connections. Strong alumni involvement provides mentorship, guidance, and professional networking opportunities that often continue long after graduation. Whether students are seeking a deeper connection to Black culture and history, opportunities for advocacy and leadership, or a community rooted in shared purpose and mutual support, Ujamaa offers a residential experience centered on belonging, empowerment, and collective achievement. 

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.
  • 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 wastebasket, and floor carpeting
  • TV/social lounges and a study lounge
  • A library
  • A piano
  • Wireless Internet access

Ujamaa Residential College rooms do not have air conditioning.

Housing Population Type

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.

Helpful Information and Important Links

Below are resources and guidelines to support your residential experience at Cornell University. Please review the tabs below and bookmark these pages to apply for housing, browse through meal plan options, find mail and package information, and explore the Ujamaa community pages in CampusGroups.

Ujamaa Contact Information 

Ujamaa Residential College, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA

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.

Mail and Packages

Your mailing address:
Your Name, NETID
107 Robert Purcell
Room Number, Building
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853

Visit the Service Center website for student mail and package information.

How to Apply for Residency 

Rising junior and rising senior students may select to live in a program house as part of the fall Housing election process while rising sophomores can select during their General Room Selection process in the spring. New students can indicate their preference to live in a program house on their New Student Housing Application.

*Please note in some years when housing space is limited and there are available spaces in the Ujamaa, some students who did not preference housing in Ujamaa may be placed there. While the Ujamaa community is intended to celebrate Black culture and create a space for Black students to find community with those who have similar experiences and interests, all students of all identities are welcome. Regardless of their housing preference, all students residing in Ujamaa will have the opportunity to connect with each other, build community, and grow. Finally, given the theme of Ujamaa, all residents are expected to be thoughtful of the intention of the space and engage with every student in a respectful and open-minded manner.  

Dining Options