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Cornell University

Housing & Residential Life

Academic Year Housing License 2026-2027

CORNELL UNIVERSITY – STUDENT AND CAMPUS LIFE 
ACADEMIC-YEAR HOUSING LICENSE: 2026-2027
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR SINGLE STUDENT HOUSING

This license governs all Cornell University, further referred to as "the University" or “University”, on-campus residences include any Residence Halls, Townhouse, Apartment, or House Systems where Housing and Residential Life manage the assignments and/or functions of the building. Your Housing License is a legal and binding agreement that creates a revocable license for you to occupy your University-assigned housing, subject to these Terms and Conditions for Academic-Year Housing: 2026-2027 (“Terms and Conditions”), The Terms and Conditions are part of your Housing License, and any references to “Housing License” expressly includes all provisions of the Terms and Conditions. Final rates for 2026-2027 housing will be available in March 2026 on the Rates, Amenities & Contracts pages on housing.cornell.edu. The rates displayed within the Housing and Dining Portal and license for Fall Housing Selection are projected rates for the 2026-2027 academic year. These are subject to final approval and review by the University President and Board of Trustees. You are signing this license with the knowledge that rates could change.

The Housing License is not a lease and does not create a landlord-tenant relationship between you and the University.

Cornell University provides housing accommodations to registered attendees on a revocable license basis only. This License may be immediately revoked for failure to comply with these terms and conditions, for behavior that may endanger public order or property or the personal safety or security of any person, or for any other reason that the University deems good cause, in its sole and absolute discretion. In such event, the University shall not be liable to you for any claims, causes of action, damages, injuries, penalties, costs or expenses of any kind, including (without limitation) attorneys’ fees or any refund of housing fees, whether paid to the University or to a third-party organizer.

  1. EFFECTIVE DATE

Your Housing License is legally binding as of the date you accept your housing assignment in the Housing and Dining Portal, and continues for the entire Term (see Section IV, Occupancy, below).

  1. COMPLIANCE WITH LICENSE TERMS AND RULES AND REGULATIONS

Your occupancy of University housing is subject at all times to your compliance with the provisions of the Housing License, the Student Code of Conduct, all applicable University policies (expressly including but not limited to Policy 6.4: Prohibited Bias, Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual and Related Misconduct), the Community Living Standards, and all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations. You also agree to comply with any other rules and regulations that the University may from time-to-time issue for the welfare of the community or for the general convenience or comfort of residents.

  1. ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for residence in a University residence hall or apartment during the academic year, you must be currently registered as full time (minimum 12 credit hours) or maintain active status in a Cornell University academic-year special program. You must also remain current on all financial obligations to the University. The University reserves the right to require you to provide verification of your eligibility status that is satisfactory to the University in its sole discretion.

Individuals required by law to register as a sex offender who wish to occupy University housing or who have a family member or partner who must register as a sex offender who wishes to occupy University housing with the individual must notify Student and Campus Life prior to signing this license. Email housing@cornell.edu for details.

  1. OCCUPANCY
    1. You may occupy your assigned housing beginning on the arrival date and time issued by University Housing. Dates are subject to change.
    2. You may not change your occupancy period from these dates without prior written approval from the University. Allresidents are required to vacate their University housing by 2:00 p.m. on the last day of the Term.
    3. Graduating students will be notified by email in the spring semester of an extended occupancy period through the day after Commencement without additional charges. Students who do not wish to extend their contract throughCommencement can notify the Housing Office by the specified deadline.
    4. You agree to occupy the housing assigned to you. Requests for room changes must be filed with the Office of Housingand Residential Life. Approval of room changes for any University housing are at the discretion of the University and may result in a fee.
    5. Your assigned housing may only be occupied by you and any roommate(s) assigned to the unit by the University. You may not permit anyone not duly assigned or approved by the University to share any part of your assigned housing or attempt to assign or transfer your assigned housing to anyone else. You may not prevent another student from occupying a shared housing assignment.
    6. If you fail to occupy your assigned housing, or if you vacate your assigned housing during the Term, you continue to be liable for your University housing charges for the entire Term unless you are granted a cancellation of yourHousing License as provided in Section VI, License Cancellations.

    7. You may request a limited extension of the occupancy period, which the Office of Housing and Residential Life may grant or deny at its sole discretion. Extensions of the occupancy period will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. There will be a daily charge of sixty dollars ($60) for occupancy before or after the occupancy period stated above.

       

  2. PAYMENTS
    1. You agree to pay all required fees, charges, and penalties associated with your assigned housing.
    2. All initial housing charges, and other fees, charges and penalties related to your assigned housing, including, but not limited to, cancellation fees, room change fees, and any charges for losses, damages, and other costs you cause the University to incur will be charged to your University Bursar account. Security and key deposits will not be required.
    3. The Office of the Bursar’s policies on payment of finance charges for late payments and other penalties for failure to make timely payments apply. See https://www.dfa.cornell.edu/bursar/students-parents/paying-your-bill.
    4. Meal Plan Requirements: All students living in undergraduate on-campus housing are required to participate in a meal plan and will be automatically enrolled and bursar-billed. 

    5. Students living in Alice Cook House (Boldt Tower, Boldt Hall, North Baker Hall, Baker Tower, Cook Main), Carl Becker House, Hans Bethe House (Bethe Main and McFaddin Hall), William Keeton House (1 Forest Park Lane and Keeton Main), and Flora Rose House (Founders Hall, Lyon Hall, Mennen Hall, South Baker Hall, Rose Main) are required to have the House Meal Plan designated specifically for the West Campus House System, and will be automatically enrolled.

       

  3. LICENSE CANCELLATIONS

    New students (first-year and newly enrolled transfer) and second-year students, including transfer students admitted as second-year students, are required to live in on-campus housing and cannot cancel a housing assignment unless the student: 

  • is no longer attending the University
  • has applied and been approved for an exemption
  • (second-year students only) have been accepted to live in an approved Greek house, affiliated house, or University Co-op prior to the rising sophomore selection deadline
     

Returning juniors and seniors who have already fulfilled the residential requirement are eligible to cancel their Housing License and may cancel prior to checking in or occupying a residence. All cancellation requests must be submitted through the Housing and Dining Portal. For these undergraduate students, the cancellation schedule and fees (which are bursar billed) are as follows: 

  • Through January 31: $50
  • February 1 to March 31: $500
  • April 1 to June 30: $1,000
  • July 1 to August 15: $2,000
  • After August 15: 50% of fall semester room rate.
  • Students who fail to check in and occupy their room by the first day of classes or fail to make arrangements for late arrival will have their assignment cancelled and will be bursar billed 50% of the fall semester room rate.

Students cancelling to participate in a study away from Ithaca (e.g. Cornell in Washington/Rome, Cornell global program, Engineering Co-op, academic internship, ILR in NYC); taking a medical, voluntary or required leave of absence; deferring admission, withdrawing or graduating may cancel without penalty by the following deadlines:

  • Fall Semester: June 15, 2026
  • Spring Semester: December 1, 2026
  • Submission requests received after these deadlines will result in a $500 cancellation fee.  

The Housing License is binding for the entire Term. If you have already assumed occupancy, the University may permit you tocancel your Housing License under the following circumstances:

  • If you withdraw or take a voluntary leave of absence from the University during the Term;
  • If you are granted a medical withdrawal or leave, or an academic internship, graduation or study in absentia during the Term;

  • If the University determines that there are adequate other grounds for cancellation.

    You may request a cancellation in the Housing and Dining Portal. The University retains sole and absolute discretion over allcancellation determinations. If cancellation is allowed, you will be charged a per diem rate for each day you occupied yourassigned housing. You will be required to vacate your assigned housing and turn in your keys within 24 hours of the effective date of cancellation.

Contract releases for any other reason than those listed above may be granted, but only under exceptional circumstances. Contract releases due to exceptional circumstances will be determined by, and are at the sole discretion of, the Office of Housing and Residential Life. You will receive a prorated refund of any prepaid housing fees, less any applicable fees orcharges.

Room Consolidation: 

Cornell University Housing uses room consolidation to help meet the requests of residents who want to room together or when the room dynamics (i.e., gender, classification) must change to accommodate space needs. 

Room consolidation prior to Fall move-in:

  • There may be situations when assigned spaces need to be consolidated before the license start date to free up whole rooms for assignment needs.
  • Consolidation will be limited, when possible, to the building in which the students plan to reside.
  • Students will be notified via the Housing and Dining Portal of room assignment changes due to consolidation. 

Room consolidation after move-in:

  • There may be situations when assigned spaces need to be consolidated by Cornell Housing to free up whole rooms for assignment needs.
  • Reassignment for consolidation purposes limited to same floor as much as possible, but to another floor within the same building may occur.
  • Students who are assigned to a room that is under-occupied will be notified by the Housing Office for voluntary consolidation, where they can seek a preferred roommate on their floor or another floor, if interested.
  • After voluntary consolidation, the Housing Office may administratively consolidate by notifying residents that they may either:
    • Obtain a roommate by a prescribed date.
    • Accept consolidation with another resident, which may require relocating to the other resident’s room.
  1. LICENSE REVOCATIONS, TERMINATIONS, AND HOUSING REASSIGNMENT
    1. The University may immediately revoke your Housing License, reassign you to other University housing, and/or pursue disciplinary action in its sole discretion, if:
    2. You fail to comply with terms and conditions of the Community Living Standards and/or the Housing License, including, but not limited to, the requirements of Section II, Compliance;
    3. You engage in or threaten acts or behavior that in the University’s sole opinion, may endanger public order or property, threaten the personal safety or security of yourself or others (by acts of physical or mental harassment, self-harm, or other means) or disrupt other students;
    4. You refuse an evaluation by Counseling and Psychological Services staff, following your hospitalization for psychiatric reasons;
    5. You cease to meet the eligibility requirements in Section III;
    6. You make a materially false statement in your housing application; or
    7. For other good cause as determined in the University’s sole discretion.

If your Housing License is revoked under this section, you will continue to be liable for all housing charges and fees for the entire Term. No refund will be provided. You will also be charged a $500 revocation fee. The University also may refuse to allow you to occupy any University housing in the future.

  1. The University further reserves the right to terminate your Housing License or reassign you to other University housing based on:
  2. Damage to your assigned housing that results in it being unfit for occupancy, in the University’s sole opinion;
  3. To prepare for or to conduct renovation, repair, construction, or demolition;
  4. To respond to unforeseen circumstances or emergencies, including, but not limited to, epidemics or other public health and safety reasons.
  5. If you are not able to occupy your assigned housing safely due to a disability and no reasonable accommodation will permit you to do so safely.

If your Housing License is revoked under this section, you may be entitled to a pro rata refund of your housing charges paid as of the date you vacate, in the University’s sole discretion.

  1. You will be provided with written notice of any revocation of your Housing License or reassignment to alternative housing. You are required to vacate your assigned housing as of the date specified in said notice, in compliance with the Check-Out requirements in Section IX.
  2. If you are reassigned to different University housing in lieu of License revocation, for any reason, you will remainliable for all housing charges and fees for the entire Term. You will not be entitled to moving expenses or any other kind of compensation or refund.

 

  1. RIGHT OF ENTRY

The University reserves the right to enter your assigned housing at any time, without notice, including but not limited to in timesof emergency; to conduct facilities project work; to make repairs; for housekeeping purposes; to inspect for compliance with health, fire, or building codes; to inspect for incoming room changes; enforcement of University and University Housing policies or regulations (including Community Living Standards); for law enforcement purposes; or for any other health, safety, or security purpose as determined by the University in its sole discretion.

  1. RESIDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

    1. Check-In and Check-Out Requirements

      1. You are responsible for documenting any damage to your assigned room/furniture/etc. by completing maintenance requests at check-in and during the academic year.
      2. When checking out, you must remove all your personal property and refuse, and leave your assigned housing empty and as clean as when you checked in. Charges for additional cleaning required, removal of abandoned personalproperty or refuse, and for any loss or damage you have caused will be billed to your University Bursar account. Personal property not removed within 24 hours of check-out shall be deemed abandoned and may be disposed of by the University in its sole discretion.
      3. A fee of $50 per hour will be assessed for every hour or fraction thereof that you or your belongings remain in your assigned housing (or the residence hall) past the closing time or check out date unless a written request for exception has been received and approved by the Office of Housing and Residential Life. Check-out is not completed until you have vacated your assigned housing and residence hall and have turned in all keys.

    2. Keys, Cards, and Lock-Outs

      1. You may request that a staff member give you access to your assigned housing. You may be charged a $15 fee. Youmust report lost keys to the Service Center and file a report with CU Police within 24 hours. You will be charged forreplacement lock core and keys. More information pertaining to this topic can be found in the Community Living Standards.
      2. If you lose your ID card, you must report it as a “lost card” with the University Registrar’s Office. You must borrow a temporary building card for access into your residence hall, and you will be charged $25 if you do not return this cardwithin 72 hours.

    3. University Property

      1. You are liable for any damage or loss you cause to your assigned housing (including furnishings), the residence hall, orany other University facility. The costs of such damage or loss will be added to your University Bursar bill. Damage or loss must be reported promptly to residential staff, but reporting does not remove the student’s financial responsibility. 
      2. You may not remove University-provided furnishings from your assigned housing without the written permission ofthe Office of Housing and Residential Life. If you do, you will be charged to have them moved back to their proper location.
      3. Unauthorized removal of furnishings from common areas or from the building constitutes theft and may subject you to disciplinary action in addition to the University’s other remedies under the Housing License.
      4. Storage space for University-owned room furniture and/or students’ personal belongings is not available.

      5. In addition, if common areas are damaged and the responsible parties are not identified, the University reserves theright to hold all residents of the floor, unit, hall or complex responsible for the cost of repair and/or replacement of damaged items.

        For general expectations on living in on-campus housing, please see the Community Living Standards. 

         

    4. Commercial Activities

No commercial business or activity may be conducted in or from any University housing. Using residence telephones, internet and wireless connections for profit-making purposes is prohibited. If you violate this provision and the University incurs taxliability as a result, then in addition to University’s other rights and remedies under this Housing License, you will beresponsible for the costs of such taxes.

  1. TELEPHONES/DATA/CABLE CONNECTIONS
  2. Landline phones are not provided in most undergraduate student rooms. Common area phones are available in all residential buildings for emergency, campus, local, and toll-free calls. Long-distance calls may be made on common area phones with the use of a phone card or Cornell PIN number. You may also have a phone jack activated in your room for a fee if you want to use a landline phone. To inquire about phone jack activation, fees, and billing, visit Cornell Information Technologies.
  3. Cornell's wireless internet service is available in all rooms and apartments. Please refer to the IT@Cornell Wi-Fi page for assistance in connecting to Cornell's secure wireless (Wi-FI) network.
  4. Television service, if available, must be arranged by you with the local cable service provider.

 

  1. ANIMALS IN RESIDENCE
  2. Students residing in the undergraduate halls are prohibited from having animals in their rooms with the exception of fish that are in tanks no larger than 10 gallons. If you violate this condition or the University Pets on Campus Policy, the animal may be confiscated and you may be subject to disciplinary action, in addition to the University’s other remedies under the Housing License.
  3. Service animals (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act) are permitted in University housing.
  4. Emotional support animals (ESAs) are permitted in University housing if approved by Student Disability Services as a reasonable accommodation for a disability.

  5. Residents with service animals or approved emotional support animals must comply with Policy 2.8: Pets on Campus.

     

  6. REFRIGERATORS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
  7. The University has an approved vendor that rents refrigerators and MicroFridges. Only MicroFridges from theapproved vendor are permitted. Minifridges may be purchased and brought to campus, provided they meet required specifications. Full-size refrigerators are provided in the Townhouse Apartments and 301 College Ave.
  8. Fire-safety requirements prohibit cooking in University housing, except for when using approved appliances. Approved appliances include MicroFridges rented by the University’s approved vendor, and other small appliances with self-contained, thermostatically controlled heating elements with automatic shut-off features. You may not use any non-thermostatically controlled electrical cooking appliance in any University housing and any such appliances shall be confiscated.
  9. During any official University recess in which the housing units are closed for more than four days, you must removeall food from your refrigerator, disconnect it, and leave the door open. All other electrical devices must be turned off during any official University recess.
  10. You may use electrical devices such as radios, computers, printers, hair dryers, razors, and clocks provided they are plugged into outlets in your room and do not exceed the amperage limits of the circuits in the room. Spider lamps and halogen lamps are prohibited.

  11. Constructing computer connections between rooms is prohibited as is running an electrical cord from your assigned housing to a corridor outlet. You may not splice internal cables.

     

  12. LAUNDRY

All undergraduate halls and graduate housing facilities have access to online coinless laundry systems that use an app-based system, CSCPay Mobile. For more information, visit https://scl.cornell.edu/residential-life/housing/contact-us/your-laundry-account. All funds must be used before the end of the License period. No refunds will be issued.

 

  1. FIRE & LIFE SAFETY
    1. On-campus housing facilities are equipped with fire suppression systems and/or sprinkler systems in all residential rooms.
    2. You and your guests must immediately evacuate the building and follow all residential staff directions if a fire alarmsounds. You are responsible for knowing where the fire alarm boxes are located in your building. Fire extinguishers are for use in emergency situations only.
    3. The University is subject to fire and safety inspections by various agencies. If the University incurs a fine as a result of your failure to comply with the terms of your Housing License or with any request from residence staff or otherUniversity staff, you will be responsible for payment of the fire safety fine and any damage incurred. Upon inspection, prohibited items will be confiscated. You will have seven days to retrieve your confiscated item(s), otherwise, they will be destroyed or donated at the end of seven days.
    4. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, extension cords, artificial plants, untreated tapestries or flags, headboards with electrical adaptors, items blocking doors or windows, and all other items outlined in these terms and conditions and the fire safety section of the Community Living Standards. 

  2. You must not store hazardous, explosive or flammable substances in any portion of University housing. The use or storage of candles, incense, and any other open flames in your assigned housing is prohibited.

    1. Personal electronic (battery-operated) modes of recreational transport, including but not limited to, R-Bike, e-skateboards, e-scooters, and hoverboards are prohibited from being charged or stored in any University Residential building outside of designated bike rooms.
    2. You may not hang anything from sprinkler pipes or any part of the fire sprinkler system.
    3. You must not activate false alarms, interfere with the proper functioning of the fire-alarm system, or tamper with or remove smoke detectors, fire hoses, extinguishers, or fire-fighting equipment. Violators may be subject to disciplinaryaction under the Student Code of Conduct or state or local law.
    4. Residents of Townhouse Apartments are responsible for weekly inspection and testing of the carbon monoxide detectors located in your room/apartment, in accordance with the instructions provided by the Department ofEnvironment, Health and Safety. You are required to document weekly testing per instructions you will receive upon checking in to your room/apartment. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in fines, referral to the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards, and/or termination of your Housing License.

     

  3. SECURITY AND SAFETY
    1. You must keep exterior entrances to residence halls locked at all times. Temporary exceptions may be authorized by an SCL staff member.
    2. You may not offer access to any residence hall or locked building to strangers or unauthorized persons. Residentspurposely violating security policies by propping exterior doors or modifying latches may be subject to disciplinary action.
    3. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your assigned housing. Your assigned housing should be keptlocked when you are not present. All windows in unoccupied space must be closed and latched.
    4. You may not alter or replace the present locks or other security devices or install additional locks or other security devices.
    5. Neither you nor your guests are permitted on roofs, ledges, or overhangs. Neither you nor your guests are permitted to climb the exteriors of any University building.

 

  1. SOLICITING, CANVASSING, AND LEAFLETING

Soliciting, canvassing, and leafleting are generally not permitted in any University housing. SCL may grant permission if requests are made in advance. Petitioning is not permitted in undergraduate residence halls except in certain cases with prior notification to the residence hall leadership organization. {See House Rules for additional information}.

 

  1. LIABILITY; RENTERS INSURANCE
    1. The University is not liable or otherwise responsible, directly or indirectly, for any loss or damage to your personal property or vehicle occurring anywhere on University property, whether caused by fire, water, steam, the elements,insufficient heat, loss or surges of electricity, theft, the actions of third persons, or any other reason. Your personal property is not covered by University insurance. The University strongly encourages all occupants to obtain renters insurance.
    2. The University’s preferred renters insurance provider is GradGuard: gradguard.com/renters/cornell.

    3. In the event of a court determination of any University liability to you in connection with this Housing License, theaggregate amount of damages to be paid by the University shall not exceed the sum you paid under this Housing License.

       

  2. FORCE MAJEURE

The University assumes no responsibility for failure to perform any terms or conditions of this Housing License due to fire, earthquake, flood, act of nature, weather events, strikes, work stoppages or other labor disturbances, riots or civil commotions, litigation, war or other acts of any foreign nation, terrorism, epidemics, pandemics, power of governments or governmental agencies or authorities, national emergencies, or any other cause that is beyond the control of the University, regardless whethersuch a cause is similar or dissimilar to the foregoing examples, and regardless as to whether the subject event or cause was conceivable or foreseeable.

 

  1. MISCELLANEOUS
    1. Execution of the Academic-Year Housing License is not a commitment of admission to or continued enrollment in the University.
    2. Any waiver by the University of its rights under this Housing License shall not be deemed a continuing waiver.
    3. If any provision of this Housing License shall be found to be invalid, the remaining provisions hereof shall continue in full force and effect.
    4. This Housing License represents the complete agreement between you and the University regarding your University housing, and supersedes any prior contracts or understandings, whether oral or written. It may not be amended in anyway without the prior written permission of the University in each instance.
    5. The Housing License is subject to the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws or principles. You agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts in Tompkins County, New York State, for theresolution of any disputes arising under the Housing License.
    6. In any action, suit, or proceeding in any jurisdiction arising out of or relating to this Housing License, you and the University each knowingly and intentionally, to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law, irrevocably and expressly waive forever trial by jury.
    7. Housing and Residential Life has the right to reproduce, use, exhibit, display, broadcast, distribute and create derivative works of University-related photographs or videos taken in public spaces or at Housing and Residential Life sponsored programs of on-campus housing residents, visitors, and guests for use in connection with the activities of the University and Housing and Residential Life or for promoting, publicizing, or explaining the University and Housing and Residential Life. Housing and Residential Life is hereby granted an indefinite, royalty-free license.
    8. All on-campus residents are required to have a Cornell Dining meal plan. The meal plans shall be promoted, charged, and executed by Cornell Dining and are not bound by the revocation, termination, or cancellation of the Housing License.