As part of our on-going response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Residence Life will be utilizing a virtual housing selection process for students to select their residence hall room for the 2020-2021 academic year.  Be sure to review this entire page before you choose which selection processes you'd like to participate in. 

***Please note we are still finalizing some aspects of general housing selection.  It's possible that the process that is listed could change slightly leading up to the start of those lotteries.  Any changes made will be updated here and emailed out as soon as possible.

Questions about any process can be referred to res_life@cornellcollege.edu.

Important Dates

Please see the timeline below for the dates of the upcoming virtual housing selection processes.  Additional information about each process is listed below. 

  • Monday, April 6, 2020: Notification of selection status
  • Monday, April 13, 2020: Selection number draw begins
  • Wednesday, April 15, 2020: Wilch Apartment email lottery begins
  • Monday, April 20, 2020: Wilch Apartment email lottery ends and notification sent, Russell Hall lottery opens
  • Monday, April 27, 2020: Russell Hall lottery closes
  • Wednesday, April 29, 2020: Russell Hall notifications sent, Triple/Quad room lottery opens
  • Monday, May 4, 2020: Triple/Quad room lottery closes and notifications sent
  • Tuesday, May 5, 2020: Single room lottery opens
  • Thursday, May 7, 2020: Single room lottery closes
  • Friday, May 8, 2020: Single room notices sent
  • Monday, May 11, 2020: Double room lottery for Senior numbers open
  • Wednesday, May 13, 2020: Double room lottery for Junior numbers open
  • Thursday, May 14, 2020: Double room lottery for Sophomore numbers open

Important Information

Room rates

Regardless if you're living in an apartment, suite or traditional residence hall, housing rates are based on the occupancy of the specific room you're living in.  Most rooms on campus are occupied by two or more students.  Students living in a multi-occupancy room will be billed the standard room rate.

We currently have a limited number of single-room options available.  Students living in a regular single room will be billed approximately an additional $110.00 per block above the standard room rate.  Please note there are no super-single options available for 2020-2021.  

Notification of Selection Status

An email will be sent on Monday, April 6 to all eligible students regarding your room selection status. You can find information here on how your class status is determined for Room Selection. 

If you believe there is an error in your room selection status, please contact the Residence Life Office by 12:00 NOON CST April 10 at Res_Life@cornellcollege.edu.  After 12:00 noon CST on April 10, all classifications will remain as they are.

Number Draw/Room Selection Order

On Monday, April 13 all eligible students not already assigned to a fall housing assignment will be emailed a link to generate your room selection number.  Please log-in (using your Cornell user name and password) and enter your Cornell email and a phone number that can be used to contact you if needed.  When you hit submit your room selection number will appear on the screen.  A confirmation email will be sent to you and also sent to the Residence Life staff. 

The deadline to generate a room selection number is Monday, April 20 at 8:00 a.m. CST. Please note if you do not generate a room selection number, you are not eligible to select a room or be included as a roommate by anyone else.

The room selection number you draw will carry over and be used in all processes you choose to participate in.  This number will be used to determine your place in the order for selecting a room amongst your selection class.  The selection order will begin with the student who drew number one and continues in numerical order until the person with the highest number (furthest from zero) in the class has selected their room. 

Priority in the selection process order will be given to senior numbers, then junior numbers, then sophomore numbers.  For example, a senior who draws the number one-hundred will select their room before a student who draws junior number one.  When selecting a double, triple or quad room, the person with the best number amongst the group will use their number to secure the room.  For example, if a senior and a sophomore decide to live together, the pair would select their room when the senior number is called.

The apartment and suites selection process will give priority to groups based on selection class status.  For example, in the Russell Hall lottery, a group of four seniors would receive priority over a group of three seniors and a junior.  A group of three seniors and a junior would receive priority over a group of two seniors and two juniors, and so on.  Once groups are prioritized based on selection class status, they will be ordered numerically based on the best selection number in the group.  For example, a group of four seniors with senior number 1 would be given priority over a group of four seniors with senior number two, and so on.

Roommates

Students can choose to live with any other eligible student; regardless of class status.  
It is each individual's responsibility to find their own roommate(s). 

If you are still seeking a roommate you may fill out a Need a Roommate Form.  Completing this form will give you access to a list of others also searching for a roommate.  Be sure to check back often to review submissions.  It is your responsibility to contact and make arrangements with potential roommates to select a room.  Once a roommate is found, both students should delete their roommate forms to avoid inquiries from others. 

Please note that other than the single room lottery, you must have a roommate or enough people to fill the room/apartment/suite that you are applying for.  If you do not have a roommate or enough people to fill the spaces on the applications, you will not be able to select a room in that particular lottery process.  If at the end of all the lottery processes, should you still not have a roommate, you will be assigned one over the summer by the Residence Life staff and placed in an available room at that time. 

Relocation and Room Changes

Please be sure to note the relocation and room change policy in the Residence Life handbook.  As the College continues to respond to the COVID-19 virus and the effects of the on-going pandemic, it may become necessary at some point to relocate students to a new room and/or building. 

Apartment and Suites Lotteries

Eligibility

All students returning to Cornell for the next academic year are eligible to sign up for housing in Russell Hall or the Wilch Apartments. All suites and apartments have the option of being all-gender. Apartment and suite-style living offers more independent living options for students and requires a high level of maturity. Therefore, these options are not made available to students whose disciplinary records indicate they are not ready for this arrangement. Generally, this means no conduct violations for the past year. This also means that students who are found responsible for violating a College policy while living in Cornell suites or apartments are at risk of being removed from that living environment. Students who participate in the apartment or suite lotteries give their consent for the Residence Life Office to review their conduct history at Cornell College.

Wilch Apartment Selection

Please note that Wilch Apartment #100 is the only remaining apartment available for the 2020-2021 academic year.  This is a five-person apartment with one single room and two double rooms located on the main level of the building.    

The Wilch Apartment lottery will begin at Noon CST on Wednesday, April 15 and will be conducted via email.  Students should determine who the five members are that will be applying together (students can only be included in one grouping; if they appear on multiple groupings each group will be disqualified and not considered for selection).

When the lottery opens one member of the group should collect the names, ID numbers, housing selection status and room selection numbers for each member in their group and email these to res_life@cornellcollege.edu in the following format below.  Each member of the group should also be copied on the email. EMAILS THAT DO NOT FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Single Room #101

  • Student First and Last Names
  • Student ID Number
  • Student Housing Selection Status
  • Student Room Selection Number

Double Room #102

  • Student First and Last Names
  • Student ID Number
  • Student Housing Selection Status
  • Student Room Selection Number
  • Student First and Last Names
  • Student ID Number
  • Student Housing Selection Status
  • Student Room Selection Number

Double Room #103

  • Student First and Last Names
  • Student ID Number
  • Student Housing Selection Status
  • Student Room Selection Number
  • Student First and Last Names
  • Student ID Number
  • Student Housing Selection Status
  • Student Room Selection Number

The Wilch Apartment lottery will close at Noon CST on Monday, April 20.  Emails submitted after that will not be accepted.  Once the lottery closes Residence Life will prioritize groups based on housing selection status and order them based on room selection numbers.  The group members that will be offered Wilch #100 will be notified via email by 4:00 p.m. CST on April 20.  All other groups will receive an email notification that they were not selected and can begin making plans for which housing selection process they'd like to participate in next. 

Russell Hall Selection

Russell Hall suites consist of two single rooms and one double room.  These suites include a private living room space, storage area, and bathroom.  Community kitchens are located on each floor.

The Russell Hall lottery will begin Monday, April 20 at 4:00 p.m. CST when an email with the application link is sent to all students.  Students should determine who the four members are that will be applying together (students can only be included in one grouping; if they appear on multiple groupings each group will be disqualified and not considered for selection).

When the lottery opens one member of the group should collect the names and ID numbers for their group.  This person will log-in to the application link provided and fill out which student will live in which room should their group be selected.  This person will also rank each available suite in order, starting with the group's top preference and working down the list to their last preference.  Once submitted, a copy of the group's information and preferences will be sent to the Residence Life staff.

The Russell Hall lottery will close at Noon CST on Monday, April 27.  Groups will be prioritized by class status, then room selection number.  For example, a group of all seniors will receive priority over groups of three seniors and a junior, two seniors and two juniors, and so on down the line, even if a senior in those mixed-class groups drew a better room selection number than a senior in another group.  

Once the status priority and selection order have been determined, Residence Life staff will use the suite preferences indicated on the group's application to determine their housing assignments.  For example, the first group in the order will receive their top preference.  The second group in order will receive their top preference unless that space was already assigned, then the group will receive their second preference.  We will continue this process for each group until all suites are assigned.

Members of the groups that will be assigned to a Russell Hall suite will be notified via email by 4:00 p.m. CST on Wednesday, April 29.  All other groups will receive an email notification that afternoon they were not selected and can begin making plans for which housing selection process they'd like to participate in next.

General Housing Selection Lotteries

The general housing selection lotteries consist of rooms in our traditional residence halls.  Available quads, triples, and doubles will primarily be located in Bowman-Carter Hall, Merner Hall, Pfeiffer Hall, and Olin Hall.  A select number of singles will also be available in some of the first-year residence halls in addition to these buildings.

Quad & Triple Room Selection

The quad and triple room lottery will begin Wednesday, April 29 at 4:00 p.m. CST when an email with the application link is sent to all students.  Students should determine who the three or four members are that will be applying together (students can only be included in one grouping; if they appear on multiple groupings each group will be disqualified and not considered for selection).

When the lottery opens one member of the group should collect the names and ID numbers for their group.  This person will log-in to the application link provided and fill out which students will live in the room should their group be selected.  This person will also rank each available quad or triple in order, starting with the group's top preference and working down the list to their last preference.  Once submitted, a copy of the group's information and preferences will be sent to the Residence Life staff.

The quad and triple lottery will close at Noon CST on Monday, May 4.  Groups will be prioritized by the best room selection number in their group.  For example, a group of all seniors will be placed in order by the best senior number in the group.  A group of a junior and two sophomores will be placed in order based on the junior number in the group.   

Once the selection order has been determined, Residence Life staff will use the quad and triple preferences indicated on the group's application to determine their housing assignments.  For example, the first group in the order will receive their top preference.  The second group in order will receive their top preference unless that space was already assigned, then the group will receive their second preference.  We will continue this process for each group until all suites are assigned.  Please note, we will fill all quads first, and then restart the selection order to fill all triple rooms. 

Members of the groups that will be assigned to quad or triple will be notified via email by 4:00 p.m. CST on Monday, May 4.  All other groups will receive an email notification that afternoon they were not selected and can begin making plans for which housing selection process they would like to participate in next.

Single Room Selection

The single room lottery will begin Tuesday, May 5 at Noon CST when an email with the application link is sent to all students.  When the lottery opens students interested in a single room will log-in to the application link provided and fill out their information.  They will also rank each available single in order, starting with their top preference and working down the list to their last preference.  Once submitted, a copy of the information and preferences will be sent to the Residence Life staff.

The single lottery will close at Noon CST on Thursday, May 7.  Applicants will be prioritized in order by room selection number.  Senior numbers will be prioritized first, then junior numbers, then sophomore numbers.   

Once the selection order has been determined, Residence Life staff will use the single preferences indicated on each student's application to determine their housing assignments.  For example, the first student in the order will receive their top preference.  The second student in order will receive their top preference unless that space was already assigned, then they will receive their second preference.  We will continue this process for each student until all available singles are assigned. 

Students that will be assigned to a single will be notified via email by 4:00 p.m. CST on Friday, May 4.  All other students will receive an email notification that afternoon they were not selected and can begin making plans for which housing selection process they would like to participate in next.

Anyone who did not secure a single room that would like to be placed on a waitlist should one come available over the summer or throughout the academic year can click here to complete a waitlist application.  Anyone who submits an application by June 1, 2020 will be placed on the list in order of their class status and room selection number.  Anyone who signs up after June 1 will be placed on the list in the order in which their application is received.    

Double Room Selection

The double room lottery will consist of three separate dates based on class standing:

  • Senior numbers will begin to select on Monday, May 11 at 4:00 p.m. CST
  • Junior numbers will begin to select on Wednesday, May 13 at 4:00 p.m. CST
  • Sophomore numbers will begin to selection on Thursday, May 14 at 4:00 p.m. CST

The order in which students choose their room will be pre-determined by the room selection numbers.  Senior numbers will be prioritized first, then junior numbers, then sophomore numbers.  Prior to the lottery students should determine who their roommate will be so they are aware of which room selection number they will use to select the room. 

We strongly encourage everyone to speak with their roommate prior to the lottery and make a list of which rooms you are interested in.  Depending on what your room selection number is, you may want to consider ranking all available rooms in order of your preference as you will only have a few minutes to make your selection.

When the lottery opens the senior with the best room selection number will receive an email with a link to the double room selection website. That student will need to log-in and enter the name and ID number for both themself and their roommate.  This person will then select the double room of their choice from the list of available rooms.  Once submitted, a copy of the group's information and preferences will be sent to the Residence Life staff, and the room will not be visible to any subsequent students who log-in. 

Please note there is a five-minute time limit from the time you receive your link until when you need to submit your room selection choice.  Once you've made your room selection choice or once the five-minute time limit has expired (whichever comes first), an email will be sent to the next student in the selection order inviting them to log-in and choose their room.

We strongly encourage everyone to be monitoring your email starting at 4:00 p.m. CST. If students in front of you take less than their allotted five minutes to select their room your email will be sent out more quickly.  For example, if you're the student with number three, don't assume you have 10 minutes until your pick since there are two people in front of you.  If they both select their room within a few seconds then your email will be sent after a few minutes, and if you're not paying close attention you risk missing your selection time. Also, it's likely large groups of numbers will not be included in the doubles lottery since students who've been housed already will not be included.  For example.  If you're student number 25, and students 1-24 have already been housed, you will be the first person in your class to receive a log-in email.

Should a student not log-in after five minutes of receiving their email, or take more than five minutes after logging in to select their room, any subsequent students who log-in after that can jump ahead of you in order if they submit their selection before you submit your selection. 

Smith Hall

Please note that Smith Hall will not be available for student housing during the 2020-2021 academic year.  The reasons for this are:

  • The need to have multiple living spaces with private/semi-private bathrooms readily available for students who may need to self-isolate or be quarantined for a period of time due to the on-going response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

  • The ability to house the students who would have been assigned to live at Smith Hall in available rooms in the other residence halls on campus.

  • The possibility for temporarily housing faculty and staff offices when construction/renovation begins on Small Sports Center or College Hall (with the caveat that these offices would quickly be removed if Smith is needed for self-isolation/quarantine purposes).

  • The potential to limit resource consumption and manage financial costs by reducing utility usage and maintenance needs at Smith Hall for all or part of an academic year.