All on-campus residences are managed by the office of residence life, which oversees the housing assignment process, educational and programmatic initiatives in each area, student conduct, as well as all matters relating to the business and statistical data of student life.

The Office of Residence Life strives to promote the academic and personal success of our students, and to offer additional learning and support during the students’ time on campus. Residence Life employs master’s level professionals, as well as graduate and undergraduate students who live and work in the halls. Our staff is there to facilitate the community living experience, mentor and support our students during their transformative college years, and are on call to respond to emergencies.

Over 1,500 students may be housed in several residence halls, an apartment complex, and a grouping of six small cottages on the campus. Both coeducational and single-gender accommodations are available. Rooms are equipped with beds, desks, chairs, and wardrobes. All personal items including bed linens, pillows and towels must be furnished by the student.

The residence halls are closed to students during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring vacation, and Easter break periods. Summer school housing is available on a limited basis.

Six two-story apartment buildings house approximately 200 upperclass students. Each fully furnished unit accommodates four persons in private rooms. Junior, senior, and graduate students are given preference for apartment assignments.

Residence hall rooms are set aside for freshmen and upperclass students. All residence hall assignments are based on space availability. Limited theme housing is available to students in the residence halls and is assigned based on student interest.

NU maintains male and female accommodations in a proportion equal to the number of applicants for respective residency. New students are assigned to halls from a priority list determined by the date the $200 acceptance fee is paid to the university and when a completed housing preference form is submitted. On-campus residency is considered to be for the duration of the academic year. Permission to reside off the campus is granted only prior to the start of the new academic year.

The university requires that all Niagara students live in the residence halls for their first two years, except as noted below. The need for this regulation is predicated on national data on student retention that show students who live in residence halls tend to perform better academically, are more rapidly to the collegiate environment, become involved in a greater number of learning experiences that complement classroom teachings, and are more satisfied in general with the college experience.

The only exceptions to the residency requirement are:

• Commuters — students commuting from their parent/guardian’s permanent home address which is no more than 50 miles from campus.
• Transfers — students who enter Niagara University with junior or senior status as determined at the time of admission.
• Married students — with proof of marriage certificate.
• Veterans — with proof of military service.
• Independents — students who show proof of maintaining financial independence for at least two years prior to submission of request to live off campus.

Requests for exemption of the residency requirement should be made to the office of residence life by Dec. 1 if appealing for the spring semester and by July 1 if appealing for the fall semester.