Fall 2025 Returning Student Housing Selection
You may only participate in either room reservation OR housing lottery.
If you do not participate in housing selection, you will need to apply for housing and you will be assigned a housing assignment after housing selection is complete. This may result in being in a housing assignment that you do not prefer. We strongly suggest participating in housing selection yourself.
Overview
- An email will be sent to all students from Sarah Truax (chamberlains@canton.edu) on Monday, March 17 detailing your eligibility to reserve their room, if you can pull/be pulled, and your lottery number.
- Housing selection provides you the opportunity to decide exactly where you’d like to live for the next academic year.
- If you intend to live on campus in Fall 2025, it is in your interest to participate in the returning student housing selection process.
- If you choose to reserve your room, you are not eligible to participate in the housing lottery.
- If you choose not to participate in housing selection, you will need to apply for housing and you will be assigned a housing assignment after housing selection is complete. This may result in being in a housing assignment that you do not prefer. We strongly suggest participating in housing selection yourself.
- Fall 2025 Themes and Reserved Rooms for New/Transfer Students
Important Dates
Room Reservation—via email due Wednesday, March 19 at 12PM
Monday, March 17 through Friday, March 19
- Email sent from Sarah Chamberlain Truax (chamberlains@canton.edu) on Monday, March 17.
- If you are eligible to reserve your room, you must “Reply All” to the email sent on Monday, March 17 by Wednesday, March 19 at 12PM (noon) and state that you would like to reserve your current room.
- You must then sign a housing license at your building’s RA Office.
- Both a reply to the email sent AND a signed housing license must be received by Wednesday, March 19 for your room to be reserved.
On-Campus Housing Lottery - Kennedy Hall Lounge (1st Floor)
Monday, March 24 & Tuesday, March 25
Returning student housing selection — select a room/suite other than your current room for Fall 2025.
Rooms are selected in lottery number order during the time specified. If you are pulling any students into a room/suite with you, those students must come with you to housing lottery.
|
Kennedy Hall Housing Lottery |
Traditional Hall Housing Lottery |
||
|
Monday, March 24 |
Lottery # |
Tuesday, March 25 |
Lottery # |
|
5:00 - 5:30 PM |
1-150 |
5:00 - 5:30 PM |
1-250 |
|
5:30 - 6:00 PM |
151-400 |
5:30 - 6:00 PM |
251-500 |
|
6:00 - 6:30 PM |
400+ |
6:00 - 6:30 PM |
500+ |
Important Definitions
Room Reservation: Reserving your current room for the Fall semester.
Housing Selection: The overall process of all returning students selecting rooms for the Fall semester.
Housing Lottery: The process of selecting a room based on your Housing Lottery Number.
Housing Lottery Number: A number generated for all returning students which determines the order students will select their rooms for the Fall semester. If your housing lottery number is 125, 124 get preference to choose their Fall room before you.
Pulling/Being Pulled: A returning student with a better housing lottery number selecting you as someone they want to live with in the Fall semester.
Eligible: Being able to reserve your current room, and/or being able to pull/be pulled by another student to be their roommate during housing lottery.
Proxy: A proxy is a person you designate to represent you at Housing Lottery. To assign a ‘proxy’ you must fill out a Proxy Form.
Commonly Asked Questions
What if I want to live in the same room next year?
Reply to the email sent by Sarah Truax on March 17th and indicate that you would like to stay in the same room. Your response must be sent by Wednesday, March 19th, at 12 PM (noon).
Can I reserve my room then try to get a better room at Housing Lottery?
No. If you reserve your room, you cannot participate in the Housing Lottery in any way. This also means you cannot "pull" other students into a different room.
Why am I unable to reserve my room?
Some suites and rooms are reserved for new and transfer students for the next academic year. These suites will be blocked off during both the Room Reservation and Housing Lottery If you currently live in one of these suites, you will need to select a different room during the Housing Lottery.
Why do I have this lottery number?
Housing lottery numbers are generated based on:
- Earned credit hours
- GPA
Students with higher earned credit hours and a higher GPA receive a lower Housing Lottery number, which means they get to select their rooms earlier. For example, if you have Housing Lottery Number 100, then 99 students will be able to select their housing assignment before you.
I want to live with my friend(s). How can we ensure that we live together?
- You can "pull" another student into an available room or suite during the Housing Lottery process.
- For example: If two friends want to reserve a double room together, they must attend the Housing Lottery at the same time. The student with the lower (better) lottery number can "pull" the other student into the room. This also applies to Kennedy Hall suites. If five students want to reserve a five-person suite, the student with the best lottery number can pull the other four students into the suite as long as they all attend the Housing Lottery together.
How many people can be "pulled"?
- Traditional halls (double room): You can "pull" one
- Kennedy Hall suites: You can "pull" up to four
- ⚠️ Important: This number may change based on room and suite availability. For example, if your lottery number is 132 and when your turn comes only three-bedroom suites remain, you can only pull two.
I have medical accommodation. How do I reserve my room?
If you require special housing accommodations (e.g., a medical single room, medical double room, or handicap-accessible room), please visit the Residence Life Office in Mohawk Hall before the Housing Lottery to reserve your room.
Do I need to pay a housing deposit?
No. All housing deposits are waived.
Will there be enough rooms for everyone?
Last year, every student who attended housing lottery got a room on campus.
What if I have class and can’t attend theHousing Lottery?
You can designate a proxy—a person who will represent you at the Housing Lottery.
To assign a proxy, fill out the Proxy Form.
Can I live on campus for the Fall semester and then move off-campus for the Spring semester?
All students sign a two-semester housing license (lease). You must live on campus for both semesters unless you have a legitimate reason, such as:
- An internship
- Graduating mid-year
What if I want to live off-campus in Fall 2025?
You must apply for a housing release. Apply here: Housing Release Application
- ⚠️ Important: The college has a Mandatory Housing Policy, meaning you are required to live on campus unless you meet specific eligibility criteria: View the criteria here.
- ⚠️ Do not sign a lease or commit to an apartment until your request is approved. If denied, you will be charged for room and board, even if you are living off-campus.
What happens if I move off-campus without approval?
You will be charged for room and board even if you are living in an off-campus apartment.
What happens if I skip the entire Housing Lottery process?
You will still be charged for housing and a meal plan, but you will not have a room assignment.
If you miss the Housing Lottery, you can request a room by filling out this form: Housing Application. A room will then be assigned to you by housing staff.
What if my request for a housing release is denied?
You can appeal against the decision to the Housing Appeals Committee. If your appeal is denied you will be required to live on campus.
Residence Life
Mohawk Hall
SUNY Canton
34 Cornell Drive
Canton, New York 13617
Phone: 315-386-7513
Fax: 315-386-7969
reslife@canton.edu
Regular Hours:
M - F: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
