New Students

If you are going to be a new student at St. John Fisher College this information is for you...

View Frequently Asked Questions!

What should you bring? What should you leave home?

Learn about new student housing assignments.

Our Commitment

Welcome to your "soon to be new home"! Our hope is that you'll find that our on-campus housing (known as the Residential Life program) is structured to enhance students' academic experience by providing a living-learning environment in a convenient, supportive, and safe setting. Your residential experience will help you to develop new interests, social skills, and an understanding of others by sharing your life with new roommates, neighbors and friends.

In our residential community you will find that we value one another and respect the rights of every community member regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic status in our common living space. We promote an environment in which students are encouraged to assume leadership and participate in social, physical, intellectual, career, cultural, emotional, spiritual and service activities within the hall. You will be expected to challenge and reject all forms of prejudice while striving to learn from one another's differences.

Your Commitment

By signing the Residence Hall Contract, you are committing to living in the Residence Halls for the entire academic year. In addition, all new students at St. John Fisher live with one or two roommates, which can be very different than the single bedroom you may have at home. We spend a great deal of time trying to match you with a roommate(s) that has potential for compatibility.

We believe that learning to live with those different than you is part of the college experience. Thus, we ask that you make every effort to create a positive living arrangement with your roommate(s). The hall staff will be there to assist you in dealing with any significant differences you may experience, but it will be mostly up to you to communicate with your roommate(s) and share your expectations with them. With this in mind, The Office of Residential Life strongly encourages students to make a one-semester commitment to live with the roommate and in the room that they are assigned.

The Residence Halls

St. John Fisher College has facilities to house approximately 1400 students. We have nine Residence Halls on campus that range in size from housing 200 (Dorsey, Founders, Keough, Haffey, Murphy and Ward Halls) to 50 students (Murray and Michaelhouse Halls). First Year Students are housed in Haffey, Murphy and Ward Halls. Transfers are housed in any available upper-class area. In all Residence Hall rooms each student is provided with a bed, desk, chair, chest of drawers, and wardrobe/closet. Please refrain from bringing extra furniture from home, because you will be responsible for storing all the furniture in your room whether you use it or not. There are some opportunities to loft beds in the Residence Halls, but homemade lofts and risers are not allowed. All of the St. John Fisher College Residence Halls are non-smoking.

Find out more about the ResLife Staff!

Housing Assignments

Most first year students and some transfer students will be living in a triple when they come to Fisher. Students will be tripled in Haffey, Murphy and Ward. Each student will have his/her own set of furniture, including a closet.

We make housing assignments for new students in a way that increases the chances of students bonding with their neighbors, making their initial adjustment easier, and linking their academic life at the College with their residential life. Students are housed by learning community. Therefore, students cannot choose who they want to live with their first year at Fisher. After their first year, new and transfer students can choose their roommates. As spaces become available we will offer students the opportunity to detriple. If all three students remain in the triple, you will be given a $150 rebate after the 6th week of the semester. This will show up as a credit on your bill each semester you are tripled. However, if you are given the option to de-triple and you and your roommates decline, you will not receive the rebate.

If you have a disability that may require a housing accommodation, you must complete the Disability Services Request Card (available in the Course Registration section of the "Registration Kit") and be prepared to provide appropriate medical documentation. The final determination for providing appropriate and reasonable accommodations rests with the College. This information is due to the Office of Academic Affairs 6 weeks prior to the beginning of the semester.

Housing assignments including your new roommates’ names, phone numbers, addresses and emails, will be posted for new students in early August (or early January for spring admission) on the students on-line profile page.

When you are packing to come to Fisher

You are encouraged to talk to your roommate(s) and plan what to bring together. No room needs 3 TVs, 3 radios and 3 refrigerators. Also pack with this in mind:

Fire hazards: All electrical appliances used for cooking food are prohibited in residence hall rooms. All other appliances such as irons, hair dryers, TVs, radios, etc. should be used with caution. In addition, all appliances, extension bar outlets and electrical hook-ups must have UL approved label attached. The College makes periodic fire/safety inspections of all rooms during the year and reserves the right to remove all items considered to be a hazard. New York State Codes prohibit cooking in residence hall rooms, fastening any combustible material to any ceilings, or covering any fire alarm equipment in the residence hall rooms.

Rule of Thumb about Fire Safety and Appliances: If it has an exposed heating element ("George Forman Grills", toasters, hotplates, etc) then it is prohibited in the Residence Halls.

Pets: Pets (except for fish) are not allowed in the Residence Halls. 10 gallon tanks are the maximum.

Laundry: Washers and Dryers are free at Fisher; no need to bring quarters!

Cleaning Supplies: Students are responsible for cleaning everything behind their locked door. Fisher Staff cleans the common areas of the Residence Halls. Please bring cleaning supplies and a vacuum.

Property Insurance: The College assumes no responsibility for any damage to, or loss of, a resident's personal property. Residents are reminded to obtain appropriate insurance either through their families' homeowner policy or separate renter's insurance policy. You can find information about property insurance from your insurance provider or search on-line under "student property insurance."

What to Bring

What NOT to Bring

• Any device with an open flame or exposed heating coil, including INCENSE and CANDLES
• Hot plates, grills, toasters, toaster ovens, electric frying pans, or any cooking appliance
• Halogen lamps, halogen desk lamps
• Extension cords
• Weapons of any kind or anything that can be mistaken for a weapon
• Musical instruments or amplifiers
• Neon Signs
• Electric or fuel portable heaters
• Pets other than fish
• Any bed risers/cinderblocks
• Lofts
• Your car if you are going to be a freshman. Parking questions? 

Still have questions about what it is like to live on campus? Ask an RA!