Residence Life and Housing Overview

Hofstra’s Office of Residence Life offers a variety of living environments designed to meet the diverse needs of students. Undergraduate students can apply for housing in any of the residential buildings except the Graduate Residence Hall.  

High-Rise Residence Halls  

Alliance Hall, Bill of Rights Hall (offline for fall 2025 and spring 2026), Constitution Hall, Enterprise Hall (offline as of fall 2025), Estabrook Hall, Vander Poel Hall. Our high-rise buildings offer traditional corridor-style living environments; each building can accommodate 225-300 students. The high-rise buildings consist of single-, double-, triple- (not Alliance Hall), and quad-occupancy (not Alliance and Bill of Rights Hall) rooms with communal bathrooms at each end of the hallway. Bill of Rights and Enterprise Halls offer an all-female floor option. Vander Poel Hall traditionally houses an engaging living-learning community for Rabinowitz Honors College students.  

Suite-Style Residence Halls  

There are four suite-style residence halls on campus. The Netherlands Complex and Stuyvesant Hall house first-year students exclusively. Both the Netherlands Complex and Stuyvesant Hall offer four-person suites, which include two double bedrooms, a shared lounge, and a semi-private bathroom. There are 11 houses and eight living-learning communities in the Netherlands Complex. Stuyvesant Hall is a four-story building and home to one living-learning community. Colonial Square, Nassau Hall , and Suffolk Hall are reserved exclusively for upper-level students. These areas offer suites with and without lounges, suite singles, and a semi-private bathroom. Colonial Square is the largest residence hall complex on campus (14 two-story houses) and has three courtyards. Each house has approximately 16 suites. Nassau Hall and Suffolk Hall, a six-story twin complex, provide accommodations for approximately 460 students.  

Graduate Residence Hall  

The Graduate Residence Hall is a five-story residential facility that provides apartment-style accommodations for graduate, law, and medical students. Within each room are shared common spaces, kitchenettes, and a semi-private bathroom.  

Common Areas  

There are common areas in each of the residence halls. The common areas in the high-rise residence halls are located on the 12th or 13th floor. Stuyvesant Hall has a common area on each floor. The common areas for Nassau Hall, Suffolk Hall, Colonial Square, and the Netherlands Complex are located on the first floor of each house or building. These common areas may be used for study and/or social activities. 

Residence Hall or House Kitchen  

Cooking is permitted only in the public kitchen areas of each building and in the kitchens located in the Graduate Residence Hall. Kitchens are typically equipped with an oven, stove, and/or microwave. Cooking in rooms and hallways is prohibited because of the dangers of fire from overloaded wiring or faulty appliances. Cooking is restricted to designated areas that can be cleaned and inspected regularly. Please note the following exception: The use of refrigerator/freezer/microwave multi-units* rented through the University-sanctioned vendor and one-cup coffee makers (one per bedroom) in rooms is permitted. For further clarification on possession of appliances, please review the Residential Living Agreement. *Not permitted in the Graduate Residence Hall.  

Quiet and Courtesy Hours  

Quiet hours are 11 p.m. to 9 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and midnight to 10 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Most buildings also offer 24-hour quiet hour options. Courtesy hours refer to the time outside of the listed quiet hours in which all residents are expected to be sensitive of the noise that they make. Courtesy hours are in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  

If a student is disturbing another resident because of noise and is asked to quiet down, this request should be honored, regardless of the time of day. Should a resident of a quiet floor violate the Quiet and Courtesy Hours policy, the resident may be relocated to another room or residence hall. During finals week, 24-hour quiet hours are in effect in all residence halls. Violation of Quiet and Courtesy Hours by student(s), resident(s), and/or guest(s) may result in a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, and violators may be asked to leave the residence hall immediately.  

Campus Access and Security Systems (CASS)  

Campus Access and Security Systems (CASS) provides students with their Hofstra photo identification via the HofstraCard (physical ID card) or HofPass (mobile app). A HofstraCard or HofPass is needed to access residence halls, academic spaces, and general campus locations (Fitness Center, Hammer Lab, campus entrances, etc.). A HofPass also allows students to access their dining dollars at on-campus dining locations. It should be noted that CASS is currently in the process of deploying HofPass to students for more convenient access to campus services. Students can deactivate their HofPass or lost HofstraCard anytime by going to hofpass.hofstra.edu or by visiting the CASS Office, Room 110 Mack Student Center, North Campus. Students can also obtain a new or replacement HofstraCard by visiting the CASS Office. Please note that a $25 replacement fee will be billed to the student’s account for a lost HofstraCard. For information, contact CASS at 516-463-6942 or accesssecurity@hofstra.edu.  

Resident Success Booth  

Each undergraduate residential building or area complex has a resident success booth. The resident success representatives (RSRs) who staffs the booths are specifically trained in guest management and customer service. The RSR team is here to remind residents of all the great things happening on campus. Please cooperate with the RSRs, always swipe your HofstraCard or tap your HofPass when entering the residence halls, and always register your guests properly.  

Residence Hall Access and Resident Success Representative (RSR) Booth Coverage  

Undergraduate residential students have 24/7 access into all of Hofstra’s undergraduate residence halls to visit friends, study with classmates, or attend events and programs. The RSR booths at the entrance of each undergraduate building or area complex are staffed between the hours of 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. From 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., when the booths are unstaffed, students will register their guests at the RSR Office located in Room 147A Wellness and Campus Living Center, North Campus. Please note that bringing an unregistered guest into the residence hall is a violation of the Guest Policy and may result in a referral to the Office of Community Standards.  

Graduate, law, and medical school residential students have access to Graduate Residence Hall. This residential hall is not staffed by the RSR Office. All guests must be registered appropriately prior to visiting. 

Hofstra ID Policy  

1) Each resident must swipe their valid HofstraCard or tap their HofPass in order to enter the residence hall. NOTE: Residential students who do not have their Hofstra ID (HofstraCard or HofPass) upon entering their residence hall will be issued an ID Policy Violation Warning . Multiple violations may result in a meeting with your RD,a fine (and additional fines thereafter), and/or a referral to Community Standards. Residential students are not permitted to follow another resident into the building on their card swipe.  

2) A visiting student is one who is not a resident, has a valid Hofstra ID, and who is visiting a residential student. They must be escorted into the building by the resident host. The visiting student must present their Hofstra ID to the Resident Success Representative (RSR) at the booth. The visiting student will be signed in by the RSR and allowed entry. When the booths are unstaffed, students will register their guests at the RSR Office located in Room 147A Wellness and Campus Living Center, North Campus, where a guest access card will be provided to them for their visit and must be returned at the end of their visit. The visiting student’s ID will be used to sign them in and then returned. If the visiting student cannot be identified as a current Hofstra University student (i.e., because their Hofstra ID is expired or they have an Alumni Card), they will be signed in as a guest (see #3 below).  

3) Anyone without a current Hofstra ID is identified as a guest. To visit a student, guests must be escorted by their hosts and must present a legal ID to the Resident Success Representative (RSR) at the booth. The guest will be signed in by the RSR and allowed entry. When the booths are unstaffed, students will register their guests at the RSR Office located in Room 147A Wellness and Campus Living Center, North Campus, where a guest access card will be provided to them for their visit and must be returned at the end of their visit. The visiting student’s ID will be used to sign them in and then returned. 

4) All undergraduate residential students have swipe/tap access to any undergraduate residence hall 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Graduate, law, and medical school residential students have access to Graduate Residence Hall. 

NOTE: If the resident host is not with the visitor/guest, the visitor/guest will not be permitted to enter the building.  

Please remember that the moment your visitor/guest enters the residence hall, you are responsible for your visitor’s/guest’s actions. Violations of policy will be referred to the Office of Community Standards, and your visitor/guest may be asked to leave campus immediately.  

Guests and Overnight Guests  

Prior to having overnight guests, please discuss your plans with your roommate(s) and suitemate(s). Although we hope that these matters can be worked out, a roommate’s objection to a guest overrides an individual’s right to have an overnight guest.  

An overnight guest is defined as a person who is not officially assigned to live in the residential space and stays in the space for more than four hours between  midnight and 8 a.m. Guests must be escorted into the residence hall by the resident host. The resident is responsible and accountable for the behavior of their guests. It is the responsibility of the resident to inform guests of residence hall policies and other University policies, and those guests are expected to abide by these policies and standards. Guests of residents may remain overnight for no longer than three consecutive nights and six nights total in a semester but not without prior approval from the resident’s roommate(s) and suitemate(s) (if applicable). Unauthorized guests who occupy housing for longer than three nights may be charged the full cost of the room. Failure to abide by guest policies may result in the host losing visitation rights or residential status and/or being subject to disciplinary action and/or receiving a fine.  

The right of a student to live in reasonable privacy takes precedence over the right of a roommate/ suitemate to entertain guests. In determining when guests should be invited to the room, apartment, or suite, common sense and mutual respect must prevail. All guests must be registered before entering the building. The host must go to the RSR booth to sign in their guest when the booth is staffed. When the booth is unstaffed (during the hours of 5 a.m. and 5 p.m.), students should report to the RSR Office located in Room 147A Wellness and Campus Living Center, North Campus, to register their guest(s) and receive a guest access card for their guest. Hosts must depart their guests at the end of their visit. If a guest access card is provided to their guest, the host must return the guest access card to the RSR Office at the end of the guest’s visit.  

During the summer sessions, overnight guests may reside in the halls for a period of 24 hours only. Violation of this policy may result in the resident or guest being billed for the cost of summer housing. Disciplinary action may also be taken.  

Children under the age of 17 are not allowed to stay overnight or visit in the residence halls unless accompanied by a parent or guardian and approved by the Office of Residence Life .Residential students may sign in only three (3) guests at a time. 

Failure to abide by these policies, procedures, and regulations will result in an initial warning. A second violation will result in an automatic fine in the amount of $100. Students with a third violation will be referred to the Office of Community Standards and may result in additional fines and/or indefinite revocation of guest privileges in Hofstra’s residence halls and complexes. 

Guest Policy Violation Appeals 

Students who receive a Guest Policy Violation warning or fine will have the ability to submit an appeal as outlined in documentation provided by the Office of Residence Life. All appeals will be reviewed by the Appeals committee, and a response will be provided in writing via the student Hofstra Pride email account. 

Students with questions related to the University’s Guest Policy should email the Resident Success Office at RSR@Hofstra.edu.  

Posting Policy  

Posting of flyers without approval of the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement or Office of Residence Life or posting of flyers by persons other than Residence Life staff, is a violation of the posting policy. Students or groups wishing to post flyers in the residence halls must obtain a copy of the posting policy at the Office of Residence Life, Room 126 Wellness and Campus Living Center, North Campus.  

Solicitation Policy  

The conducting of an enterprise for personal profit is prohibited in or around University-operated living units. Residential networks and computer services may not be used for solicitation. Door-to-door solicitation for any purpose is prohibited. Parties that are hosted for the purpose of selling merchandise are prohibited in the residence hall lounges and/or the residence hall rooms. Residence hall rooms/ lounges cannot be used for outside lectures, concerts, demonstrations, displays, exhibitions, or in any manner as a means of promoting commercial companies, products, or services. Residence halls are dedicated exclusively to providing a living environment that is conducive to activities associated with student life and academic success. Charitable solicitations not in conflict with this policy may be arranged with your RD. These charitable solicitations must be held in accordance with all University policies. Violation of this policy may result in a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.