Colgate is a residential college committed to providing an environment that enriches academic learning, fosters personal and social growth, and develops students’ appreciation of responsibility to themselves and toward others. First-year students may live in one of the traditional residence halls on campus and participate in on-campus meal plans. Some of the buildings traditionally occupied by first-year students are Andrews, Stillman, East, West, Gate, Drake and Curtis residence halls. The Harlem Renaissance Center, located in Crawshaw House (Bryan Hall), is available to students interested
in exploring African and African American history and culture. Upper class students may live in any of the residential communities above, with the exception of East, West and Gate.

Additional residential options for upperclass students include Bryan Complex and Cutten Complex, university owned apartments, and the following University College Houses: Asia Interest House, Bunche House, Creative Arts House, French/Italian House, Peace and International House, La Casa Pan Latina Americana, Class of 1934 House, Ecology House, Cushman House, and 118 Broad Street.
In University College Houses, special ties to an academic program
and faculty mentors enrich the residential experience.

Each complex has a trained undergraduate staff of three to seven resident advisers (RAs) supervised by an undergraduate head resident (HR). The undergraduate staff members are trained and supervised by the professional staff in the office of residential life. RAs and HRs receive training in and offer support through peer counseling and referral, leadership development, conflict management and mediation, intervention, explaining and enforcing university rules and regulations, and helping residents organize educational, developmental, and social programming.

Each residence elects a Hall Council to unify the residence hall through campus-wide programming. RLC represents the views of
on-campus students to a variety of campus committees responsible for decisions that affect the community.

University-owned residence hall rooms are furnished with a chair
and desk, a dresser, closet or wardrobe, an extra-long twin bed and mattress, and a data port for each student. Students must provide pillows, blankets, extra-long bed linen, and study lamps. Residence halls have a variety of recreational facilities (TV rooms, lounges, recreational equipment) and most halls have laundry facilities. Appliances with heating elements such as halogen lamps, hot plates, toaster ovens, and appliances that require excessive electrical current such as air conditioners or space heaters, are not permitted. Compact refrigerators (1.5 cubic feet capacity) and microwave ovens are permitted. Candles, even for decoration, are strictly prohibited.

All university-owned residential facilities are wired for telephone, cable-tv, and high speed data connections. The university local and long distance telephone company is AT&T. Each room on campus has one phone number.

The university does not assume responsibility for personal belongings of students. Families are encouraged to insure student belongings against loss or damage under their homeowners insurance or by purchasing renter’s insurance.

First-year student housing is assigned on the basis of a housing preference form returned to the residential life office. To be consistent with the broadening experience of Colgate’s liberal arts program, an attempt is made to place students with roommates from different areas and backgrounds, although requests for particular roommates will be honored (if both students request one another). An attempt is also made to match roommates on the basis of compatible lifestyle (sleep, study, and leisure patterns). Students who identify themselves as nonsmokers will not be assigned to a room with students who identify themselves as smokers. Students with special medical needs should provide documentation of their requirements. Every effort will be made to provide a suitable assignment.

All students living in university residence halls participate in a university meal plan. All first-year students participate in a nineteen-meal plan (three meals per day, Monday through Friday, with brunch and dinner on weekends). Fourteen and ten-meal plans are available to upperclass students living in the residence halls. Most University College Houses have in-house cooperative meal plans.

A limited number of seniors may be granted permission to live
off-campus in privately owned houses or apartments. When more students apply for off-campus permission than can be accommodated, a seniority-based lottery is held. Students wishing to live in fraternity or sorority chapter houses do not need to participate
in the off-campus lottery.

Students may also choose to join and live in fraternity or sorority chapter houses. Most of these houses are privately owned by their respective alumni corporations and provide their own meal services. Only students who are in their sophomore, junior, and senior years are permitted to join Greek-letter organizations. Students may choose to reside in their fraternity or sorority houses beginning in the junior year. Students joining Greek-letter organizations are required to pay membership and social fees.

A minimum grade point average of 2.0 is required in order to rush and join a fraternity or sorority. The Board of Trustees requires that all students who wish to participate in the Greek-letter system be afforded the opportunity to do so. Approximately 30-35 percent of Colgate students choose to join a fraternity or a sorority.

Campus Safety is responsible for enforcing university rules and regulations, and for providing service to the university community

24 hours a day, seven days a week. Officers are trained in CPR and First Responder skills and receive regular in-service training.

Some of the services Campus Safety provides include personal safety escorts, crime prevention presentations, and security surveys. The department issues photo IDs, registers motor vehicles and issues parking decals, assists disabled motorists, maintains a lost and found department, and provides students access to storage for their belongings over summer recess.

Campus Safety also inspects, tests, and maintains all fire safety equipment and alarms, and conducts fire drills in all buildings.

Crime incidence data is available upon request in the Campus Safety Office.

The Office of Campus Safety annually publishes a booklet titled "Colgate University Motor Vehicles Handbook" regarding cars and campus parking regulations.

The University Bookstore is the student’s source for required course books and supplies, art supplies, clothing, computers, general books, newspapers, photo finishing, snacks, and souvenir items. In addition, the bookstore houses "Chapters," a cappuccino bar open during store hours year-round.