Residential staff

As part of our commitment to student well-being, Cornell University's School of Continuing Education has contracted with a third-party organization, Summer Discovery, to support components of our Residential Precollege Studies Program, including the provision of residential staff and implementation of a robust social menu to build community and buffer academic stressors.

Summer Discovery Residential Administrative Staff live in the halls and supervise the Resident Counselors (RCs), oversee community events, provide one-on-one support to students, supervise non-academic activities, and hold judicial meetings with students.

RCs provide supervision and guidance while residing in the residence halls with you. As current students and recent graduates, your RCs may have taken some of the same subjects or classes you’re taking. They'll share their college experiences with you and may have suggestions about choosing a college and major.

Cornell University retains full control over all academic elements of the Precollege Studies Program, including academic curriculum, instructor selection, and course content.

Residence halls

Students in the Precollege Summer Residential Program live in residence halls on Cornell’s North Campus. The buildings contain study areas, laundry rooms, and main lounges for studying and large gatherings.

You'll receive your room and roommate assignments when you arrive on campus.

All students are assigned to single, double, or triple rooms. In addition, summer housing is assigned by gender identity; men, women, and gender-expansive students will live on separate floors, wings, or buildings with close supervision by residential staff.

Because we believe that living with someone from a different part of the world or section of the country can be one of the best learning experiences at Cornell, you may not request a roommate. The Summer Discovery Staff will work closely with students to help them adjust to different interests and lifestyles.

Many of the North Campus residence halls are among the earliest buildings on the Cornell campus. Please note that not every building has air conditioning, elevator access, and/or rooms with wheelchair access. In 2026 students will reside in air-controlled dorms and have access to additional air-controlled spaces during their time on campus.

As stated in the Precollege Code of Conduct, commuter students will not be permitted to enter the residence halls.

What if I need accessible housing?

If you need accessible housing accommodations (i.e., strobe fire alarms, an air conditioning unit installed) due to a documented disability or chronic health condition, you must register online with Students Disability Services no later than May 31. For instructions, see Students with disabilities.

If you have any housing concerns, contact us.

Student supervision

To help ensure the safety of all Precollege residential students on Cornell’s campus, we provide a 1:10 staff-to-student ratio along with supervised group activities during the day and a nightly check-in system. Supportive staff will maintain constant and accessible presence around the clock.

All students will be expected to adhere to curfews assigned by the Summer Discovery staff while they are enrolled in the residential program.

Student visits

As outlined in the Precollege Code of Conduct, all students are expected to remain on campus for the duration of the program. Once they’ve formally checked in on Opening Day, they may not leave campus or “check out” of the program to have meals with visitors, attend family events, or participate in other activities nor may they host visitors.

In turn, parents/guardians are asked not to visit their student during the program or enter the residence halls. If a student has medical circumstances that must be considered, parents/guardians are asked to contact Daniel Kratochvil, SCE's Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Precollege Studies acting director, at precollege@cornell.edu or 607.255.4987.

This policy exists to ensure that residential life staff can focus their primary duty—ensuring student safety—and not be overwhelmed by managing visitors. In addition, staff are working hard to build a strong, cohesive student community during a short, intensive period. We want all students, not just those with parents living nearby, to enjoy the richest possible experience during their time with us. Thank you for your understanding.

For more information, view the Precollege Code of Conduct. Please contact us if you have questions about supervision.