RESIDENCE LIFE

The list below is not an exhaustive list of prohibited items, actions, and behaviors, and is subject to change per Residence Life policy, New York state law, Nassau County ordinances, and the International Fire Code (IFC).  Any item not in compliance with New York state fire codes, IFC, and the Nassau County Fire Marshals Office is prohibited in Hofstra’s residence halls.

• Extension cords, surge protectors, and multiplugs that do not satisfy Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) and Intertek (ETL) standards and do not have the UL-listed or ETL approved markings.
• Multiplug lamps (even if the outlets are not in use), lamps with an outlet (even if the outlet is not in use), rock salt lamps and plug-in rock salt night-lights, lava lamps, sun lamps, halogen lamps, and black light bulbs.
• Scented and unscented plug-in air fresheners (unless UL or ETL-listed) and diffusers.
• Headboards with muti plugs that are not UL or ETL-listed.
• Candles (even if for decorative use), incense, and wax warmers.
• Cooking appliances of any kind, including but not limited to broilers, hot plates, hot pots, slow cookers, microwaves, immersion coils, electric teakettles*, electric grills and electric skillets, toasters,* toaster ovens, rice cookers,* popcorn poppers,* and coffee makers* (unless it is a one-cup coffee maker that is UL-approved with an automatic shutoff).
• Plugging strands of lights into one another (daisy-chaining).
• Bed tents.
• Fabric on walls/ceilings/windows, including tapestries (unless flame-retardant is noted on the product), flags, curtains, drapes, and valances.
• Wall coverings that exceed more than 50% of total wall space.
• Oversized or excessive number of refrigerators. (Refrigerators cannot exceed one per room and two per suite.) Refrigerators cannot exceed 5 cubic feet.
• Refrigerator(s), appliances, and devices not plugged directly into a wall outlet.
• Stand-alone freezers of any size.
• Unauthorized pets in room or suite (including pets of a resident’s guest).
• Unauthorized personal furniture in room or suite.
• Unauthorized Hofstra University property in room or suite.
• 3D printers.
• Hookahs, e-cigarettes and vaporizers, drug paraphernalia, or illegal drugs.
• Humidifiers/dehumidifiers (including those operated by a lithium-ion battery).
• Electric heaters/electric blankets.
• Power bed risers.
• Any type of firearm or weapon.
• Self-balancing scooters, hands-free personal transporters, battery-operated scooters, electric-powered skateboards, and similar devices, as well as their chargers.

*Permitted in the Graduate Residence Hall if used only in cooking areas.

Note: For a more detailed breakdown of our policies regarding prohibited items, visit The Living Factor.

All residence halls are smoke-free.

For more information about what to bring to campus, visit hofstra.edu/checkin.

Information on the University rental program is available on our Vendors page. Students can purchase refrigerator/freezer units of 5 cubic feet or less for use in residential rooms. Refrigerators cannot exceed one per room and two per suite; however, for safety reasons, only those refrigerator/freezer/microwave multi-units rented through a University-sanctioned vendor are permitted in on-campus residence halls. To order one for either the semester, or the full academic year, you may do so here.

Personal refrigerators, including refrigerator and microwave combination (MicroFridge) units rented through the University-sanctioned vendor, are prohibited in the Graduate Residence Hall rooms and suites.

It is imperative that students safeguard their belongings. We encourage all students to have adequate insurance, either through a homeowner policy or by securing renters insurance. Many homeowner policies allow for a rider for renters insurance. Please discuss this matter with your insurance agent prior to your arrival at Hofstra.

Students can also protect their property from theft, fire, smoke, water damage and more with Renters Insurance from GradGuard with coverage for your belongings including electronics with features custom-made for college. To sign up, you can visit their website to get started. The University does not reimburse students for lost or damaged items.

If you decide not to live in the residence halls this fall, students can cancel their housing by following the steps below.  Fall 2026 cancellations must be received by Friday, May 1st, 2026, to be eligible for a refund of your $300 housing deposit.

Note: If you cancel your housing, your Dining Dollars contract will also be automatically canceled.

How to Cancel your Fall 2026 housing:

1. Log on to the Hofstra Student Portal at my.hofstra.edu.
2. Navigate to the Housing Portal:
3. Select “My Apps” in the top right-hand corner.
4. Select “Housing” to open the Housing Portal.
5. On the Housing Portal home page, click the button labeled “Cancel Housing Application.”
6. Select the academic term for which you are submitting your cancellation request.
7. Complete and Submit the Cancellation Form.

Once your submission is successfully completed, you will receive an automated confirmation email that will be sent to your Hofstra Pride email address confirming the cancellation of your housing and, if applicable, your dining dollars contract.

If you wish to reapply for on-campus housing or purchase a Dining Dollars contract at a later date, you may do so at any time by logging back into your Hofstra portal at my.hofstra.edu and accessing the Housing Portal.

Room changes are generally not available until our occupancy is confirmed, usually after the second week of the semester. Fall 2026 room change requests can be made in advance of your arrival by submitting your request online at my.hofstra.edu by Friday, July 24, 2026. To submit a room change request:

1. Log in to the Hofstra portal at my.hofstra.edu.
2. Go to My Apps in the top right corner.
3. Click on the Room Change icon.
4. Complete the Room Change Request Form and click on Submit.

Every attempt will be made to honor your request.

There are several ATMs located on campus. Two ATMs are located in the Mack Student Center on North Campus, near the Office of Event Management:  a Jovia Financial ATM and a TD Bank ATM. Island Federal ATMs are located inside Dutch Treats and at the Mack Sports Complex, on North Campus, and inside Margiotta Hall on South Campus.

All Hofstra dining dollars contracts are similar to a debit account in that a dollar amount is added at the starting point and then dollars are subtracted based on individual items purchased at the on-campus dining facilities. Your student account will be billed automatically in the spring semester for the same dining dollars contract selected in the fall semester. Unused dining dollars are nonrefundable.

Your dining dollars may be accessed at all on-campus dining locations by swiping your Hofstra ID card or using HofPass (if applicable). Dining dollars are accepted at: Au Bon Pain, Bits & Bytes, Dutch Treats, Dunkin’ on the Quad, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Hof USA, Student Center Cafe, Freshens, Netherlands Oak Street Cafe, Revolution Noodle and Sushi, Brooklyn Slice, District Pickle, Red Mango, Starbucks, Medical School Cafe, The Halal Shack, The Market, Ciao Bella, Catering Services, and all athletic facility concessions. See dineoncampus.com/hofstra for more information.

Please remember that your dining dollars are not transferable.  Students can deactivate their HofPass or lost Hofstra ID anytime by going to hofpass.hofstra.edu under Account Management, through the Hofstra portal by selecting the HofPass app, or through the Atrium mobile app under Settings, then select More, then Account Management. Students can obtain a new or replacement Hofstra ID by visiting Campus Access and Security Systems, Room 110 Mack Student Center, North Campus. Please note that there is a $25 replacement fee for lost cards.

New undergraduate students may use their dining dollars from Sunday, August 23, 2026, through Sunday, January 17, 2027. Unused fall dining dollars become available after the change period comes to an end for plans that are purchased of an equal or higher value.

Please visit here for information on how to purchase a dining dollars contract or make a change to your contract.

All first-year and sophomore resident students are required to purchase one of the following dining dollars contracts:

*Dining dollars contracts are subject to change.

The deadline to change your dining dollars contract for the fall semester is Tuesday, September 15, 2026. There are no refunds after this date. You may change your dining dollars contract by logging in to the Hofstra portal at my.hofstra.edu and accessing the Dining Dollars Contract Change form. Any refunded amount, if applicable, will be credited to your student account. Students are held accountable for the dining dollars contract they select online by the use of their electronic signature. Kindly review the terms of the dining dollars contract for deadlines associated with changing your contract. If you have any questions about changing your dining dollars contract, you may contact the Office of Residence Life at reslife@hofstra.edu.

Mail is delivered daily directly to your residence hall from the Hempstead Post Office. For accurate and prompt delivery, your mail should be addressed as follows: