Jewish Housing Issues

Many a time, students and parents wish they knew of these issues earlier, so we write them here.

Walking Distance and Proximity Details:

All UAlbany Housing on the uptown campus (Indian, Dutch, Colonial, State, Freedom and Empire) is within walking distance of Shabbos House and Chapel House, and the UAlbany Jewish Community events.

Alumni Quad is located on the downtown campus, and is not within reasonable walking distance (approx 3+ miles). It is harder for students living on Alumni to be as involved in Jewish events, and extremely difficult if they are Shomer Shabbat.

Dutch Quad houses the Kosher Kitchen, and is therefore most preferable for students on the Kosher meal plan. Usually freshmen are not given this option.

State Quad is the furthest Quad from Shabbos House, and also from the Kosher Kitchen. Freshman are housed on Indian and State.

Each Quad is comprised of nine low-rise buildings and a tower. For a Shomer Shabbat student, living on the 19th floor of the Tower can prove to be quite a challenge.
 

Are all Quads created equal?

Aside for that mentioned above, most of the four Quads (Indian, Dutch, State and Colonial) are pretty much the same. (Each year a section of a Quad is renovated, so those portions will be modernized). Freedom and Empire are different in that they are apartment-style instead of dorm-like, and only open to upperclassmen.

For more detailed info, see UAlbany Housing at www.albany.edu

A Jewish/Shomer Shabbat/etc..  Roomate?

You can request to live with XYZ (and in many cases that will be granted). But most Freshmen do not yet have this info, and end up living with a random roommate. In many cases this is a good experience, but in some cases it can become problematic. Once you get to know people - you can find a roommate for the coming year.

For additional cost you can buy a "single" - without a roommate.

Note, freshmen can apply for "Project Renaissance" a quality introductory semester, providing a small-college feel within the UAlbany framework.
 

Shabbos House Jewish Student Housing

By special request, Shabbos House can compile names of students of similar religious observance (i.e. Shabbat or Kosher) so that they can request Housing together on campus. Our experience has shown that this is not always needed for religious observance, but should the student feel that this is a need, we can try to facilitate an arrangement that will be helpful to them.

Shabbos House, for several years, has offered a limited housing opportunity for 2 involved students or Rabbinical interns who can assist with Minyan, Shabbat and events at Shabbos House. Currently Mr. & Mrs. Yishai and Rachel Cohen (UAlbany alumni who assist at Shabbos House) reside there (at 320 Fuller Road) until plans can go ahead with the new Shabbos House.