Housing Eligibility | Faculty & Postdocs

Columbia Residential provides housing for eligible faculty and postdocs for the duration of a full-time appointment. Eligibility for housing is determined by a variety of factors including employment title, hiring school or department and appointment designation.

Faculty Housing

Faculty with the following titles may be eligible to apply for housing through Columbia Residential: 

  • Priority for housing is given to full-time Officers of Instruction, especially those moving to New York from outside the Tri-State area. 
  • Barnard or Teachers College faculty are not eligible for university housing with Columbia Residential. 
  • Part-time, visiting, and adjunct faculty are not eligible for university housing. 

Postdoc Housing

A postdoc’s time in housing is determined by the length of their appointment and the process through which they obtained housing—either through a school allocation or the waitlist process.

School-Allocated Housing: Residents who receive housing through an allocation from their school are typically eligible to remain in housing through the duration of their Postdoc appointment and may not exceed a maximum of five years.

Waitlist Housing: Residents who secure housing through the Waitlist process may remain in housing for a maximum of one year, unless their Postdoc appointment ends earlier. If additional time in housing is needed, it must be supported by approval through the school’s allocation process and confirmation of an eligible reappointment.

Postdocs who change departments or accept a new Postdoctoral appointment within a different department or school at Columbia University must obtain a new housing allocation from their new department or school in order to remain in Postdoc housing. Postdocs undergoing such transitions are required to initiate an affiliation review process to confirm continued eligibility.

Housing eligibility is determined by the Postdoc’s original appointment title. Postdocs who transition to a different position within Columbia University may no longer meet the criteria for university housing and are typically required to vacate. Those moving into a housing-eligible faculty role must apply separately for alternative housing options through the faculty housing process. For questions or clarification regarding housing eligibility, Postdocs are encouraged to contact Residential at [email protected].

Housing eligibility depends on title eligibility, continuous full-time employment, and compliance with Columbia Residential policies, including financial requirements. Because eligibility may also be affected by changes to employment including transitioning to a new position, faculty and postdocs are encouraged to review these details carefully when planning their time in housing.

Columbia Residential understands that policies and timelines can sometimes feel complex. Current and prospective residents are welcome to reach out to our team with any questions or for further clarification—we are here to help ensure that every faculty and postdoc has the information they need to make informed decisions about their housing.