Commuter Student Services
The Lincoln Center campus is home to approximately 1,600 full-time, undergraduate students. Approximately 50% of the students are commuter students, meaning they list their home residence in any one of the neighborhoods within the local tri-state area. They ride the subway and commuter trains; they travel by bus, taxi or car during their daily journey to campus. Commuters are an important part of the Lincoln Center campus and a variety of on-campus programs exist to involve commuter students in campus life and enhance their experience at the University. Commuter Student Services (CSS) are offered through the Office of Student Leadership and Community Development within the Division of Student Affairs.
All programs offered are available to both resident and commuter students. Please peruse our website to see descriptions of the variety of programs offered by the Office of Student Leadership and Community Development. However, there are several programs reserved for commuting students. If you have any questions about programs for commuting students, please contact Kevin Grubb, Graduate Intern for Commuter Student Services, at 212.636.6250 or by emailing lccss@fordham.edu. The following paragraphs will explain many of the programs and services offered to commuting students.
Commuter Student Services Sponsored Programs
Taste of New York Program
Once per month, CSS sponsors a Taste of New York which highlights a specific ethnic group. Past programs featured the following cultures: Polish, Greek, Mexican, Chinese, Italian, and Brazilian. Each program includes food, music and decorations for the featured culture. In addition, education information is disseminated with details on the cultures role in the development of New York City. This program is generally held in the Student Lounge on a Thursday from 12:30pm-2:00pm. Look for signs around campus with the details of the next Taste of New York program.
Commuter Thursday Breakfasts
Throughout the semester, CSS and various offices of Fordham University sponsor free breakfasts for commuting students. These breakfasts give commuters an opportunity to get a good breakfast and to learn information about the services provided by the office hosting the breakfast.
Freshman Commuter Barbecue
During the summer, new commuter students are invited to attend a summer outdoor barbecue, where they have the opportunity to meet other new students, meet campus administrators and tour the campus. At the barbecue, students learn more about Student Activities, New Student Orientation and Commuter Life at Fordham. Several contests and promotions sponsored by the Commuting Student Association (CSA) are among the activities featured at the barbecue.
New Student Orientation
New Student Orientation takes place at the start of each semester and there are several programs presented specifically for commuting students. In addition to the general Orientation program, specific commuter workshops include a Commuter Orientation Preview, a Commuting Tips session, Traveling in New York City workshop and Commuter Game Show.
Commuting Students Association (CSA)
The Commuting Students Association is the governing body that represents and serves the commuting students of Fordham College at Lincoln Center. Through its programs and services, CSA helps commuting students to interact with one another and the rest of the University community. For complete information about CSA, please visit the CSA website.
Locker Rental
The Office of Student Leadership and Community Development rents lockers each fall, spring and summer session to commuting students. Locker rental fees are $15.00 for the full academic year and $10.00 for a single semester or summer session. To rent a locker, please stop by the Office of Student Leadership and Community Development in LL 408.
Student Lounges: 2nd Floor, 3rd Floor, and Student Lounge
There are several student lounges in the Lowenstein building including a quiet study space on the third floor, a casual lounge on the second floor (adjacent to the student government offices) and a student lounge at the rear of the cafeteria. Commuter students can be found studying, conversing and participating in group work in each of these lounges, as well as in the cafeteria or on the Plaza during the time between their classes. Many commuter students also spend free time in the stacks of the Quinn Library.
Grant for Commuter Students
Fordham University Metropolitan Student Award
Students who reside at home while pursuing their undergraduate degree at Fordham have long been an important part of our university community. In recognition of that tradition and to underscore our ongoing commitment to serve the residents of the Greater New York Metropolitan Area**, Fordham University will again offer, for the 2008-2009 year, the Metropolitan Student Award Program.
The Metropolitan Student Award is a $6,000 tuition grant made available to commuting students regardless of financial need who commute to Fordham from the permanent residence of his or her immediate family for the duration of enrollment. It is renewable for up to four years for recipients who maintain normal progress toward their degree.
**The Greater New York Metropolitan Area includes the 5 boroughs of New York City and the surrounding New York, New Jersey and Connecticut counties within commuting distance of Fordham University. For complete information on the Metropolitan Student Award, please contact Enrollment Services at 212.636.6700.
