Sankofa Academic Residence Community (ARC)

Logo for Sankofa Comunity

The Sankofa Academic Residential Community (ARC) invites you to embark on a transformative journey where you will learn from the past and present to build a better future. Rooted in the Akan principle of Sankofa—“to go back and get it”—this community fosters deep discussions on the "good" life and the "good" society through the lens of African perspectives, creativity, and agency.  

Why Live in the Sankofa ARC?

As a member, you will build community while engaging in thought-provoking conversations, cross-cultural dialogue, and contemporary issues affecting African and African American communities. Sankofa ARC is more than a place to live—it’s a space where you will find purpose, challenge assumptions, and cultivate a vision for a better world.  

If you’re ready for an enriching two-semester commitment to experience and inspire personal growth and social impact, we welcome you to join us! 

Location

In 2025-26 the Sankofa ARC will be located in Bishop Hall. 

Residence Life reserves the right to move the community to another building if there is sufficient demand to warrant a larger community or not enough interest to warrant a smaller community. 

How to Apply

All students are eligible to live in an ARC, no matter its location. When applying to live on-campus: 

  1. Under “Add a New Living Request” select Request Type ‘Academic Residential Community’. 
  1. Select your preferred ARC from the list.  
  1. Click ‘Add’  

You may select more than one ARC, however you will only be able to live in one ARC. It is recommended that you rank your preferred ARCs. 

If selected, you will be notified via Buffalo State University email that you have been selected to live in the ARC. If you would like to withdraw your request to live in an ARC and instead live in a non-ARC community, you will email reslife@buffalostate.edu after you have been selected. 

Once selected, you will only be able to select rooms and roommates that are associated with your ARC. If you have a preferred roommate who is not selected to be part of the ARC, then you will need to select another roommate or withdraw your request to live in the ARC. 

All students wishing to live in an ARC, must complete their housing application and ARC requests by July 1.