Residence halls provide a concentrated environment where students build relationships, establish routines, and strengthen their connection to the institution. While these experiences support persistence, the core practices driving them are not limited to on-campus residents. Aligned with the conference theme, Renew, Reconnect, Reimagine: Cultivating Communities that Thrive for the Future, this panel brings together residence life professionals from Baruch, Hunter, CSI, and CHAP to highlight their distinct residential models. Panelists will examine practical strategies for building inclusive communities, sustaining engagement beyond opening events, supporting student well-being, and identifying disengaged students. Crucially, the session explores how residence life functions as an intentional component of CUNY's broader student-success ecosystem. Participants will consider how proven residential strategies for cultivating belonging can be adapted for CUNY’s predominantly commuter population, leaving with actionable tools to strengthen retention across both residential and commuter settings.