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Preparing
for Move-In Day
Residence
hall rooms vary in size, but a typical residence hall room may be as small
as 10 feet by 12 feet. As a general rule, your student should balance
their personal needs to feel at home in their room, with the needs of
their roommate.
Things
to research before you shop:
- Although
not the norm, some residence hall rooms have extra long beds and extra
long mattresses. Find this out before you make decisions about linens.
- What
is provided in the residence hall? Sometimes ironing boards are available
in floor lounges; full-length mirrors and trashcans are provided in
the room, vacuums can be borrowed from the hall office. Don't spend
money on things you don't need, or that may be provided as an amenity
in the residence hall.
- Is the
hall wired for cable and Internet? Will a modem be required to obtain
Internet access?
- Some
residence halls have adequate overhead lighting, and some do not. Will
you need to provide or supplement existing lighting?
- How
much storage space is available in the room? Can you supplement storage
through the purchase of milk crates or plastic storage containers? How
much space is available under the residence hall bed to accommodate
plastic storage containers?
- What
are the residence hall policies in relation to fire safety and what
is permitted and not permitted in student rooms? If items are not permitted,
leave them home, as they could be subject to confiscation if found by
the residence life staff
- Non-air-conditioned
residence halls can be hot, particularly if the residence hall is a
high rise. Providing a fan will at least provide some level of relief
to your student
- Does
the university have size requirements for room sized refrigerators?
- Is the
use of halogen light bulbs banned on campus? If they are, leave them
home.
The
safety of your student's belongings:
Believe it or not, many students tend not to lock their room door. Residence
halls are communities that face many of the same challenges faced by society
in general, including theft. Encourage your student to lock their room
doors, when they leave the room and when they are sleeping.
In many instances a parent's homeowners insurance covers a student's belongings
in the residence halls, but check it out! Companies do sell insurance
to college students. Although this is in no way an endorsement, G-M Underwriters
at (313) 652-8404, Haylor, Freyer and Coon, Inc. at (315) 422-7276, and
National Student Services offer these services at 800-654-6814.
Things that may not be allowed:
- Air
Conditioners
- Alcohol
- Candles
- Drugs
- Halogen
Lamps
- Hot
Plates or appliances with an open heating element
- Incense/Incense
Burners
- Microwaves
- Large
Refrigerators
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