What to Bring and What Not to Bring

Most students bring…

• Toiletries, including toilet paper, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc. (toilet paper is not provided in rooms/suites that have a private bathroom)
• A bathroom caddie for keeping your things together and clean
• Shower shoes and/or slippers
• Hangers, laundry bag or basket
• Linens, towels, bedding, pillow; our mattresses are slightly longer (78”) than standard, so they usually fit both extra-long twin and regular twin sheets
• Cleaning supplies – students are responsible for cleaning their own rooms, and in rooms/suites that have a private bathroom, they are responsible for cleaning the bathrooms as well
• Posters/pictures with paint/wall-safe mounting materials – students must use mounting systems that do not leave residue or otherwise mar the. Students are encouraged to decorate their space but will be charged for wall damages or walls that need to be repainted after they move out. Keep in mind that even products advertised to not damage walls may actually cause damage. Students are urged to use caution whenever affixing anything to the walls of their room.
• A small personal fan – we suggest one that clips to your bed’s headboard; if you want to bring a large fan, we suggest you coordinate with your roommate(s)/suitemates first
• Seasonally appropriate clothing – we strongly advise that, unless they will not have the opportunity to get home before the onset of colder weather, that students do not bring their entire winter wardrobe at the start of the academic year
• In Pleasantville, we recommend that students who bring cars also keep a snow shovel and snow brush/scraper in their car (residential first-year/freshman students are not permitted to have cars on campus).

You should probably coordinate with your roommate(s)/suitemates before packing the following items…

• Garbage pail and liners for the room
• Organizing items such as storage bins, plastic drawers, under-bed storage, etc.
• Pots, pans, plates, utensils – students are permitted to cook in kitchens (located in common area, and in each Townhouse)
• Snacks – students may store and enjoy food in their room, but must maintain a clean and hygienic environment
• Shower curtains and rings for students assigned to building in which suites have private bathrooms. Shower heights are "standard" in all buildings except 15 Beekman, Alumni, Elm and some rooms in 55 John (which have a 78" height shower curtain rod). Shower curtains are provided in Martin Hall and North Hall.

The following items are CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED; understand the restrictions and check with your roommate(s) before planning to bring:

• Alcohol – beer and wine are the only types of alcohol permitted on campus, and only in rooms where all residents and guests present are 21 years of age and older (other restrictions apply)
• Lockbox for valuables – students should keep in mind that, in rare instances in which the university must search a room due to a security concern, the security and residential life staffs must be permitted to see the contents of lock boxes
• Pets – only fish, in tanks of 10 gallons or less, are permitted in the residence halls. Students who plan to have an Emotional Support Animal or Service Animal must complete the Housing Accommodations Request process with the Student Accessibility Services office before bringing the animal into the residence halls.
• Knives - In order to be permitted in the residence halls, knives must have a total unfolded length of 4.5” or less, only one blade side, and the blade cannot be gravity, spring or otherwise mechanically assisted.

The following items are NOT PERMITTED:

• Bed lifts
• Furniture – most outside furniture, including desk chairs, futons, love seats, beanbag chairs, etc. are not permitted except as required for an approved medical accommodation. Students can also request an exception (not based on medical issues) for outside furniture by speaking with the University Director of Housing Operations.
• Incense/candles
• Personal safety devices (pepper spray, “Tasers”, etc.)
• Street signs

Most students bring…

• Ethernet cord/cable (Cat-5) although wireless internet service is provided in all residence halls, students are advised to keep an Ethernet cord available as a back-up
• Surge protector extension cord (limit of 2 per student; regular extension cords are not permitted)
• Headphones

You should probably coordinate with your roommate(s) before packing the following items…

• Coffee maker (automatic shut-off required)
• Iron (automatic shut-off required) & Ironing board
• Small reading/desk lamp (non-halogen)
• Vacuum/broom

The following items are CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED; know your building assignment and check with your roommate(s) before planning to bring:

• Microwaves and Refrigerators:
  • The use and possession of refrigerators and microwaves is restricted to those appliances as provided by the University, with the following exceptions:
    • Students who have been approved by Student Accessibility Services to have a microwave and/or refrigerator may have the approved appliance in their room, provided it adheres to the criteria set in their approved accommodation
    • Residents of the townhouses may have up to 1 additional refrigerator per room
    • Residents of 15 Beekman in suites with an occupancy of 7 students or more may have up to 2 additional refrigerators per suite. All residents of the suite (at the time the unit(s) is/are brought into the suite) must be unanimous in their agreement to allow the additional appliance.
  • In all cases in which an additional appliance is brought into a room, suite or townhouse:
    • additional appliances must be UL approved
    • additional refrigerators may not exceed a size limit of 4.3 cubic feet
    • placement of additional refrigerator(s) may not create a barrier to exiting the room
    • units placed below a bed must be provided 12” of space between it and the wall and any additional items stored beneath the bed
    • in the townhouses and 15 Beekman, additional refrigerators may not have an attached microwave
• Television Set – one set per bedroom (or shared common area in 15 Beekman, Elm and Townhouses) permitted in all other buildings. Students can also request to have more than one television in a room by speaking with the Director of Residence Life for their campus.

The following list includes many (but not all) common items which are NOT PERMITTED:

• Sound amplification equipment
• Electric or kerosene heater, or any appliance or device that operates on combustible fuel
• Grill, electric, counter-top (e.g. Foreman Grill)
• Halogen lamps
• Cooking appliances, including hot plates, toaster ovens, and heating units with an open flame or heat source (and with the exception of approved coffee makers, microwaves and refrigerators) are prohibited in residence hall rooms.
• Powered scooters or other powered mobility devices, except as formally approved as an accessibility accommodation
• Wireless routers or any third-party networking device
• Coaxial cable – cable television is being phased out in favor of enhanced Wi-Fi to support streaming platforms. Some rooms may, for a period of the year still have cable service, but it will not be sustained