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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

University Housing Move-In

The Smart Move.

What To (And Not To) Bring

Turning your room into a comfortable new home is an important part of the college experience. However, don't forget that you will be sharing that space with your roommate, so don't bring everything you own. Contact your roommate when you receive your hall/room assignment and decide together what items to bring and how you want the room to look.

We recommend no more than one vehicle-load of personal belongings - students who pack more than this often send most of it home. Experience shows that students often go home for the Labor Day weekend - what a great time to pick up a few extra items.

Items you will need:

  • Bedspread or comforter, blankets
  • All residence hall beds are 39 inches x 80 inches and require extra long bed sheets. (Kauffman beds are 36" x 75".). Therefore, extra long and deep-pocket sheets will be needed to fit on our mattresses.
  • Towels and washcloths
  • Toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, etc.)
  • Pillows and pillowcases
  • Season-appropriate clothing (switch out during breaks)
  • Clothes hangers
  • Alarm clock or clock-radio with battery
  • Prescribed medications and prescriptions
  • Umbrella
  • Surge protectors
  • Backpack
  • Social security card (for employment purposes)
  • If you live in The Courtyards or The Village, you will also need to bring kitchen items such as pots, pans, and dishes.

Note about used/second-hand items: Anything that you have bought, borrowed or picked up second-hand may be harboring bed bugs.

You may not be aware of how difficult it is to treat bed bugs and how fast they spread, nor how easy these almost undetectable insects can be. Bed bugs are a one-fourth-inch long reddish brown insect that hides in cracks and crevices of mattresses, box springs, sofas and chairs, according to University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. Females can lay three to five eggs a day, and the white eggs about the size of a pin head can be difficult to see. Usually people don't know they have a problem with bed bugs until after they have been bitten. The nocturnal bugs crawl onto sleeping humans and bite, feeding on blood. The bite is painless but the result is red, swollen, blotchy skin that will itch for several days.

A resurgence in bed bugs was noticed in the United States in the late 1990s and the problem has been growing. It can be an especially difficult problem in apartment buildings and other housing units, where the bugs can be brought in by one person and affect nearly everyone, crawling from unit to unit.

Travelers sometimes pick up bed bugs while staying in hotels. The bugs will crawl into suitcases and be brought to homes. They also can be brought into the home through the purchase of used furniture.

Our advice is, if you aren't sure something doesn't have bugs -- don't bring it. See information about bed bugs.

Items that may be useful:

  • Shower shoes/flip flops
  • Shower tote
  • Laundry basket/iron
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Dictionary, Thesaurus
  • Flashlight and batteries
  • Personal computer
  • Message board for the door (whiteboards are provided in Selleck, Neihardt, Abel/Sandoz, Harper, Courtyards, Village, Schramm and Smith).
  • Portable fan
  • Checkbook/debit card
  • Pictures, posters and other decorative items (only use approved adhesives such as 3M Command adhesives, 3M Command adhesive hangers and Blue Painter's Grade tape.
  • Desk/floor lamps (Note: Halogen lamps can be a fire hazard. Please avoid using them in the halls. If you choose to have one, use of a maximum 300-watt bulb is preferred, with an attached glass or wire "safety basket.")
Cooking appliances approved for use (all appliances must be UL-approved):

  • Toasters (not toaster ovens)
  • Coffee makers
  • Popcorn poppers
  • Blenders
  • Small electric sandwich makers
  • All UL-certified kitchen appliances can be used at The Courtyards and The Village

What you should NOT bring:

  • Candles
  • Drums and amplified guitars
  • Toaster ovens, electric skillets, electric grills (i.e. George Foreman grill)
  • Unapproved materials for hanging, including Scotch, duct, electrical or masking tape; gum-type adhesives, tacks, nails and staples; anything else that might damage walls.
  • Any appliance with open heating coils
Items you should discuss with your roommate before purchasing:

  • Microwave, if you are assigned to HSS, Selleck, Neihardt, or Abel/Sandoz
  • Carpet or rugs
  • Television, VCR/DVD player
  • Video Game Console
Items that are subject to confiscation/disciplinary action:

  • Candles/incense
  • Pets
  • Alcohol/decorated alcoholic containers
  • Weapons
For traditional halls only: ANY cooking appliances not listed as approved. These include, but are not limited to, toaster ovens, hot plates, George Foreman grills and many non-UL-listed appliances.