Tips for moving in

When to move

First-year students move in between 8 a.m. and noon on August 21, 2024. (Those students traveling more than 300 miles to campus may check into the Residential Education Office between 2 and 6 p.m. on August 20.) Greek students will be on hand to help you unload and carry things to your room.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors move in between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on August 23.

What to expect

• Your room will be off-white and may not be painted.
• Furnishings vary somewhat by facility, but all first-year residence halls will have a desk, desk chair and twin bed frame.
• Microchill mini-fridge/microwave combo units are available for rent through College Products.

You may

• Hang or mount light items like posters and photos. But please use only 3M removable posting tabs or hooks and make sure you know how to remove them properly to avoid damage charges.
• Have one mini-fridge (5 cubic feet or smaller) or Microchill unit per traditional-style residence hall room. The only Microchill units (mini-fridge/microwave combo) allowed in the halls are those rented from College Products. NWU's Heim/White Suites, Townhouse Village or on-campus apartments are already equipped with refrigerators. Students in those facilities may not bring additional mini-fridges.

Bring these items

• Extra-long twin sheets and blankets (deep pocket twin sheets work, too.)
• Pillow(s)
• Desk lamp (no halogen lamps.)
• Basic cleaning supplies including disinfecting spray and/or wipes
• Clothes hangers
• Laundry bag and supplies
• Three-prong power strip with circuit breaker
• Alarm clock
• Wastebasket
• Shower caddy
• Book bag
• Desk supplies
• Personal care items

Consider bringing these items

• Free-standing bulletin board
• Carpet (if your room isn’t carpeted) or a rug
• Bicycle and u-lock
• Plastic organizer
• Bowls, cups, utensils
• Rubber flip flops for shower
• Personal laptops and accessories
• Television
• Posters or room decorations
• Small fan
• Mini fridge (5 cubic feet or smaller, only) if living in traditional-style halls
• Mattress pad or eggshell foam pad
• Small, stick vacuum
• Ice scraper and jumper cables (if bringing a car)
• Ethernet cord

Don't bring these items

Most items on the do-not-pack list relate to campus safety and fire risk concerns. Others connect to university residential education policies.

• Pets (Approved ESAs and fish in tanks < 10 gallons are allowed.)
• Halogen lamps
• Extension cords (Grounded three-prong surge protectors are allowed.)
• George Foreman-type grills
• Firearms, fireworks, weapons, paintball guns and equipment
• Microwaves
• Toasters and toaster ovens
• Wireless internet routers
• Lofts not provided by NWU or rented through College Products
• String lights and hanging light decorative fixtures
• Sound systems and subwoofers
• Personal AC and space heaters