What to Bring

Bicycle, Bike Light and U-Lock

Lighted bike racks are located near every residence hall. Always lock your bike with a quality u-lock to secure the frame and front wheel and bring a bike light for riding at night. If you keep your bike in your room, you may not use bike hooks in the walls or ceiling. Bike registration is free, and mandatory on campus, and can be completed online. For more information on campus bicycle programs, visit the Environmental Center website. 

Coffee Mug

Bring a reusable coffee/tea travel mug to keep your beverages at the perfect temperature and increase your sustainability efforts.

Computer

All residents are strongly encouraged to bring a laptop computer with a dual-band wireless card. Housing & Dining Services provides a high-speed Wi-Fi network and each room is equipped with ethernet. If your device has an ethernet port, we suggest you bring a CAT 6 ethernet cable. Network support services are available through the Office of Information Technology. Additionally, students can purchase discounted PC computers through CU's partnership with Dell Computers, get valuable Mac recommendations from the CU Bookstore and download low-cost and free software.

Note: additional wireless access ports and routers of any kind are not allowed in the residence halls.

If you don't have a computer, there are many computing labs on campus.

Electronics (TV, gaming system, etc.)

You should contact your roommate(s) and agree on what large electronic items you plan to bring to campus. There likely won't be room for two of everything! For gaming systems, we also recommend bringing ethernet cables (E5 or better) for the best stability and speed. The wireless network will not currently provide the best gaming experience.

Please be aware that certain Wi-Fi capabilities on electronic devices (e.g. projecting, controlling from another device) may not work on the campus network.

Fan

Andrews, Arnett, Baker, Buckingham, Darley North, Darley South, Kittredge Central, Kittredge West, Smith and Williams Village North have air conditioning, but a small room fan can be helpful in providing some additional cooling, plus it's great for "white noise" in a busy atmosphere.

Laundry Supplies 

Bring a laundry bag or basket, plus detergent (we suggest cold-water detergent to support sustainability efforts). Each hall has pay washers and dryers for your use, and we utilize LaundryView, to make the process even easier.

Linens

Bring mattress cover, sheets, pillows and blankets. Beds are 80" long, requiring extra-long twin sheets. Linens may be purchased in many discount and department stores, and through the Residence Hall Association sponsored Residence Hall Linens Program.

Lock

Each student is provided with a lockable filing cabinet. We suggest you bring a lock with you to secure important/valuable belongings.

Pictures/Posters

Small standing picture frames on your desk work best to give your room a personal touch. Be sure to check with your roommate before hanging large posters or pictures, and use only approved adhesive hangers. Do not make holes in the walls or ceiling. Fabric, tapestries, flags or banners with the longest edge exceeding three feet (36 inches) in length are prohibited on walls.

Power Strip

A power strip will provide you with all the outlets you need in your room, help keep your electronics organized and protect them against a possible power surge.

Recreation Equipment

Many halls are near recreation fields, so bring Frisbees, footballs, volleyballs and tennis rackets. Bring skis and snowboards if you have room to store them.

Renter's Insurance

The university is not responsible and does not provide insurance or financial protection for resident's personal property. Students are fully responsible for personal property and damages caused by the student while on university property. Renter's insurance is strongly encouraged and is offered through the housing application for students seeking an insurance option.

Shopping Bag

Bringing several reusable shopping bags will be convenient, environmentally friendly and a money saver. Boulder County charges $.10 per bag at all shops that sell food (including grocery stores and places like Target). 

Telephone

All residents are strongly encouraged to bring their own cellular phones and service. 

A request can be made for activation of local land-line phone service in your unit for a nonrefundable fee of $500 per academic year. To make such a request, contact the Occupancy Management office at 303-492-6673 before August 1, to complete the necessary forms. Land-line phone requests submitted before August 1 will be activated before residents arrive, otherwise students making a special room phone land-line request need to allow three weeks for activation. The nonrefundable fee of $500 per academic year includes installation, activation, basic local service for a single line analog phone, and continuation of service if moved to another room. It does not include long distance minutes or telephone handset. The student must provide a basic telephone handset.

Toiletries and Towels

You may find a small tote or shower caddy helpful for carrying your toiletries to and from the bathroom.

University Documents

Keep all letters, receipts and university publications in an electronic or paper file folder.

Wellness Kit

General first-aid supplies, digital thermometer (not mercury), hand sanitizer, tissues, fever reducers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen).

Winter Wear

Colorado is beautiful in the winter, but it can get cold. We recommend bringing along a warm coat, boots, gloves/mittens and a hat. Don't forget sunscreen. At Boulder's higher elevation, the sun is dangerous even on cloudy days. Rain gear is useful year-round.

What Not to Bring

The following items are not permitted in the residence halls.

Adjustable Beds and Lofts

The residence halls offer beds that easily adjust to three different heights for storage, bunking and lofting. With a loft, a desk or other furniture fits easily under the bed.

Only university-supplied lofts are permitted. Students may submit a loft request when they receive their room assignment. The number of lofting kits is limited, as are the locations of rooms where lofting kits can be installed. Bed lofting requests will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Once a lofting request is submitted, a non-refundable fee of $115.00 will be charged to the student's Bursar account and will be due on the fall payment deadline for tuition, housing room and board, and other university fees. The fee includes initial set up and use of the bed lofting kit during the academic year. (Fee is subject to change.)

Air Conditioners and Space Heaters

Since Boulder's climate is pleasant with low humidity and mild temperatures, personal air conditioners and space heaters are not required. Regardless, they are not allowed due to their excessive power requirements and fire hazard potential.

Bottled Water

Bottled water is permitted in the residence halls, however, we encourage students to bring a refillable water bottle with them instead. Every building on campus (including residence halls) is equipped with a triple-filtered water station, providing unlimited water refills. This helps keep at least one million single-use bottles out of landfills each year!

Candles and Beanbag Chairs

These are not allowed because they are fire hazards.

Cigarettes/E-Cigarettes/Cigars/Pipes/Hookahs/Vaporizers/Marijuana

The CU Boulder campus is a designated smoke-free environment, including all university residence halls. This includes all residence hall public areas such as lobbies, hallways, lounges, bathrooms and dining facilities, as well as all student rooms and living spaces. Hookahs and water pipes are considered paraphernalia and are not allowed on campus.

Cooking Appliances

Appliances not allowed include:

• toasters
• toaster ovens
• hot plates
• electric griddles
• personal microwave ovens
• barbecues
• grills of any kind (including George Forman® and similar)
• additional refrigerators

All electrical appliances must be UL-approved and have automatic shut-off. All rooms are furnished with a microwave/fridge combo, with the exception of apartments. 

Draperies/Tapestries

The draperies used in the halls meet special fire safety standards and may not be removed. Tapestries/wall hangings/flags larger than 3x3 are considered fire hazards and are not allowed.

Firearms/Weapons

Firearms, explosives, incendiary devices, or other weapons, or harmless instruments designed to look like a firearm, explosive, or weapon, are not permitted in the residence halls. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, BB guns, paint ball guns, pellet guns, martial arts equipment, and swords or knives with blades over 3" in length. Violation of this policy will result in the immediate termination of your Housing & Dining Services Contract, and a disciplinary conference with the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, with a likely result of suspension from the university. You must check with the University of Colorado Police Department (303-492-6666) for information about the storage of guns, knives or other weapons.

Fireworks

Most types of fireworks are illegal in the state of Colorado. Absolutely no such incendiary devices are allowed in the residence halls at any time.

Heaters/Halogen Lamps/Heat Lamps

These are not allowed because they are fire hazards.

Hoverboards

Due to the fire danger associated with hoverboards, they are not permitted in residence halls.

Nails or Screws

You are not allowed to put holes in the walls, ceilings or floors or construct permanent structures in your room.

Pets

Pets are not permitted in the buildings or on the grounds. You may have one 10-gallon aquarium for small aquatic life (turtles and fish) if your roommate(s) agree. Assistance and service animals are permitted with approval via the Disability Accommodation Request process.

Speakers

Large speakers are not prohibited but we discourage students from bringing them. Not only do they take up valuable space in your room, they can be very disruptive to your neighbors.

If you decide to bring a speaker, please be aware that certain functionality may not work on the campus Wi-Fi network. Sonos speakers are currently unable to connect to the campus network.

Wi-Fi Routers

No personal Wi-Fi access points or routers are allowed to be connected to the campus network. All halls are equipped with Wi-Fi access via the campus network. For additional information about the wireless policy, visit the Office of Information Technology site.

If You Bring

Car

If you bring a car to campus, you must buy a parking permit, costing anywhere from $168 to $198 (2017-18 rates) per semester depending on lot assignment. You can purchase your student parking permit for the upcoming semester and/or academic year online at the CU Boulder Parking and Transportation website. Parking in general is very limited on and around campus.

Consider that with your Student Bus Pass, your own bike (or a Buff Bike, Boulder B-Cycle bike or Semester Rental bike), eGo Carshare cars, the Buff Bus, the Ski Bus, Late Night Transit, the HOP shuttle and the Night Ride program, you may not need to bring a car to campus. Explore your transportation options at Parking and Transportation Services and the Student Environmental Center.

Furniture

Often items will be purchased when first moving to CU, then the items are never opened and, ultimately thrown out at the end of the year. We suggest using the various stores around Boulder and purchasing items as the year progresses if possible in order to reduce waste. During closing, we have collected up to 165.5 tons of waste, some of the items having never been used. Unused items have contributed to the over 165 tons of waste that was collected during the spring 2017 closing.

Gaming System

If you bring a gaming system, we recommend you use the campus ethernet (wired) Internet and bring an ethernet cable (E5 or better). The Wi-Fi is not optimized for gaming and your experience will be far better with wired. Please note that it make take up to 30 minutes for a system to set up on the network.

Media Streaming Device

Some streaming devices work better on the campus network than others. Devices that use multicasting won't work.

• Amazon Fire: limited to video streaming 
• Apple TV: able to stream video, unable to screencast or mirror (projecting or controlling from another device such as iPad, phone or computer)
• Google Chromecast: unable to connect to our wireless network
• Roku, Blu Ray, gaming devices: that stream media should not experience issues on the network

Due to emerging technology and software updates, unfortunately we can't guarantee performance of a certain make/model of media streaming devices.

Small Appliances

Bring only UL-approved appliances with self-contained coils and automatic shut-off thermostatic controls (e.g., coffee makers, hot pots, etc.). Most cooking appliances are not permitted. See What Not to Bring.

TV

Each room has high-speed wireless internet as well as wired Ethernet jack capabilities. Smart TVs will be able to connect to the network but some functionality may not work (such as controlling the TV from another device). Additionally, TVs may take up to 30 minutes to go through the set-up process.

Drones

If you plan to bring a unmanned aircraft system (UAS or drone) to campus, please make sure that you understand the university’s policies on UAS operations.

Home2Home

CU Boulder offers a convenient solution to transporting your belongings to your new residence hall home through UPS Home2Home. 

Deadline to receive packages at The UPS Store in Boulder, CO and delivered to your room for fall 2019 is August 3, 2019. You will work directly with The UPS Store to ship prior to the deadline.

Just follow the steps and your belonging will be waiting for you in your room when you arrive on campus!

1. Create a Home2Home account (you will need a credit card)
2. Order a box kit (costs includes shipping the kit to your home)
3. Once you receive your box kit (or choose to ship using your own boxes), you can start packing
4. When you have completed packing your boxes, log back into your Home2Home account and enter your box information —you will be prompted to provide size (height x length x width) and weight for each box
5. Log back into your and select Notify The UPS Store at CU
6. The UPS Store representative will call or email you follow-up questions, confirm labels and pick-up schedule within 24 business hours
7. Boxes are picked up by UPS and delivered to your room on campus by The UPS Store prior to your arrival on campus

Keys to effective shipping and moving

• Use boxes for shipping, not for moving (these boxes are much sturdier)
• Prepare your shipment (see guidelines below)
• Make notes of all tracking numbers
• Confirm your hall assignment before shipping your packages
• Only packages shipped through the Home2Home program and receive before August 3, 2018, will be in room

Contact The UPS Store with questions

Phone: 303-442-2601 x101

Email: store6439@theupsstore.com

Website: The UPS Store

UPS recommended packaging guidelines