Welcome to Iowa
University Housing and Dining is excited to welcome you and your family to Iowa! Move-in is a day that is full of excitement and bittersweet emotions for both students and families.
Our team is here to help and we've included everything you need to know in order to make your experience a success.
Move-In logistics
Join us on Tuesday, July 15, at 6 p.m. Central Time for our move-in logistics webinar! We'll give an overview of the move-in process and answer common questions live and in the chat.
Returning students
Returning to live in the residence halls in fall 2025? Sign up to be a move-in volunteer and move into the halls early on Friday, Aug. 15 at no charge! We require you to volunteer for four move-in shifts between Saturday, Aug. 16 to Monday, Aug. 18. Sign up by Aug. 5 to be included!
Faculty, staff, and community help
Volunteers that are faculty, staff, student organization, or students not living in the residence halls, please sign up for a move-in volunteer shift through the On Iowa! volunteer sign up.
Move-in steps
The following steps below will ensure you have smooth arrival to campus and a successful move-in experience.
Step 1: Travel to campus
Instructions to campus can vary by residence hall. We've included the most direct route to your hall below, under Getting to Campus. We ask that students limit the number of cars used for move-in to only one, if possible.
Note: pets are not permitted in residence halls. We ask that you leave them at home, or find an Iowa City-area boarding service for them while you attend move-in.
Step 2: Get your unloading parking pass and park your vehicle
Look for the move-in banners for the parking entrance closest to your residence hall. At the parking entrance, staff will give you your unloading pass to hang up in your vehicle. Follow directions and drive slowly to get your parking pass. Staff will be available for help throughout the parking areas.
We ask you to have one person stay with your vehicle at all times so that we know which cars still have items to unload from them.
Due to limited space around the halls, we also ask that you do not bring trailers during move-in. If it is essential for you to bring a trailer/camper/box truck/any other extra-large vehicle, you must wait to arrive until after 5 p.m. on your designated move-in day.
Step 3: Check-in
- Family and supporters: We ask you to have one person stay with your vehicle at all times (while you unload), and please make sure to know your student’s residence hall and room number as volunteers may come to your car to help start the unloading process.
- Students: Have your student ID ready and head inside your residence hall to the check-in tables. You will then be issued your room key and update your emergency contact information. If you do not have your student ID yet, please bring a valid form of government-issued photo ID to check in.
Step 4: Move to longer-term parking areas
Long-term parking is not available at the residence halls. The driver should remain in the car and proceed to the next location, Hancher parking lot, as listed on their dashboard slips. There will be move-in CAMBUS shuttles to bring you back to the halls.
Students that purchased a parking pass should move their vehicle to the lot where they have a parking pass. Exception: Mayflower students are to park in the Hancher parking lot until new student move-in is complete.
Step 5: Unpack and decorate your space
- Break down all your trash and/or recycling, take it outside and place in the proper receptacle. Styrofoam and plastic wrap from packaging go in the trash; all cardboard must be broken down (if a box) and put in the recycling containers.
- All university-supplied furniture must remain in your room during the academic year.
Key dates
July 15 at 6 p.m.
Move-In logistics webinar
August 5
Deadline to sign up as returning student move-in volunteer.
August 16-18
New student move-in will occur on these dates.
August 23
Returning student move-in will occur on this date.
After Move-In
Attend your residence hall orientation.
Accommodations during move-in
Our team is committed to helping all students and families during move in. If you have a family member or guest with a disability requiring an accommodation in order to support you, you will need to contact our contracts and assignments team in advance.
You can contact our team via email at housing@uiowa.edu or phone at 319-335-3000.
Getting to campus
Below are instructions to each of our residence halls. These include the most direct route to your hall. As you get closer to campus, we recommend following the instructions below instead of your GPS navigation service.
We do not recommend entering town via Melrose Avenue, due to construction.
Burge, Currier, Stanley and Daum
- Take Exit 244 from I-80
- Turn on Dubuque Street toward Iowa City
- Turn right onto Market Street
- Turn right onto Clinton Street (Clinton Street will be one way going North)
Catlett
- Take Exit 244 from I-80
- Turn on Dubuque Street toward Iowa City
- Turn right onto Market Street
- Turn right onto Madison Street
Hillcrest, Petersen, Rienow and Slater
- Take Exit 239A for South 218 from I-80
- Take Highway 1 Exit
- Turn left onto Highway 1
- Turn left on Riverside Drive
- Turn left on Grand Avenue
OR
- Take Exit 244 from I-80
- Turn on Dubuque Street toward Iowa City
- Turn right onto Market Street
- Turn left on Madison Street
- Turn right on Burlington Street
- Go straight to Grand Avenue.
Mayflower
- Take Exit 246 from I-80
- Turn on Dodge Street toward Iowa City
- Turn right onto Church Street
- Turn right onto Dubuque Street
- Continue on Dubuque Street
Parklawn
*this residence hall is for returning students only.
Take exit 244 from I-80
Turn right on Park Road
Turn left into the parking lot
What to bring
As you pack for your new residence hall room, we've included information on what to bring and what not to bring before arriving to campus.
Application Instructions
Essentials
- Appropriate clothing—think in terms of a number of items of lighter clothing, which can be layered as it gets colder and shed as it warms up. Bring hats, gloves, and boots for winter; or, make a plan for your family to bring/send those to you later in fall.
- Academic supplies (backpack, pens, notebooks, etc).
- Computer, laptop or tablet.
- Bathrobe, shower shoes and a small bucket for carrying toiletries.
- Bedding: blankets, pillows and sheets (all beds require extra-long sheets, 36” x 80”).
- Cleaning supplies.
- Clothes hangers.
- Desk lamp with LED or CFL light bulbs.
- Ethernet cord.
- Fan (for good circulation and white noise).
- First-aid kit. The team at UI Student Health made a comprehensive list!
- Laundry basket/bag, detergent and supplies.
- Towels, washcloths and toiletry items.
- Power strip.
- Reusable water bottle, cutlery and plate.
- Trash bags for the trashcan. We recommend 11-13 gallon bags.
- Bike, helmet, and bike lock (UI is a silver-level bike-friendly university).
- Personal documents (see details below).
Personal documents
- Insurance information (health and renters).
- Photo identification (driver's license or identification card issued by federal, state, or local government agencies provided it contains a photograph and information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address).
- Turn in your immunization records.
- Proof of employment eligibility (if you plan to work).
- U.S. Passport or Passport Card
- Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card
- U.S. military card or draft record
- Native American tribal document
- U.S. Social Security account number card
- Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or outlying territory of the U.S. bearing an official seal
- Form FS-240 (Consular Report of Birth Abroad) or Form FS-245 (Certification of Birth Abroad issued by the U.S. Department of State)
- A lockbox to protect these documents while they are in your room.
Accepted appliances
- Microwave
- Toaster
- Rice cooker
- Coffee pot
- Keurig coffee pot
- Crock pot/slow cooker
- Clothing iron
- Air popcorn popper
- Blender
- Personal blender/juicer
- Hot water boiler/electric kettle
- Hair styling tools
- Electric wax melt
- Vacuum cleaner
- Humidifier
- Dehumidifier
- Clothing steamer
- Lava lamp
- Air purifiers (without heating elements)
- small icemaker, as long as the appliance has a third party listing like UL or ETL (Intertek)
For the room to share between roommates
- TV and a coax cable cord for TV.
- Vacuum cleaner or Swiffer/broom depending on which hall you live in.
- Room decor.
- Refrigerator/microwave (five cubic feet and nine amps or smaller). No personal refrigerators are allowed in Mayflower Residence Hall or any room with a supplied kitchen.
- Futon for extra seating. An 80” wide or smaller will fit under a lofted bed.
- Small energy star-rated and approved appliances.
What not to bring
- Alcohol or alcohol containers.
- Candles or incense.
- Firearms, fireworks or explosives.
- Halogen lamps (all styles).
- Pets (except fish).
- Space heaters.
- Illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia.
- Hoverboards.
- Tobacco and electronic cigarettes. These may be stored but not used on campus.
- Wireless printers. These are incompatible with UI-DeviceNet.
- Google Chromecast. This is incompatible with UI-DeviceNet.
- Anything on the "prohibited appliances" list below.
Prohibited appliances
- Electric grills (e.g., George Foreman, waffle iron, griddle, panini maker, quesadilla maker, etc).
- Pizza cooker/ Pizzazz rotating pizza oven
- Toaster oven
- Only students residing in Mayflower Hall with a kitchen in their room may bring this appliance, provided it is UL-listed, doesn't require additional oil and will be plugged directly into an outlet.
- Hot plate
- All-in-one breakfast maker
- Instapot/Pressure cookers
- Air fryer
- Only students residing in Mayflower Hall with a kitchen in their room may bring this appliance, provided it is UL-listed, doesn't require additional oil and will be plugged directly into an outlet.
- Hoverboard
- Halogen lamp
- AC unit
- Space heater
- Electric fireplace
- Portable electric dryer
Renter's insurance
The university does not provide insurance for student belongings. Students and/or their parents should consult their current homeowner's policy to determine if a student's belongings are covered through a current policy.
A renter's insurance policy can be purchased as part of a homeowner's policy or you can purchase insurance through companies specializing in property insurance for college students.
Once your room is chosen or assigned, you will have the opportunity to learn about GradGuard, the preferred renter's insurance provider of the University of Iowa.
Rent a MicroFridge
Renting a MicroFridge, which is a combination microwave and refrigerator, is a great solution for your room.
The MicroFridge will be placed in your room prior to moving in and you will just need to return it cleaned at the end of the year. You can order these online: www.mymicrofridge.com.
Rent by August 1, 2025 to have your MicroFridge delivered to your room.
If you switch rooms, you should talk to your roommate(s) to decide if you will bring your MicroFridge with you or leave it with your roommate(s). If you leave it with a roommate, you will need to complete transfer paperwork. Get that paperwork by calling 1-800-525-7307.
Purchase a futon
- University Housing and Dining partners with Bedloft.com so you can purchase a futon and have it placed in your room prior to move-in, without any worry on your end!
- Purchase by Aug. 4, 2025 to get your unit delivered to your room by your move-in date. https://bedloft.com/
- We recommend an 80" futon (or smaller) so that it will fit under the lofted beds.
Check out the college room outfitting shop
University Housing and Dining partners with SWAKU to enable you to purchase bed linens, towels, organizers and other room furnishings. A portion of the revenue goes back to Iowa student organizations in the residence halls. Click the link to shop: www.swaku.com/uiowa-room.
- Order by July 22 to have the items shipped to your home so you have it ready for move-in.
- If you ship your items to campus, they must arrive after Aug. 16.
Ship belongings directly to your room
If you do not have access to a vehicle that can hold all your belongings, or you just want to reduce your stress during move-in, you can ship your stuff to Storage Squad and they'll deliver it right to your room before you arrive. Check out more information here: storagesquad.com/room-direct/university-of-iowa/.
Returning student move-in tips
Park for unloading
Find the Move-In flag to locate where to park for unloading.
Collect your parking pass
When you enter the parking area, RA staff will greet you to give you your unloading parking pass.
Check-in to your residence hall
Once you park your car, head into your residence hall lobby to check-in and get your room key, as well as check-out a moving cart. Don't forget your Iowa One card or government-issued photo ID!
Move your belongings from your vehicle to your room.
Move your car
After you have unloaded all items from your vehicle, please move your car and then return to the halls to start unpacking and getting settled in.
The Hancher parking lot is an option to park in more long-term over the weekend and then take a CAMBUS shuttle back to your residence hall.
Take out your trash and recycling
Throughout the unloading parking areas there are several dumpsters for you to throw away packing materials – red ones are for trash (plastic wrap, styrofoam) and green ones are for recycling (boxes, cardboard, paper).
Make sure to break down all cardboard boxes and remove packing material from the boxes prior to recycling.
Attend your residence hall orientation
Look for signage listing when residence hall orientation meetings will be held. You are required to attend one after you move in.