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 steps
The following steps below will ensure you have smooth arrival to campus and a successful move-in experience. Signup for move-in dates and times will open on July 17.
Step 1: Select your date and time
You should select your move-in date and time prior to your arrival to campus. This will let our team know when you are planing to arrive to your residence hall. The system will open on Monday, July 17.
Students may log in from their building's start time until August 4 to make changes to their move in date and time selection.
Step 2: Travel to campus
Instructions to campus can vary by residence hall. We've included the most direct route to your hall below.
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 3: Park your vehicle
When you arrive on campus, our volunteers will be outside to help you complete the check-in dashboard slip and direct you where to park.
- Family members: 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.
- 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.
Students are allowed to bring only one vehicle with them for move-in, so plan accordingly.
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.
Long-term parking is not available at the residence halls. The driver should remain in the car and proceed to the next location listed on their dashboard slips. Navigational signage will be visible along the route as a guide.
Step 4: Unpack and decorate your space
- Meet up with your belongings and and begin to unpack.
- 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.
Want to volunteer for move-in but not a student returning to live in the halls? Sign up to volunteer for move-in crew and other welcoming initiatives as part of On Iowa!
Key dates
July 17
Online housing portal opens for move-in signup.
August 12
Early move-in day for students that need to arrive to campus prior to new student move-in. This option allows you to move in early into your residence hall room.
This services incurs a $35 per-day fee that will be charged to your September U-Bill.
August 13-15
New student move-in will occur on these dates. You can select your move-in date and time starting in July.
August 19
Returning student move-in will occur on this date. You can select your move-in date and time starting in July.
Early and returning students
If you have a university obligation and need to arrive sooner, you can move into the halls on Aug. 12. You will need to sign up in advance for this option. You'll want to check in at your hall and grab a cart to move in your items.
If you are a returning student who will be moving in early, you should go directly to your hall. No volunteers will be available to assist during this time.
New students arriving before Aug. 13, will be charged an early arrival fee of $35 per day.
Returning students arriving before Aug. 19, will be charged an early arrival fee of $35 per day.
If you are a returning student who already signed up for early move-in and would like to volunteer during Move-In to have your early arrival fees waived, please email res-education@uiowa.edu.
Note: you must complete at least four shifts from Sunday, Aug. 13, to Tuesday, Aug. 15, to have your early move-in fees waived.
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 or Riverside Drive, 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
- Take Exit 244 from I-80
- Turn on Dubuque Street toward Iowa City
- Turn right onto Park Road, cross the bridge and pass Hancher Auditorium
- Turn left into parking lot, first left after crossing Riverside Drive
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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)
- 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).
- 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)
- Bicycle or moped and helmet.
- TV and a coax cable cord for TV.
- Vacuum cleaner.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 or Parklawn Halls 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
- Air fryer
- Only students residing in Mayflower or Parklawn Halls 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
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.
The deadline is August 1, 2023 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.
Need a futon or linens for your room? Purchasing a futon through Bedloft can be a great addition to your room. You can order online at bedloft.com. We recommend an 80” futon (or smaller size) as it will fit under your lofted bed. The deadline to purchase with delivery to your room is July 31, 2023.
If you are in need of linens, Dormify provides a wide array of colors, patterns and sizes to fit your needs. You can order online at dormify.com.
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.
