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Future Residents

Checking In

  • Review check in materials external site launch icon as soon as you get them, mark dates on your calendar, and contact your roommate. Residence Hall check in materials, including your assignment and roommate name(s), come in late July. Apartment information will be sent after you sign your contract.
  • Plan to arrive on your scheduled check in date and time (see "Dates" section for current residents). Different students have different check in dates. For apartment residents, this is your lease start date. You must check in by the first day of classes or else you may forfeit your space and be subject to penalty fees.
  • Once on campus, go to your check in location. University Police will direct traffic at busy locations. Or look for staff and volunteers in September Welcome shirts.

Check In Locations

Apartments
Community Building in your complex
South Campus
Clement - inside building in lobby
Goodyear, MacDonald, Michael, Pritchard, Schoellkopf Halls - in tent outside
Governors Complex (Clinton, Dewey, Lehman, and Roosevelt Halls)
At your Area Office, 108 Lehman Hall
Ellicott Complex
(Fargo, Porter, and Red Jacket Quadrangles) - In your large lounge located on the 2nd floor, look for signs
(Richmond, Spaulding, Wilkeson Quadrangles) - In a tent located at the loop near your building

Residence Hall students arriving before the first Freshman check in Day will check in at their Area Office. Parking lots will be clearly marked. View campus maps .

  • At your location, you will be asked for your UB ID. Here you will receive your room key and other related materials. This stop only takes a few minutes and you are on your way.
  • Unloading… University Police officers will direct you to temporary parking in the residence halls for unloading. You may pull your car close to the residence halls to unload for approximately 15-20 minutes. After unloading you'll need to move your car to a nearby lot. Carts are available to borrow while unloading.
  • Once in your space… start taking note of the room so you can complete room/apartment condition reports. Meet your roommates, neighbors, Resident Advisors, Community Assistants, and Academic Assistants. Look for signs about upcoming events including the first year ice cream social, opening weekend events, floor meetings, and community bbqs.
  • Should you have a problem your hall, area or village office staff can help!

What to Bring

We strongly encourage all students living on campus to invest in renters insurance or make sure you are covered under your parents' homeowners or renters insurance. This will help protect your personal belongings while living on campus.

Residence Hall

Your residence hall room will have these items for each resident:
  • Bed with an XLong mattress
  • Dresser
  • Desk and chair
  • Floor lamp
  • Closet or wardrobe
  • Nightstand
  • Blinds
  • Computer port
  • Window coverings/tile flooring
  • Free Laundry Facilities in hall
  • Floor lounges with an Oven, Stove Top and Microwave
  • Each room also has 1-2 live phone jacks available for free on-campus and local calls.
You will need to bring:
  • Your UB Card (you'll need it to check into your room or apartment)
  • Bedding including a mattress pad, sheets, blankets, and pillows
  • Clothes and laundry items such as hangers, hamper/basket, detergent, and iron
  • Toiletries and towels, don't forget shampoo, soap, tissues, cleaning supplies for your room
  • Snack foods and utensils like water, soda, granola bars, water bottle, cups, silverware, etc.
  • Some cooking supplies to use in common kitchens. Coffee pots and hot pots with automatic shut-offs are allowed in rooms.
  • School supplies
  • Computer, Ethernet card, and surge protector
  • Alarm clock and touch tone phone (local and on-campus calls are free)
  • Additional lamp (no halogen lamps) and fan
  • Personal and decorative items such as throw pillows, pictures, posters, plants, storage bins

Most people also bring mini-refrigerators, TVs, Stereos, DVD players, and throw rugs. These are big items that you want to check with your roommate(s) before bringing more than one.

The following are not allowed in the residence hall rooms:
  • Microwaves
  • Toaster ovens
  • Hotplates or other open coil appliances
  • Halogen lamps
  • Air conditioners
  • Water beds
  • Home-constructed lofts
  • Electrical cords (only power surge protector strips please)

"George Forman" and other type grills may be used in designated cooking areas.

Apartment

Your apartment bedroom will have the same amenities as the residence hall, but a full sized bed.

If you have an apartment, the shared area will include:
  • Living room sofa and chair
  • Coffee and end table
  • Entertainment shelving unit
  • Dining table with 4 chairs
  • Blinds for all the windows
  • Telephone jack and computer port per bed
  • Apartment kitchens include full oven/stove, microwave, garbage disposal, dishwasher, and refrigerator
  • Apartments are air-conditioned.

You will want most of the items you use in a traditional residence hall room (see above).

You will also need to bring:
  • Cooking supplies and utensils, since you will have a full kitchen
  • Cleaning supplies for the bathroom and kitchen (don't forget toilet paper)
  • Bathroom rugs, shower curtain and hooks, other decorative bathroom items
  • Surge protectors for both your bedroom and living room
  • Additional lighting
  • Decorative items such as pictures, plant, throw pillows, and personal items

Thoughts on moving into the Residence Halls at University at Buffalo

One of the most common questions we hear is, "What should I bring with me to college?" This is a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer to bring very little, while others bring two cars packed to the roof. Two things to remember are: 1) you won't be living alone, and 2) storage is nonexistent. In other words, don't bring too much. Talk to your roommate about what they are bringing.

Approximate Room Sizes
  • Single: 130 square feet
  • Double: 210 square feet
  • Triple: 300 square feet
  • Quad: 320 square feet
Refrigerator Notes

Refrigerators must be no larger than 4.2 cubic feet and 3 amps, and only one such refrigerator per double room is allowed. For those students living in a quad, one refrigerator no larger than 6 cubic feet and 3 amps or two refrigerators no larger than 4.2 cubic feet and 3 amps are allowed.

What will fit?

Depends on your room. We have over 38 different room layouts. We strongly encourage you to talk with your roommate, plan to send some stuff back home, and focus on your core needs and supplies. In a double or single room a futon, couch or loveseat probably will not fit. In a quad or triple, a small futon or loveseat/oversized chair might. It all depends on how you want to rearrange—do you want a designated equal sized space for each person? If yes, then you will need more floor space to do so.

We do not allow lofting or bunked beds. Bed springs rest on head and footboards at adjustable heights. Beds cannot be raised more than 34” (their highest level) and at this level have between 22-29” of clearance underneath.

Advice for Parents and Guardians
  • Resist the urge to panic. It will be all right. You've raised them this far and they'll be fine.
  • Think about doing something special together after the big drop-off. Regardless of what you're feeling right now, it is an emotional day for most.
  • Resist the urge to "drop in" for a visit. Give your student time to adjust and a phone call before you make plans for a visit.
  • Be patient, flexible and go with the flow.
Advice for Students
  • Think about doing something special for your parents. Leave a nice note that they will find when they get home.
  • Don't invite your parents to spend the night.
  • If you're a returning student, you know how the new students are feeling. Lend a hand and welcome them to the UB family.
 
Student Affairs
Last Modified: Aug 08, 2008, 12:40pm
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