Living in residence halls during the COVID-19 pandemic will be different than usual.
Ball State Housing has asked students to limit the number of personal belongings they bring to campus this year, according to Ball State's website. Less clutter makes it easier for students to keep their rooms cleaned and disinfected. Soon you'll be packing your bags for your first year of college.
Appointments for moving in will be made available Aug.1 to Aug. 15. During the scheduled appointment time, students will receive their room key and may bring their items and place them into their assigned rooms.
Ball State is unable to house students until either Aug. 19, for students on the Premium Plan or Aug. 20 for students on the Standard Plan, according to the website.
It can be a little scary at first, but here's a guide on the do's and don'ts on what to pack:
Do pack:
- Clothes for the summer and fall. It'll likely be warm the first few weeks and you won't have room for a year's worth of clothes.
- Clothes hangers
- Shoes, but not too many. We know you only wear the same two or three pairs. Plus, you will need shoes to keep you comfortable when walking to class.
- Bed essentials: comforter/ bedspread, pillow(s), bed linens and a blanket
- Eating essentials: coffee mug, drinking cups, dishes and silverware for snacks. Plastic silverware can replace regular silverware to avoid cleanup, but remember to recycle.
- Bottled water since water fountains and water bottle filling stations will be turned off.
- Bathroom essentials: robe, shower shoes, towels, washcloths, soap, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, razors and a small shower caddy for carrying it all to the shower.
- Laundry essentials: laundry basket/bag, laundry detergent, dryer sheets and spare change.
- School essentials: binders, folders, paper, writing utensils, backpack, calculator, agenda planner and computer or laptop, though there are computers in the library that all students can access and those who live in residence halls have access to a computer lab in their building.
Miscellaneous:
- Fan
- Flashlight
- Umbrella
- Batteries
- Cell phone charger(s)
- Extra power strip
- Desk or bed lamp
- Sewing kit: but learn how to sew before you bring it.
- Poster putty or command strips to hang up posters and pictures. Tacks and nails are not allowed in the dorms. (Some even have cement walls, so they won't get you far.)
- Headphones/ear buds: so your music doesn't bother your roommate.
- Speaker(s): so you and your roommate can jam out.
- TV/DVD player/streaming device: there's usually a common area TV for residence halls if you don't bring one, but having one in your room is always a bonus.
- Mini fridge/microwave: check with your future roommate about possibly sharing. Two microwaves and mini-fridges aren't necessary and will take up vital room.
- Snacks: but don't overdo it - that's the whole point of having a meal plan. But then again, no one ever complained about there being too much food, right?
- Crates or stacking containers: it'll make storing things in your room so much easier.
- Paper towels, glass cleaner: cleaning wipes also are a plus to have in the dorms.
- Band-Aids and a first aid kit.
- Cold medicine/aspirin: you will get sick and still have to go to class, be prepared for it.
- Facemasks.
- Hand sanitizers for personal use (hand sanitizing stations will be available in residence halls and campus buildings)
Don't pack:
- Air conditioners: most dorms will charge you and require a doctor's note to use them.
- Extension cords: depending on how many electronics you have you may not need them.
- Candles
- Pets
- Printer: you already pay for on-campus printing. Use it.
- Halogen bulbs and/or lamps
- Excessive dorm decor
- An ironing board
- Bulky luggage
- Hotplates, skillets, toasters, toaster ovens
- A desk chair: dorms come with chairs.
- Any personal collections, if it takes up room, you should just leave it at home.
- Stereotypical college food: leave the easy mac and cheese, ramen and potato chips behind. Those foods may fill you up, but they are likely to leave you feeling slow and tired.
- More than two sets of bowls plates and silverware: if you have more, you will just dirty them up and ignore the clean up.
- Winter clothes: if you are going home in the fall at any point, they're not needed and will take up too much space in your room.
- Anything your roommate already has: check with them before moving in, it'll save a lot of hassle when moving and organizing.
