Move in and move out
A page within Residence Life
Move Out Date
The residence halls close on Saturday, May 17 at noon. Below is general information that can be used as a guide.
24 Hour Policy: Residents will be asked to vacate their space within 24 hours after their last final exam. If you are requesting an exception, please contact your Residence Director.
Cleaning Up and Checking Out
The details of your check out procedure will be provided by the Residence Director. Generally, all students will be required to do the following before they check out of their rooms:
- Remove ALL belongings from your room
- Clean room to the condition it was when you moved in
- Return your key to the front desk and complete a check-out envelope.
- Students may have helpers to aid them in moving out items. We are not restricting the number of helpers, but ask that you be conservative in how many people are coming into the residence halls.
Cleaning items and other tools can be checked out at the front desk. If you have questions about the cleaning process, please check with your Residence Director.
Please consult the following video for more tips on how to have a successful check-out:
Damage Details
To get a better idea of the costs associated with damaged rooms, please look over the following pricing guides:
Note: Not all areas of damage will be listed on this sheet. Uncommon damages and those not listed on this sheet will be reviewed by your Residence Director and the Coordinator for Residence Life Facilities.
Loading Zones
In May (date to be determined), designated areas around each residence hall will become 1-hour parking zones for loading vehicles. Vehicles in violation will be subject to multiple citations (every 60 minutes).
UWL Parking Services is also requesting that everyone who currently parks in R-2 (Coate Lot), R-1 (Angell Lot), R-3 (Eagle Lot), or R-4 (Reuter and Sanford Lot) park their vehicle in spaces away from the residence halls to allow residents to load near the building. Beginning in mid-May (date to be determined), valid permits for R-1, R-2, and R-3 may also park in Commuter Lot C7 (near the REC) and the Parking Ramp.
Drivers should plan to obey all “do not enter” signs. Do not drive on campus or city sidewalks to load your vehicles.
Information about move in
Fall 2025 move in dates
Move in dates for 2025 are Aug 22 - Sept 1, 2025.
Students will be sent a link in early July to sign up for a specific date/time. All first year students are encouraged to participate in all New Student Orientation programs. First year students should plan to move in August 22-30. Returning students are encouraged to move in August 31 or September 1.
What to bring and what NOT to bring
What to bring? Start with what makes a place feel like home. That might be a 4 cup coffee pot, a picture of your closest friends or a favorite blanket. Then fill in those boxes with necessities. Don't forget to talk with your roommate to make sure you are not doubling up on items. The rooms are not large and good planning can help it feel spacious while still having everything you need. Our students tell us that necessities include:
- Small microwave (1000 watts or less)
- Snacks
- One or two sets of plates, forks, etc.
- Sandals to wear in the shower and a shower tote to carry shampoo
- Pillow
- Extra-long twin size bedding (can be found at most stores)
- Fused power strip (internal surge protector)
- Umbrella
- 1 set of towels
- Hangers
- Laundry basket and laundry supplies
- School supplies
- If lofting a bed - furniture for under a loft (79" or less in length)
- Social Security Card and Photo ID - If you are planning on getting a job on campus you will need the original to complete I-9 forms.
- Toilet paper, if you live in Eagle or Reuter
- Box fan (not needed in Eagle or Reuter)
- Area rug (not needed in Eagle, Laux, O. White, Reuter, Sanford or Wentz)
What should you leave at home? Most students tell us they brought too much stuff! Do you need 4 towels or will 1 towel do? Can you wait and bring your winter boots and coat after your next trip home? We also provide a lot of things for student use at our front desks like irons and ironing boards, trash bags, pots and pans, vacuums, games, etc. The following are not allowed, but be sure to check the Residence Life policies as this is not an exhaustive list:
- Homemade lofts - We provide beds that can be lofted or set at various heights.
- Trash can and recycling bin (we provide them)
- Fridge (we provide one)
- Pets - other than fish!
- Air conditioner (we provide them for approved medical needs)
- Space heater
- Lamps with plastic shades, halogen lamps, or multiple light lamps
- Non-UL approved electronics
- Non-LED lights
- Non-fused or multi-plug outlets
- Hoverboard or electronic skateboard
- Weapons of any kind
- Items with the potential for an open flame (candles with wicks, incense to burn, fireworks/firecrackers)
- "Food board" - board which places weight on the built in bookshelves
- Items that produce wireless signals (routers, printers, etc.) if the wireless option cannot be turned off
- Adhesives for walls, furniture, doors, desk, etc. (blue or green painter's tape is acceptable)
- Items which will be posted or hung on either side of residence hall windows
- Instant Pot (acceptable in Reuter apartment kitchens)
- Air fryer and panini/sandwich grill (acceptable in Reuter apartment kitchens)
- Toaster (acceptable in Reuter apartment kitchens)
- Attachments to plumbing fixtures (e.g. showerheads, bidets, portable dishwashers, laundry equipment)
Questions about specific items? Email housing@uwlax.edu.
For a detailed listing of furnishings provided in your room, please go to your specific hall page on the "Residence Halls" tab in the menu.
Setting up your bed loft
Residence Life at UWL provides bed frames and lofts in all rooms on campus at no additional cost. The side posts and rails are made of solid oak and are fully adjustable to provide our residents with flexibility to place their beds at a desired height. As a result, homemade bunking systems are not allowed in our facilities. All pieces of the bed loft must stay in the room and cannot be stored. Bed parts are included in all halls except Reuter Hall. Information about options for Reuter will be sent in August to students assigned that hall.
To aid you in your set up, please see the following image and instructional video:
Move in FAQ
Do I need to sign up for a move in time?
Yes! This will help you have the smoothest move-in experience. Benefits of signing up for a time include being able to park in the lot closest to your residence hall, as well as having move-in assistance from university staff and volunteers.
The link for Sign-ups and more information will be sent to your UWL student email in July.
What if I'm coming early for Athletics/Band/Campus Job?
If you must come to campus prior to August 27 for a specific reason, you should work with your coach, band director, supervisor, etc. They should be communicating the need to Residence Life for their students to be on campus early.
There is a fee associated with early arrival housing.
Parking permits for the 2025-26 academic year are not valid until August 17. If you arrive to campus prior to August 16, contact Parking Services to purchase a short term permit.
How many people can come with the student to assist with move in?
We do not limit the number of people who can assist you with moving into the residence halls, however, we do encourage you to discuss your guests with your roommate so that you can coordinate timing. We plan for each person to bring one vehicle for move in. If you must bring more than one, we ask that you only have one in the assigned parking lot at a time.
As a reminder, most of our residence halls do not have elevators.
Please leave pets at home as they are NOT allowed in the residence halls.
Will moving carts, dollies, and luggage racks be available to help move items from my car to the building?
We will have a limited amount of wheeled carts available. However, keep in mind that Eagle and Reuter are the only residence halls that have elevators. In most cases, the carts are only helpful to the exterior doors.
Where should I park?
We are regulating who will be parking in most parking lots on campus so that people moving in can use the parking lot closest to their residence hall. You should plan to be in the designated parking lot during the move in time for which you signed up. If you bring more than one vehicle to campus, only one vehicle can be in the parking lot at a time. Our move in sign-ups are limited in number based on parking lot capacity.
Parking permits are not required during the move in process.
After unloading, we ask permit holders to move their vehicles to the following lots: C-2, C-7, or levels 1-3 of the parking ramp. If you have a permit for levels 4-5 of the parking ramp, you should park there once you are done unloading.
On Monday evening, Sept 1, move your vehicle to the lot for which you have a permit. Any vehicles without a permit or vehicles parked in the wrong lot will receive a citation starting on Tuesday, Sept 2.
The best unloading parking lot for each Residence Hall (Review campus map):
- Angell - R1
- Coate - R8
- Drake - R2
- Eagle - R3
- Hutchison - R1
- Laux - C12
- Sanford - C12/R4
- Reuter - R4
- O White - C3
- Wentz - C11
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How should I get to campus? Does it matter what roads/direction I take?
We cannot predict or control construction on city or state owned roads. We encourage you to review any DOT projects as you plan your travel. It does not matter how you approach campus.
Be aware of which parking lot you are headed to and get there however your GPS takes you! You may find a street near campus shut down as we need to do so for pedestrian safety. Simply go to the next intersection to get into campus. We will provide traffic direction assistance near campus with signage and volunteers during move-in times.
Can I drive to the front door of my residence hall?
No! In order to control traffic and keep pedestrians safe, you must follow all posted signs. Vehicles that are driven on sidewalks, closed roads, or other restricted areas will be ticketed by University Police.
What if I'm bringing a trailer?
We discourage the use of trailers or large moving trucks. Most of our parking lots do not allow for the easy navigation or parking of vehicles with trailers. If you bring a trailer or large truck, you will need to unload further away from your residence hall and move items. The parking lot that can best accommodate trailers and large vehicles is lot C7. We encourage you to view the campus map.
If I ship something to campus, where will I pick it up?
We have a centralized mailroom. Any items mailed to a residence hall address will be delivered to the Eagle Mail Center. Students will need to go to the Eagle Mail Center to pick up packages. Therefore, we do not recommend shipping large items to campus as part of your move-in process. Items arriving prior to August 15 may be "returned to sender" as our Mail Center will not open until the end of August.
What if I'm coming alone? What if someone I'm bringing or myself has some mobility concerns and I need assistance?
We will have a small number of volunteers available to assist those that need it. Speak with a volunteer or the staff at the front desk when you arrive to let them know of your need and we will mobilize the volunteers to assist with large items, if possible.
When does New Student Orientation (NSO) start? Who must attend?
New Student Orientation is coordinated by New Student and Family Programs. The official schedule for New Student Orientation can be found on NSO website. This is for first-year students only. We encourage you to be moved into your hall by Saturday at noon to fully participate in NSO programs. There are some REQUIRED events and many optional events.
There is no parent portion of NSO. Returning students are not required to participate. However, there will be many social opportunities open to everyone.
Where is the link to sign up for moving in?
In July, you can find Move-in Sign Up information on this site! It will also be sent to your student email.
Can you change the date I signed up for?
When the sign up is available, you will be asked to create a SignUpGenius account. You will be able to log in and change it yourself to an available time. If you try and are unable to do so, please email housing@uwlax.edu.
Can I decorate my room?
We want you to be able to personalize your room. The best way to do so is with your bedding, throw pillows, small storage shelves, small area rugs, magnets, and stand-alone picture frames. We provide black-out curtains in each room. We also provide a small cork strip that can be used with thumb tacks or staples. The only thing permitted for hanging items in your room is "painters tape" as it does not damage the walls. Damage that is caused by any other items you bring from home will be noted upon check out and you will be billed to replace or repair the damage. The attached photo is from 3M strips that were used to hang a poster. This student was charged $60 to repair and repaint the wall.
For a full list of what is allowed or not allowed, please view our Facilities Restrictions under Policies and Procedures.
Damaged Wall
How do I report the condition of my room upon move-in?
Your room has been deep cleaned and checked for repairs.
After you check-in, a link will be sent to your UWL student email. You should note any damage or room concerns via this link upon move in. The information you share will be reviewed when you move out and you may be charged for damages that were not reported. Know that this form is for use at move in ONLY. Please use the work request form to request a repair for items like burned out light bulbs or other work orders.
Should I purchase renter's insurance?
Residence Life does not provide property insurance. Residents are encouraged to secure their own renters and liability insurance.
UWL is not responsible for personal property that is lost, stolen or damaged. If your family is a home owner, we encourage you to review that policy to see if your items are covered while away at college. Consult with your personal insurance agent to discuss renters insurance options. UWL does not endorse any specific insurance policies.