All residence hall rooms are equipped with a twin bed, desk/study space and chair, dresser, bookcase, lighting, window coverings, data port, smoke detector, and closet space for each individual assigned to the room. Most of the rooms on campus are multiple occupancy, meaning they are set up for more than one student; this means you will most likely have a roommate. Willamette University is a smoke free campus.
- Essential Items
- Apartment Items
- Consider Bringing
- Do Not Bring
- How to Mail Packages to a Student
- Student Property Insurance
- Cooking
- Music Equipment
- Pets
- Bicycles
1. Essential Items
- Backpack or book bag
- Cell phone and charger
- Computer and computer supplies
- Command hooks/strips for hanging items
- First aid kit (include cold and flu medication if desired)
- Flashlight/extra batteries
- Hand sanitizer
- Hangers
- Heavy gauge, surge protected power strip (12 or 14 AWG)
- Identification
- Insurance cards/medical information
- Laundry basket/bag
- Laundry soap/fabric sheets
- Pillow(s)
- Prescription medication
- Tape to hang items on walls- Blue/Green painters tape only! NO DOUBLE SIDED TAPE OR NAILS.
- Toiletries/personal care items and a container to carry them in
- Trash bin and trash bags
- Umbrella/raincoat
- Towels and washcloths
- Twin sheets, blankets, mattress pad, mattress cover:
- Standard twin: Baxter 2nd and 3rd, Belknap, Doney 1st south, 2nd and 3rd, Kaneko A wing, Lausanne, Lee, Matthews, UAP, WISH, and York
- Extra long (XL) twin: Baxter 1st and 4th, Cascadia, Doney 1st floor north, Kaneko wings B and C, Northwood, Southwood, Terra and Westwood
- Consider purchasing XL twin bedding - it will fit any room you occupy while living on campus.
2. Apartment Items
If you're living in an apartment, your needs will probably be a little different. Here are a few ideas of things to bring if you're placed in an apartment.
NOTE: Appliances (with the exception of a coffee maker) are not allowed in non-apartment residence halls. Keeping these items in your regular residence hall room may be a conduct violation.
- Cookware - pots, pans, baking sheets
- Silverware
- Dishes, cups, glassware
- Knives
- Small appliances - toaster, coffee maker, etc.
- Kitchen towels
- Garbage can and bags
- Food storage items: containers, foil, zip top bags, etc.
Another thing to consider: Apartments in Salem do not come with a microwave. If you're used to using one, you may want to invest in a small one for your living space. ArtHouse apartments do have a built in microwave.
3. Consider Bringing
- Bicycle, u-lock and helmet
- Cleaning supplies
- Coffee pot or hot pot (with automatic shut-off)
- Desk lamp/extra bulbs* (not halogen)
- Desk organizer
- Drinking cup/coffee mug
- Face coverings (multiple)
- Fan (small desktop size)
- Food storage (thick plastic/tin or glass)
- Headphones and/or earbuds
- Iron with automatic shut off (for use in laundry room only)
- Multi purpose tool/small tool kit
- Refrigerator 4.8 cubic feet and drawing 1.5 amps or less
- Shower shoes
- Small ironing board (for use in laundry room only)
- Small personal safe to secure valuables
- Thermometer
- Variety of school/desk supplies
- Wall decorations/pictures
- N95 mask (precautionary, in case of emergency)
*Do not bring halogen lamps, lava lamps, multi-bulb floor lamps. They are considered a fire hazard and are not permitted in residential facilities.
We do not encourage students to bring televisions since there is no in-room service and reception is limited.
4. Do Not Bring
- Air conditioner or space heater
- Air fryers
- Amplified sound instruments
- Any 2.4GHz cordless/wireless/radio devices (including cordless phones, wireless access points, Apple Airports, and ad-hoc wireless network devices like the Playstation)
- Candle warmers
- Candles
- Drugs (legal or illegal) or drug paraphernalia
- Fireworks
- Fish tank larger than 15 gallons
- Flammable liquids
- Gas powered scooter (can only be used/stored outside)
- Halogen lights
- Hot plate, electric grill, or rice cooker
- Household extension cords (16 or 18 AWG), multi-plug adapters or splitters
- Hover board
- Illegal substances
- Incense
- Lava lamps
- Microwave oven
- Multi-bulb floor lamps
- Nails, tape or anything that damages walls
- Open flame devices
- Pets (except fish)
- Refrigerator larger than 1.5 amps
- Toaster/ toaster oven
- Waterbed
- Weapons
Note: To legally consume cannabis/marijuana in the state of Oregon, you must be 21 years of age. Cannabis/marijuana use, in any form, is not permitted on campus even in cases of prescribed medical use.
5. How to Mail Packages to a Student
Send packages ahead with your full name and mailbox number. Packages should not weigh more than 40 pounds or arrive more than three days before you do. Once you arrive, contact Mail Services in the University Center to pick up your packages.
Mail Services sends campus box assignments in June.
Mail should be addressed to you as follows:
Your Name
Willamette University
900 State Street Box No.____
Salem, OR 97301
6. Student Property Insurance
Students are responsible for maintaining their own personal property insurance and liability coverage for damage, loss/theft of property or fire. Students should be adequately covered by insurance for their property, such as computers, bicycles, clothing, jewelry, sports equipment, musical instruments, other personal property, etc. In addition, we encourage you to evaluate your insurance so that it protects your vehicle from theft/loss. You may want to reconsider bringing expensive electronics and other items if you don't really need them in your room.
7. Cooking
Most residence halls have access to a common area kitchen for student use. Student rooms do not have much counter space and are not equipped to accommodate the electrical demands of counter top cooking devices as well as the cleaning needs that come with cooking for yourself. Cooking devices with open elements such as toasters and air fryers are not permitted in student rooms as well as microwaves and rice cookers. Coffee pots and hot pots are allowed. If it is necessary for you to bring a kitchen appliance, please be prepared to store it in the common kitchen of your residence hall.
Students living in apartments (units with kitchens), may bring counter top appliances to use in their unit's kitchen.
8. Music Equipment
When bringing a musical instrument to campus, it's important to remember that it needs to fit on your side of the room or be secured somewhere else safe. Fine Arts East, next to Smith Auditorium, has instrument lockers for rent so you can secure your instrument outside of your room. Pianos are located in many of the residence halls and are available for any student to use. If you're playing an instrument in your residence hall, make sure you know when quiet hours are so that you can practice as you need without bothering other folk's study or sleep time.
9. Pets
Aquarium fish are the only live pets we permit (aquarium size cannot exceed 15 gallons). Service and emotional support animals are allowed with residence halls only with prior endorsement from Accessible Education Services.
10. Bicycles
If you bring your bicycle, be sure to bring a good quality U-lock and a helmet. Cable or other types of locks are not sturdy enough to secure your bicycle.