Ensure a successful move into your new Forty Acres home by reviewing the recommended, optional and prohibited items for living in our on-campus residence halls and Dobie Twenty21. All rooms come furnished with a desk, desk chair, dresser, extra-long twin bed, combination microwave/refrigerator (MicroFridge), trash can, recycling bin, shelving and hanging space, bulletin boards and window blinds. To explore representative layouts of room types and their furnishings, please see the 3D tours located on our individual residence hall and Dobie Twenty 21 pages.
The list below is not exhaustive. We encourage you to consult with your roommate during the summer to avoid duplication of large items and electronics. For comprehensive information on items allowed or prohibited in the residence halls and Dobie Twenty21, please see the Residence Hall Manual or contact our housing team with specific questions.
Bedding and Bath
Bring
- Extra-long twin sheets (all rooms come furnished with an extra-long twin bed and mattress)
- Comforter, blankets and pillows
- Towels (bath, hand, washcloth)
- Shower caddy (to carry items to community bathrooms) and shower shoes
- Toilet paper and hand soap if you have a private or connecting bathroom
Optional
- Mattress pad
- Shower mat if you have a private or connecting bathroom
- Decorative shower curtain if you have a private or connecting bathroom (shower curtains are provided but feel free to bring your own)
Leave behind
- Your own bed or mattress. All provided furniture, including the provided mattress, must stay in your room.
- Toilet seat or lid. You will need to use the toilet seat provided in your private, shared or community bathroom and are not allowed to bring and install your own.
Laundry and Cleaning
Laundry facilities with access to washers, dryers and ironing boards are provided in every on-campus residence hall and Dobie Twenty21. Their use is included in the housing rate. Our custodial staff clean residence hall common areas and community bathrooms daily. Residents are responsible for cleaning all areas inside their room/suite, including private or connecting bathrooms.
Bring
- Laundry basket or hamper
- Low-sudsing laundry detergent designed for high efficiency front-loading washing machines and other laundry supplies (fabric softener, dryer sheets, etc.)
- Clothes hangers
- General cleaning supplies (disinfectant, glass cleaner, a duster or hand vacuum, broom, dustpan, etc.)
- Bathroom cleaning supplies if you have a private or connecting bathroom (gloves, shower and toilet cleaners, a toilet brush)
- Dish soap and towel for cleaning dishware
Optional
- Clothes irons and steamers with auto shut-off features
- Battery-operated air freshener
Leave behind
- Plug-in air fresheners
Personal Supplies
Bring
- UT ID card or a current government-issued photo ID. You will need this for check-in.
- Personal hygiene items (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrush/paste, tissues, etc.)
- Health care products (first aid kit; allergy, headache and stomach medications; bandages; sunscreen; thermometer; etc.)
- Lock. There is a lockable drawer for each roommate in every residence hall room to store valuables.
Optional
- Curling iron, hair dryer, electric blanket, heating pad and other permitted personal care appliances (see Residence Hall Manual for list of permitted appliances; appliances must be UL approved and/or labeled)
- Bike, bike lock and helmet
Room Decor
We encourage residents to bring belongings to personalize their rooms or units. Bulletin boards are provided for hanging photos, calendars and related decor. A portion of a living space’s walls can be covered with posters and other wall hangings but please note that any damage to the walls or the paint will result in damage charges when you move out. Additionally, a number of decor items are prohibited for energy and fire safety reasons (see ‘Leave behind’ below and the Residence Hall Manual).
Bring
- Desk/study lamp. Residents are required to use compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL’s) or LED lights instead of incandescent bulbs for any lighting they bring to their living space.
- Wall decor (posters, wall hangings, etc.)
- Removable adhesive. This is the only allowable material for hanging posters and pictures on walls. Tape, tacks or nails are not allowed, except on the bulletin boards we provide.
Optional
- A throw rug (4’ x 6’ or 5’ x 8’). Resident living spaces are not carpeted.
- Window covering(s) with spring-hanging tension rods. We recommend that residents measure the specific windows in their room/suite once moved in before purchasing or bringing any window coverings.
Leave behind
- Decorative lighting. This includes black light bulbs, glow lights, halogen lamps, holiday lights, lanterns with bulbs, neon lights, paper lamp shades, rope/string/strip lights (including LED) and torchiere lamps.
- Candles (with or without burned wicks) or incense. Open flames are prohibited in the residence halls and Dobie Twenty21 for fire safety reasons.
- Unauthorized furniture. This includes homemade furniture, water-filled furniture and lofted furniture not supplied by University Housing and Dining.
- Excessive amounts of paper on door or wall (i.e., larger than two 8.5” x 11” sheets)
- Diffusers
Kitchen and Cooking
Residents may use the provided microwave to prepare food and heat water in their room, and brewing coffee is allowed (as long as the fire detection system is not activated). By order of the University Fire Marshal, the use of any appliance with open heating coils is prohibited.
Bring
- Dishware (bowls, plates, silverware, cups)
- Food storage containers (Tupperware, mason jars, etc.)
Optional
- Blender
- Coffee grinder and pot (12 cups and under)
- Water kettle (with attached base)
- Other permitted kitchen appliances (electric can opener, food dehydrator, juicer, etc.)
- Pot, pan and cooking utensils for use in residence hall community kitchens
Leave behind
- Any appliance with open heating coils. This includes common appliances such as crock/Instant pots, air fryers, rice cookers, toasters/toaster ovens, hot plates and all types of electric grills. Please see the Residence Hall Manual for the full list of banned kitchen appliances. If an appliance you want to bring is not featured on the allowed or banned list, contact our housing team for clarification.
- Propane, charcoal and wood-fired grills
- Microwaves or refrigerators (University Housing and Dining provides these)
Study Supplies and Devices
Bring
- Computer/laptop. Residents with desktop computers will need to bring a Cat 5 or 6 network cable to connect to the residence hall network (maximum length of 15 feet).
- Headphones
- Extension cord or power strip. These must be UL-listed with a built-in circuit breaker and be designed for indoor use (see full approval criteria in the Residence Hall Manual).
- Pens, pencils, paper and notebooks
Optional
- A personal printer. Otherwise, residents can print documents on campus by using the UT Print system.
Leave behind
- 3D printers
- Wireless router
- Any device that is not UL-listed
Other Items
Optional
- Small fan
- Small step ladder or stool
- Personal television.
Leave behind
- Air conditioners
- Portable space heaters
- Pets; however, fish in a five gallon or less aquarium are permitted.
- Fireworks, explosives and weapons (see ‘License to Carry Handgun Policy for Residence Halls’ in the Residence Hall Manual)
- Hazardous materials, such as toxic chemicals and flammable or combustible liquids, solids and gases