When you arrive at Cortland, your room will have an extra-long twin bed, dresser, desk, desk chair, lighting, recycle/garbage bin and a closet/armoire; it's what you and your roommate(s) bring that makes it feel like home.
You will receive a Room Condition Report (RCR) upon checking into your residence hall room. The purpose of the RCR is to provide an opportunity for you to thoroughly inspect and document your room and furnishings. It is extremely important that you indicate existing damage, marks, etc. on this report because any alterations, changes and/or damages to the room found after the RCR is approved to by you may be billable to you.
For your convenience, we have created a suggested (not required) packing/shopping list for you to use in preparation for your arrival to campus.
Please review the “things not to buy/bring” section before making any purchases/packing.
What to bring
- Important documents
- Birth certificate and social security card (if you plan to work while at college)
- Health insurance card
- ID Card / driver’s license
- Passport
- Bedding
- Blanket
- Comforter/bedspread
- Extra-long twin sheets
- Pillow
- Miscellaneous
- Assortment of batteries
- Backpack or tote bag
- Bowls/plates (Microwavable)
- Coffee pot with automatic shutoff
- Dish towel
- Hangers
- Paper towels
- Storage bin/bag(s)
- Utensils
- Umbrella
- Toiletries
- Bath and hand towels
- Brush/comb
- First aid kit and band-aids
- Hair dryer
- Medication (acetaminophen/ibuprofen, cold/flu relief, digestive relief)
- your prescriptions
- Personal hygiene items
- Shower caddy
- Toothbrush / toothpaste
- Tweezers
- Washcloth(s)
- Cleaning and laundry
- Cleaning supplies
- Dish soap
- Disinfecting wipes
- Dryer sheets/fabric softener
- Hand sanitizer
- Iron with automatic shutoff
- Laundry bags/baskets
- Laundry soap
- Other essentials
- Ethernet cable
- Manual can opener
- Mini fan / fan
- Personal thermometer
- slippers
- Snow shovel to leave in your vehicle
- Surge protectors (no extension cords or adapters)
- Weather appropriate clothing outerwear
- Items to share
- Carpet or area rug for room
- Refrigerator (5.0 cubic feet or less) or MicroFridge (only one per room)
- TV (32 inch or less)
Things to leave at home / Not to buy or bring
-
- Air conditioner
- Appliances used for cooking/preparing food (including coffee makers without auto shut-off, hot pot, rice cooker, air fryer, toaster, etc.) (ice makers are permitted)
- Bed risers/cinder blocks/bed extenders/mattress extenders/headboards
- Candles/incense/wax melters/oil diffusers/fragrance warmer/plug-in fragrance
- Contact/shelf/peel-and-stick wallpaper
- Curtains (window and closet)
- Electric blanket or throw
- Electrical modes of transport (e-bikes/e-scooters, etc.)
- Electrical outlet adaptor/splitter, including furniture/decorations with electrical outlets embedded
- Extension cord (bring a surge-protected power strip with a breaker reset button/off switch)
- Furniture except for small storage items to include ottomans, footlockers, plastic/metal storage drawers and end tables not to exceed 42 inches high x 36 inches wide x 18 inches deep (can include fabric bins/drawers). No furniture can contain electrical outlets.
- Gaming/desk chairs
- Heater (including personal space heater)
- Lighting: lava lamp, sun lamp, or lamps with plastic or fabric shades, i.e. “octopus” lights; lights that have adhesive backing
- Microwave oven, excluding MicroFridge (one unit per room)
- Refrigerator exceeding 5 cubic feet (one unit per room)
- Tapestries/jerseys/flags/fabric hung on the wall or from ceiling
- Warm mist humidifier/vaporizer
- Water coolers
- Wifi routers/repeaters/boosters
View the Room and Board License for more specific residence hall policies and other housing related information.
