Office of Residence Life
Information for Incoming Students
Welcome to Your Home at Etown
Starting college is exciting — and moving into your campus home is a big part of that journey! Whether you're wondering what to pack, curious about who’s here to support you in your residence hall, or just trying to figure out when you can move in, you’re in the right place.
From understanding your housing assignment to meeting your RA, we are here to assist with whatever you need to feel confident and prepared for your first year. Let’s get you ready for move-in and make Etown feel like home from day one.
Contact Residence Life View the Student Handbook
Things to Do Before Move-In
- Check Your Move-In Date and Time: Double-check your assigned move-in time and location at Leffler Chapel. If you arrive early on a date you were not approved for you will be charged $50 per day before your arrival date.
- Know Where You’re Going: Familiarize yourself with your residence hall name and room assignment. This info is located in StarRez. View our Campus Map beforehand so you know exactly where to go when you arrive on campus.
- Connect with Your Roommate: Reach out to coordinate who’s bringing what. Don’t worry if you haven’t heard back, many students are traveling or busy during the summer. Just bring what you need for you.
- Pack Smart: Review the list of what to bring and what not to bring to guide your packing. Remember, what comes with you must go home with you at the end of the year.
- Label Everything: Put your name and room number on every box or bag. It helps during move-in and keeps your belongings from getting lost in the shuffle.
- ID and Keys: All new students, residential and commuter, will check in at Leffler Chapel at our drive-through check-in tent to get their ID card, room key, and welcome packet. Parking decals will be in student mailboxes.
- Complete Your Housing Contract: As part of your housing application, you’ll be asked to sign a housing agreement. This is your commitment to live on campus for up to eight consecutive semesters from the time you enroll at Etown. Exceptions are made for approved commuters living at home within 30 miles or 30 minutes. Make sure to review and sign the agreement as part of your housing process.
- Review Your Housing Info: After you deposit, you’ll receive instructions starting in May to complete your housing forms. These are due by June 30 and include building preferences, your roommate questionnaire, and an option to form a roommate group. Limited single rooms may be available for students with approved medical accommodations. Connect with Disability Services for more information about requesting a single room. Assignments will be posted on StarRez by August 4.
- Be Ready to Meet Your RA: They’ll be one of your first connections on campus, there to help you get settled in and answer any questions you may have.
What to Bring and What Not to Bring
Your guide to what to pack, what to skip, and what you’ll find waiting for you in your room. We've tried to make it as simple as possible, but if you're unsure about whether or not you should bring something to campus, please contact us.
What to Bring
- Twin or XL twin bed set (to request an XL mattress complete the request form available through StarRez)
- Band-aids, cough drops, hand sanitizer, thermometer, and a small first-aid kit
- Shower caddy, bathrobe, shower shoes
- Personal hygiene products, medications, tissues, etc.
- Office supplies (planners, highlighters, notebooks, pens, pencils)
- Laptop, tablet, headphones, chargers
- Power strip with surge protection
- TV and streaming devices (Note: Some wireless devices may not work well with campus Wi-Fi. Visit the ITS Knowledgebase for guidance).
- Fan and desk or reading lamp
- Rug (4’x6’ or 5’x7’; some rooms have laminate or sealed concrete floors)
- Trashcan and clothing hangers
- Laundry bag or basket and HE laundry detergent
- Iron and ironing board or clothing steamer
- Storage containers
- Message board (whiteboard or bulletin) and painter’s tape (Note: Command strips are not recommended as they will damage walls).
- Basic kitchen tools like a can opener, dish soap, and a small set of dishes or pans and food storage containers (Note: All of our traditional dorms have a communal kitchen area. The Schreiber Quadrangle ("The Quads") and Hackman Apartments have shared kitchens that you share with your roommates).
- Bicycle, scooter, skateboard (Note: Bicycles may be stored only in designated outdoor areas near select residence halls. All bikes, scooters, skateboards, and in-line skates are prohibited inside any College-owned facility.)
- E-bike, e-scooter, e-skateboard (Note: E-bikes, e-scooters, and e-skateboards may not be stored or charged indoors, and their use is restricted to roadways only, not sidewalks or building entrances. Hoverboards are not permitted anywhere on campus property).
What Not to Bring
- Mini fridge or microwave (already provided in each room)
- Personal furniture (couches/ futons, chairs, headboards, etc.)
- Bed Risers
- LED light strips, lava lamps, or halogen lamps
- Cooking appliances with exposed coils (hot plates, toasters, etc.)
- Grills
- Space Heaters
- Fireworks or sparklers
- Candles, incense, or anything with an open flame
- Pets including fish or small animals (Note: Students who require a service or emotional support animal must contact the Disability Services at least 30 days before the semester begins. Emotional support animals may be approved for campus housing under the Fair Housing Act, but are not permitted in residence hall common areas, academic or public buildings. Documentation from a healthcare provider is required for all requests. For more information, review the full policy details).
- Hoverboards, or similar motorized devices.
- Toy or replica weapons (e.g. Nerf guns, airsoft, etc.)
- Weapons including switchblades, spring action and/or other knives longer than 3" (with the exception of kitchen knives), swords (including ceremonial or decorative swords), ammunition and shell casings, gunpowder, fireworks, explosives, or other flammable substances.
- Large sound equipment (amplifiers, subwoofers, etc.)
What’s Provided
- Standard twin bed with mattress (adjustable height, 33" clearance when raised)
- Desk (48"x24") and chair
- Dresser & closet or wardrobe (46–58" wide)
- MicroFridge unit (fridge + freezer + microwave)
- Windows range from 73"w x 65"h to 82"w x 64"h and come with either vinyl blinds or a rolling blind (most rooms have a rolling blind).
- Apartments/Quads: Couch, dining table & 4 chairs
Residence Hall Staff
Each of our traditional residence halls is supported by a dedicated team of professional and student staff who are here to help make your day-to-day life at Etown comfortable, connected, and supported.
RAs are returning students who apply for and are selected to serve in this vital campus leadership role. They are trained to foster community building, help with decision-making, and are there when you need a sounding board or advice. Each building has an RA-to-student ratio of about 1:30. They return to campus early for training on communication, health and well-being, policy, conflict mediation, crisis response, and mentorship. They participate in an on-call rotation each evening and are available to connect you to campus resources.
CAs are returning students eligible to live in the apartments or quads. They have previously served in the RA role and come to the independent living units (ILUs) to provide a touchpoint for upper-division students. They help with roommate agreements or mediations, deadlines, community development and building, and preparing students for the transition to off-campus life after graduation. They also participate in an on-call rotation each weekend evening and are available to connect you to campus resources.
ACs are professional staff who hold Masters degrees in Counseling, Leadership, or Higher Education Administration. They live on campus and supervise the RAs and CAs. They provide support to the RAs for higher-level issues. They also serve in an on-call rotation and are trained in more advanced levels of crisis response, mental health, and resource referrals. In addition, they often serve as conduct hearing officers through Student Rights and Responsibilities.
ES stands for Environmental Services and these are our amazing custodial and janitorial staff through facilities management. Each building has the same staff and we hope you get to know them and welcome them into the community!
Facilities and Maintenance staff are here to help with work orders you've submitted through our work order system. They are often in the buildings making repairs and proactively ensuring that everything from the heat to the plumbing is working properly.
Caldwell & Gregory is our laundry vendor. They come to campus when our laundry machines need repair and service. If you notice a machine needs tending to, please submit a service ticket with the QR code on the machine or email the information to service@caldwellandgregory.com. If emailing them remember to include the machine number and what building you are in.
Campus Security is available for lockouts, escorts to and from campus buildings, and support in the event of an emergency situation. They do not patrol the halls, but you may see them from time to time as they are here to keep us safe!
On-Campus Residences
Our residence halls offer a variety of room styles, from singles and doubles to triples and suites. Each space is designed for comfort, community, and a vibrant college experience. You'll find shared lounges, kitchens, laundry facilities, and fully furnished rooms that make it easy to feel at home while staying connected to campus life.
Additional Residential Options
Juniors and senior students are eligible for three additional residence options, the Schreiber Quadrangle (Quads), Hackman Apartments, and Campus Houses, which offer greater independence while staying rooted in the Etown community. These Independent Living Units (ILUs) feature private kitchens, in-unit bathrooms, and furnished common areas (except living rooms in houses).
Frequently Asked Questions
Housing and roommate assignments will be available on StarRez in early August.
Residence hall tours are available during some Admissions events and during June New Student Orientation.
First-year students typically reside in Founders or Schlosser residence halls. We believe there is value in first-year students living together as they learn to connect with and support one another, and the Residence Life team is committed to helping first-year students thrive at Etown.
Depending on availability, single rooms are for students with a documented medical accommodation that is approved by the Office of Disability Services.
In partnership with the Honors LLC program, we strongly encourage students in the program to room with other Honors students. Roommate pairs in which both students are in the program will receive priority housing placement over pairs where only one student is in the program.
Some of our coaches do ask their athletes to live with teammates. You and your teammate will need to select each other as roommates in your housing application in StarRez.
You will receive your housing assignment over the summer. Students who have completed 60 or more credits and are transferring from another college or university are considered Junior or Senior status and are eligible for housing in the Hackman Apartments or Schreiber Quadrangle, what we collectively refer to as our Independent Living Units or ILUs. ILUs are popular with our students and we cannot guarantee that ILUs are available for incoming transfer students. However, if you are transferring to Etown, have 60+ completed credits, and are interested in living in one of our ILUs, please email reslife@etown.edu to inquire about availability and/or be added to our waiting list. Otherwise, you will be housed in a traditional residence hall.
Sometimes roommate matches just don't work out. We encourage you to give it some time, but if it still doesn’t feel like a good fit, reach out to your RA or Area Coordinator. They’ll listen, offer support, and help you explore your options moving forward.
You may hear this information before we do. If your roommate shares that they won’t be attending, please encourage them to contact us directly. Without hearing from them, we can’t begin the process of assigning you a new roommate. Once we’re notified, we’ll work to place you with another student.
All student vehicles parking on campus must be registered. Campus Safety oversees parking and will be happy to answer your questions (717-361-1264). You can register your vehicle on Jayweb. Parking permits will be in your campus mailboxes.