Moving In

What to Pack

Toiletries

• Personal hygiene products
• Bathrobe & shower shoes
• Shower caddy
• Towels/wash cloths

Bedding

• Standard twin bedsheets*

• Mattress cover

• Pillows & pillowcases

• Duvet/blankets

*Double beds in Gordon Hall only

Essentials

• Storage containers

• Clothing hangers

• Clothing & shoes

• Slippers

• Umbrella

• Sunscreen

• Laundry bag/basket/bin

• Laundry detergent

• Fabric softener

• Dryer sheets

• Sanitizer

• Disinfectant wipes

• Cleaning supplies

• Paper towels

• Tissue box

• First aid kit

• Medication

• Dishes & cutlery

• Glasses & mugs

• Reusable travel mug

• Reusable water bottle

• Snacks

• Earplugs

• Wallet

• Health Card & IDs

• University documents

School Supplies

• Backpack

• Pens/pencils/highlighters

• Whiteout/eraser

• Pencil case

• Notebooks/binders

• USB Stick

Electronics

• Alarm clock

• Portable fan

• Surge protector/power bar

• Extension cord

• Headphones/earbuds

• Laptop/tablet & charger

• Cell phone & charger

• Mini fridge*

*You can skip the hassle of bringing a mini fridge and rent one for your residence room. No need to bring a fridge from home on move-in day! Pre‑order a rental through our partner, Coldex, and have it waiting in your room when you arrive. Learn more!

Decorations

• Posters/wall art/pictures

• Fairy lights/Lamps

• Tapestries

• Small carpet

• Throw pillows

For students living in residences with a fully equipped kitchen such as West Village, East Village, or East Residence Suites, consider also packing dish soap, a dish towel, a sponge, basic cooking supplies, pots and pans, and some groceries.

Residence First Aid Kit

Bringing a first aid kit is a good idea for emergencies! Here is what we recommend you bring:

• A copy of your immunization record
• Adhesive bandages (multiple sizes)
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing ≥60% alcohol
• Antiseptic wound cleanser (for example, alcohol or iodine pads)
• Tensor bandages for sprains
• Digital Thermometer
• Tweezers for removing splinters etc.
• Allergy medication, such as an antihistamine, or epinephrine prescribed by your doctor, such as an Epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen®) if indicated
• 1% hydrocortisone cream to treat minor skin irritation, such as itching caused by bug bites or poison ivy
• Antibacterial ointments or creams to apply to wounds to prevent infection
• Cold and flu medications, such as decongestants or throat lozenges
• Adequate supply of condoms
• Ear plugs to reduce noise
• Insect repellent containing DEET
• Sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection, SPF 30 or higher

What NOT to Pack

• More than one vehicle

• Alcohol (during Orientation Week)

• Alcohol & substance paraphernalia (e.g., funnels, drinking hats, pipes, bongs, etc.)

• Beer bottles, bubbas, kegs or mini kegs

• Candles or incense (open flames are not permitted)

• Drum sets

• Electric/gas heaters or heat lamps

• Explosives or fireworks

• Large exercise equipment (e.g., treadmills, stationary bikes, peloton)

• Large pieces of furniture (e.g., folding tables, couch)

• Halogen lamps (they are a fire hazard)

• Wireless printers or routers

• Landline phones or fax machines

• Pets (except non-dangerous fish)

• Satellite dishes

• Water coolers

• Water beds

• Weapons

• Hot Tubs

• Kitchen appliances to use in room (e.g., a toaster, microwave, freezer, laundry machines, hot plate, panini press, indoor grill, air fryer)

  • West Village, East Village and East Residence Suites are exempted as they have a full kitchen.
  • Small appliances may be used in kitchenette lounges.

This list includes items prohibited under the Residence Community Living Standards. 

Rent a Mini Fridge from Coldex

Want a mini fridge in your residence room? 

No need to bring a fridge from home on move-in day! Pre‑order a rental through our partner, Coldex, and have it waiting in your room when you arrive.

Learn More | Rent a Mini Fridge

Remember to label all boxes or packing containers with your first and last name, residence hall and room number. 
Download our Residence Move-In Label template 

• South Residence is divided into three halls – Mountain, Prairie, and Maritime. 
• Each Hall is divided into four communities: 
  • Mountain Hall Communities: Valley, Foothills, Woodlands, and Glacier 
  • Prairie Hall Communities: Horizon, Grasslands, Homestead, and Tundra
  • Maritime Hall Communities: Cove, Seaway, Harbour and Schooner  
• Each community is divided into Three Towers. 
• Towers are numbered 1, 2, and 3. 
• Each tower is divided into rooms. 
• Rooms can either be an Alcove Room (inside the tower) or Corridor Room (between towers). 
• Each room is labelled as A, B, C, or D (for multi-occupancy rooms). Specific beds within a room are NOT assigned. It is up to you and your roommate(s) to decide who will take which bed. We encourge you to communicate in advance. Some students flip a coin, or decide by date of birth, or first-come-first-pick. If there are conflicts or special needs, a Residence Assistant (RA) can help mediate a fair outcome. 

Understanding Your Room Number 

• Example: Grasslands 245-A 
• You are in Prairie Hall – Grasslands. 
• The first digit is the tower number. You are in Tower 2. 
• The second digit is the floor number. 
• You are on the Fourth Floor. The last digit is the room number. 
• Your room number is 5. 
• You are student A. In a multi-occupancy room, this may say B or C or D. Check the room type on the Housing Portal to verify the occupancy level. In a single room, you can disregard the “A”. 

Please note: All rooms are above ground and have windows with natural light. If you are on Level 1 (the middle number of your room number is 1), you are still above ground. Street level (the entry overpass) is between Level 2 and 3. 

Alcove or Corridor Room? 

If the last number of your room number is 0-5, you are in an ALCOVE room (within the tower). 

If the last number of your room number is 6-9, you are in a CORRIDOR room (between the towers). All rooms have the same amenities and furnishings, but each style of room has a different layout. 

See Roommates on the Portal? 

Your South room assignment may show other roommates. This may be other students in the alcove or corridor with you. Check their room assignment to verify!

Residences in Johnston are on floors 2, 3, and 4. The second floor is home to Academic Clusters, and the first is the administration offices for the Ontario Agricultural College.

Mills Hall has primarily triple and quad rooms. Single rooms are located on the fourth floor.

Watson Hall is our all-female residence, home of primarily double rooms.

Maids Hall is home to Arts House, a Living Learning Community of primarily double rooms.

Understanding Your Room Number

• Example: Johnston 311-A
• The first digit is the floor. You are on Floor 3.
• The second and third digits is the room number. You are in Room 11.
• You are student A. In a multi-occupancy room, this may say B or C or D. Check the room type on the Housing Portal to verify the occupancy level.  

Lambton Hall is home to suites on the first and second floors, and double rooms on the third and fourth.

Understanding Your Room Number

Example: Lambton 2311-A

• The first digit is the floor. You are on Floor 2.
• The second and third digits is the room/suite number. You are in Suite 31.
• Lambton Suites have a fourth digit, indicating the suite number. This will be 1, 2, or 3.
• You are student A. In a double room, this may say B. Check the room type on the Housing Portal to verify the occupancy level. In a suite, you can disregard the “A”.

Lennox Addington is divided into three areas: Lennox-A, Lennox-C, and Addington. Lennox-C is home to a Study Intensive community, and Addington includes Academic Clusters.

Understanding Your Room Number

Example: Addington 0905-A

• You are in Addington Hall.
• The first two digits are the floor. You are on Floor 9.
• The last digit is the room number. You are in Room 5.
• You are student A. In a multi-occupancy room, this may say B or C. Check the room type on the Housing Portal to verify the occupancy level. In a single room, you can disregard the “A”. 

East Residence is comprised of Dundas, Lanark, and Glengarry Halls in an apartment/suite style. Dundas is home to Living Learning Communities.

Understanding Your Room Number

Example: Glengarry 0336-A

• You are in Glengarry Hall.
• The first two digits are the floor. You are on Floor 3.
• The last digit is the room number. You are in Room 6.
• You are student A. In a multi-occupancy room, this may say B. Check the room type on the Housing Portal to verify the occupancy level. In a single room, you can disregard the “A”. 

East Village has single or double rooms with a low bathroom ratio and shared kitchen, dining, and living room.

Understanding Your Room Number

Example: East Village 1204-A

• The first three digits are the townhouse number. You are on Townhouse 120.
• The last digit is the room number. You are in Room 4.
• You are student A. In a double room, this may say B. Check the room type on the Housing Portal to verify the occupancy level. In a single room, you can disregard the “A”. 

Although we are here to guide and support you with your move, you are responsible for moving your belongings into residence.

Moving into residence is a physically demanding process. Elevators are not available in all residences and stairs may be required. Large and heavy items (such as mini fridges) will need to be moved by you. Consider packing in a way that makes items light and easy to carry when possible.

We will have plenty of carts available for you to use but consider bringing your own if you have one!

Move-in is a busy time on campus. Any pets should stay at home, excluding service animals.

If you are a student living in residence with a service animal, be sure to email housing@uoguelph.ca for support through the approval process if this has not yet been completed.

We encourage you to limit the number of people who are there to help you move to only those who are essential. We suggest you bring ONE vehicle with you for your move. Fewer people in our residence buildings will make everyone’s move quicker and more efficient.

Once you have finished moving everything to your room, it is important to move your vehicle out of the loading area immediately to keep traffic flowing.  

Now that you’re a Gryphon, it’s time to enjoy all that campus has to offer! Saying goodbye is hard, but we are here to support you. We encourage your family to say their goodbyes after you have moved in. However, they are welcome to take a walk on campus, grab a bite of our legendary campus food, or take a stroll in the Arboretum.  

Please ensure that your car is moved to your designated parking lot before exploring campus to avoid being towed!

It’s important to bring posters and belongings to make your residence room feel like home! Be mindful of how you attach things to walls. You are encouraged to use 3M command strips or other materials that won’t damage the walls to avoid charges. Unfortunately, strip lights affixed to walls are not permitted for this reason. 

Our residence desks will have sticky tabs available to make hanging those items easier, but you can also bring your own as quantities are limited.