Before you pack up your life and move to our beautiful historic Gainesville campus, we encourage you to take a look at some of the recommendations provided below. We want you to feel comfortable at Brenau,but bringing everything you own is probably not the best idea, since you’ll be sharing space with a roommate. We also recommend cutting back on the number of electrical appliances you keep in the room. Many of our residence halls are historic, and can’t handle an abundance of electrical systems.

What should you definitely bring?

  • Alarm Clock
  • Bedding, blanket or quilt
  • Camera
  • Computer 
  • Cleaning products — you are responsible for cleaning your room and bathroom 
  • Clothes — summer, winter, formal, casual
  • Deodorant
  • Dishes or tupperware for storing food items
  • Dry erase board for messages
  • Ethernet cord (for better internet connectivity)
  • Hair dryer, curling iron, etc.
  • Hangers
  • Laundry essentials — basket, detergent, dryer sheets 
  • Mattress pad
  • Microwave — between 600 and 800 watts
  • Notebooks, pens, pencils, highlighters, stapler, tape
  • One pot coffee maker (like a Keurig) — it can’t have and exposed heating element
  • Photos of family, friends, pets, etc.
  • Pillows
  • Raincoat, boots, umbrella
  • Razors
  • Refrigerator — as long as it’s under 4 cubic feet
  • Sewing kit
  • Shampoo, soap, shower caddy
  • Sheets — regular twin size
  • Surge protector (extension cords are NOT allowed)
  • Towels, washcloths
  • 3M Poster tape or push pins (for the newer buildings only)

Top 10 Dorm Room Essentials

  1. Keurig for your late night/early morning study sessions 
  2. Headphones for when you really need to focus
  3. Desk lamp so you can study when your roommate needs some sleep 
  4. Decor that makes your room feel like home
  5. A mirror to make sure your fit is 🔥
  6. Power strips. Need we say more?
  7. Mini fridge to hold all your chilly snacks
  8. Lots of pillows and blankets, so you can get cozy
  9. Toiletries for all the obvious reasons
  10. Microwave to make all of your cheap ramen, just keep it 600-800 watts.

What can you NOT bring?

Most of the items in this list are not allowed for health and safety reasons or because they may damage the university’s property. Items like extra appliances, halogen lamps, Christmas tree lights, extension cords and candles are fire hazards. We are held to the state and federal laws for fire safety and must comply with the local fire marshal. The remaining items are not allowed because of space, health issues or maintenance upkeep.

  • Air conditioners
  • Candles, plug-in deodorizers, heated oil diffusers
  • Christmas trees or lights
  • Extension cords
  • Halogen lamps
  • Incense
  • Lava lamps
  • Mosquito netting above the bed
  • Multihead plug cords — “Octopi”
  • Nails or screws
  • Open element appliances (hot plates, coffee makers, space heaters)
  • Paper lamps
  • Paint
  • Pets —  fish are the ONLY exception (One 5-gallon tank per room maximum)
  • Power tools
  • Sun lamps
  • Wallpaper, decals, bumper stickers, etc.
  • Wireless printers (these interfere with the university’s wireless network)
  • Wireless router/access point  (Brenau supplies all wireless access points in residence halls)

Please respect these requests and remember you are living in a community where your actions affect those living around you. Disregarding this information can result in fines with the possibility of removal from the residence halls.