Easing the Transition

College can be life-changing, for both students and their families. For many young men and women, this is their first experience with independence and living away from home. While it is an exciting time, it is also filled with many challenges and adjustments.

Throughout the school year, we will offer some guidance and insights into easing this transition.

Saying Good-bye In the middle of all the excitement of settling into rooms, meeting roommates and new friends, and learning more about Bryant, parents and families will have to say good-bye and give one last hug before leaving their child on campus. Move-in Day is the beginning of the Bryant Experience which is a weekend filled with activities and events, and most students are anxious to take part as quickly as they can. And most parents and families want to linger with their child. This day is often filled with tears and emotions, and although it can be difficult, we advise that farewells be kept short and sweet. Remember, Thanksgiving break is only a couple of months away. And students, your families are just a phone call away. They'll want to hear all about your new college experiences     Subscribe to Parents RSS Feed

Move-in Day: September 5, 2009

Move-in day, while well-organized on campus, can be a very stressful day for parents and students. President and Mrs. Machtley, Bryant staff, members of the Bryant Bulldogs football team, and student volunteers will all be on-hand to help new students settle into campus.

As you shop, pack, and prepare for Move-in Day, please keep the following in mind:

Pack light
Residence halls are spacious but they will not accommodate everything students may want to have for the entire school year. With a post office on campus, students and parents can easily ship personal items throughout the year. Students should also swap warm weather/cold weather clothes during semester holidays or breaks.

Moving can be physically strenuous. Please note that residence halls do not have elevators or air-conditioning, so bringing fewer things on campus means less to carry up and down the stairs.

Lastly, all first-year students who reside on campus will have a roommate. We encourage all students to coordinate with their roommate during the summer to avoid bringing multiples of large items such as televisions, MicroFridges, or ironing boards.

Bring items back home after they’ve been unpacked
Hand trucks and hard suitcases are great tools for moving. However, they take up a lot of room so we recommend that parents take these items back home. Collapsible duffel bags are a good luggage option that can remain with each student since they can easily be stored in a closet or underneath a bed when they’re not in use.

Extra snacks and beverages in the room
Bryant offers many options for dining and snacking on campus, but many students like to keep food in their rooms to supplement their meal plans. There are a number of supermarkets and home supply shops close to campus. We recommend that students purchase these items after they have unpacked their personal belongings rather than bring them from home so that they have a realistic sense of the amount of food and water they can fit in their rooms.

What to Bring

What Not to Bring

Many home and linen supply stores offer shopping lists for “dorm” life. Many items on these lists are unnecessary, and even prohibited, on campus. Make your on-campus experience more enjoyable – and save money – by ignoring these lists.

Prohibited items in Residence Halls include but are NOT limited to:

• Any heat-producing appliances including hot plates, rice cookers, heating/immersion coils, electric fry pans, toasters, toaster ovens, and microwave ovens
• Blenders
• Refrigerators larger than 4 cubic feet
• Halogen lamps and 5-headed floor lamps
• Extension cords. Please use a surge protector instead
• Candles and incense (lit or unlit)
• Lofts, bars, cinder blocks, or any extra furniture (including tables)
• Wooden drying racks (plastic or metal is okay)
• Rugs of any kind
• Weights
• Dartboards/darts 
• Traffic or neon signs
• Water beds, hot tubs, or kiddie pools
• Motorcycles, mopeds, or other gas powered vehicles
• Fireworks/Explosives, ammunition, firearms, BB guns, knives or any other type of weapon
• Kegalators, keg refrigerators, taps or funnels, or any other drug/alcohol paraphernalia
• Animals of any kind, except non-carnivorous small fish. Review the student handbook for tank requirements
• Deep freeze units

The University reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to deem other items prohibited.

For more information about what to bring to campus, or questions about the residence halls, please contact the Office of Residence Life at reslife@bryant.edu or 401-232-6140.