This guide covers all the information you’ll need to make a smooth transition to campus life here at Indiana University Bloomington.
What you need to know about moving
Insurance
As noted in your housing contract, IU does not assume any financial responsibility for the personal property of students or large-scale unintentional damage that students cause to housing property. We strongly encourage residents to obtain renters insurance prior to moving on campus.
You may purchase renters insurance through any provider. IU has partnered with GradGuard to make their renters insurance plan available at preferred rates. Please visit the GradGuard website if you have any questions about coverage, exclusions, and pricing
Shipping and Your Mailing Address
Students who wish to move fewer things to campus in August may ship items directly to their assigned apartment building. Please arrange for your items to arrive on or after the starting date of your 2024–25 apartment contract.
All packages (regardless of time of year) shipped via USPS, UPS, FedEx, Amazon, DHL, etc. must include your campus mailing address as outlined below:
Example:
| Resident's full name: | Jaylen Smith |
| Street address of assigned apartment building and apartment number: | 800 N. Union Street, Apt.121 Bloomington, IN 47408 |
Center desk staff are not authorized to give a package to a resident unless the mailing address is listed in the above format. If it is not, they are required return the package to the sender.
The Packing List
To protect the health and safety of everyone, we cannot permit some items in the buildings. This list of prohibited items will help you determine what you need to leave at home.
Please note that all electrical appliances must be:
- Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listed
- Equipped with thermostatic controls, when appropriate
- Rated at 700 watts (6 amps) or less
More information about university safety policies and Indiana Codes is available from the Office of Insurance, Loss Control & Claims.
The university does not assume responsibility for any loss to person(s) or personal property. It is recommended that you maintain adequate public liability insurance coverage and renters insurance coverage for your personal property. IU recommends GradGuard as the preferred vendor.
Prohibited items
- Air conditioners — must be installed by IU Housing
- Alcohol (unless 21 or over)
- Antennas and satellite dishes
- Combustible liquids—including pressurized butane canisters
- Dishwashers
- Drones
- Clothes washers
- Electric open-coil heaters or any appliances with exposed burners
- Firearms—including BB guns, Paintball guns, pellet guns, and slingshots
- Fireworks
- Full-size refrigerators and freezers
- Grills of any type including charcoal, electric, and propane indoor grills
- Halogen lights and lamps
- Hot plates
- Immersion water heater coils for heating water
- Incense and incense burners
- Pets (unless approved by IU Accessible Educational Services)
- Portable washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers
- Power tools
- Smoking devices (e.g., hookahs, pipes, electronic cigarettes, vapes)
- Stoves and camping stoves
- Sun lamps and tanning beds
Information About your Parking Permit
Parking permits for the 2024-2025 academic year will become available for purchase online through the IU Parking Portal on August 1.
On Thursdays throughout the month of August, Parking Operations will send email offer notifications for Campus Housing (CH) permits to your IU email. If you have requested a CH permit through the CH permit waitlist, you will be notified through your IU email if you have been selected to purchase a permit.
CH Permit offers must be accepted by completing the purchase of the permit in the online parking portal, prior to the specified offer deadline. CH Permit offers will expire on the Wednesday following the offer email. All unclaimed CH permits will be reoffered on Thursdays to the next students on the waitlist, so expired offers cannot be extended.
If you do not receive an offer, please check your email each Thursday through August to see of an offer is made. If by August 30, you have not received a CH permit offer, please proceed to purchase a Student (ST) permit. Upon completion of your purchase, you will receive a link to print a temporary permit to place on your vehicle for immediate use. ST and Evening permits are only available for purchase online with bursar billing as the payment method. An ST permit will not be required to be displayed in any ST zone until September 1.
ST and Evening permits purchases will be delivered through the US Mail. Please be sure to enter your local or campus mailing address, including Center, room and apartment number, to receive your ST or Evening permit.
CH permits will not be mailed but must be picked up at parking operations in the Henderson Garage, beginning Wednesday, August 21.
Computing
Once you connect to IU's network, you'll be able to use your personal PC, laptop, or tablet. You'll also have use of PCs, Macs and printers in the residential technology centers in each apartment building.
Locations, hours, services, and software are available at the IU RTC Knowledge Base.