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What to Expect and Planning 

phone: 919-684-4304 | email: housing@duke.edu | studentaffairs.duke.edu/hdrl

Each house has its own personality and community, but common features include: 

  • Main common room with a piano and television 
  • Kitchen with stove and refrigerator 
  • Laundry facilities 
  • Vending machines 
  • Shared bathrooms 
  • Game tables such as pool and ping pong tables (these vary by house) 

Learn about more hall amenities on our website at: students.duke.edu/living/housing/amenities-services/ 

All residence halls on East Campus have air conditioning. Types of A/C include: central air and window units. 

Your DukeCard provides access to everything from your residence hall to athletic events, to dining, and virtually eliminates the need to carry cash on campus. More information about DukeCard can be found in the Blue Book or at their website: dukecard.duke.edu/mobile-dukecard.  

DukeCards may not be loaned or borrowed; you may only use your Mobile DukeCard on your own personal device. Lost/stolen DukeCards should be reported immediately to the DukeCard Office.

Each residence hall utilizes card-access entry and first-floor window security screens. Duke Police also operate substations on East Campus in Bell Tower and behind Wilson. 

DukeCard and coin-operated laundry machines are located in laundry rooms throughout the residence halls. This service is provided through Duke Vending. To report broken machines or to request reimbursement when money is lost in the machines, call Duke Vending at 684-8363. Your HRL Campus Office will be happy to help you contact Duke Vending to get machines repaired. To report any other problems with the laundry facilities please call your HRL Campus Office. 

Duke University and Duke University Health System is a tobacco-free campus. This policy applies to all property and grounds owned or leased by Duke, including construction project sites owned or leased by Duke. This policy prohibits the use of all tobacco-based products, including cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, hookahs, chewing tobacco, snuff, and electronic vaping devices such as e-cigarettes, vaping products, IQOS, as well as any other forms of tobacco. The use of FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy such as nicotine patches, gum, lozenges or inhaler will be allowed

Individual bedrooms are not equipped with cable or internet TV. Common areas in your house have a shared TV with internet TV. Many students choose to bring a TV for gaming or for watching TV/movies through the streaming services purchased at the student’s expense. 

Most buildings have a designated room for trash and recycling. Alspaugh, Blackwell, Pegram and Randolph have several trash and recycling nooks. Duke strongly supports recycling efforts and provides each student bedroom with a recycling container. Residence halls have single-stream recycling. Duke Recycles maintains a list of specific items that should be recycled: https://facilities.duke.edu/services/waste-reduction/duke-recycles.


Cleaning supplies are available for student use. Duke University does not clean individual bedrooms during the academic year. Students are expected to keep their rooms orderly and sanitary. Health and safety inspections of each room are completed three times a year: Before Fall Break, for Winter Break closing, and before Spring Break. 

The differing architectural style of the residence halls on East Campus means that there really is no “typical” room. However, each room does have similar furnishings. When you move in, you will have: 

  • Bed and mattress. Click here for exact bed and mattress size information for each residence hall.
  • Chest of drawers 
  • Closet or wardrobe (about 10 cubic feet) 
  • Student desk and desk chair 
  • Bookcase (not in Trinity residence hall)

Some rooms are carpeted and some have wooden floors. Once assigned, you can access the HRL website and find links to pictures of your building and some sample rooms. Additional furnishings, such as futons and rugs, may be added to the room with the consent of all residents of that room. Residents are responsible for all furnishings provided in the room. University-provided furniture may not be removed from the room. 

All residence halls are equipped with wireless internet access. One port per room is activated to provide ethernet connection if needed. Contact the Office of Information Technology (OIT) Help Desk via their website or at 919-684-2200. 

Duke University is not liable for damage, theft, or loss of a resident’s personal belongings and does not carry insurance to cover such loss or damage. Personal property insurance/renters insurance is a wise investment for all residents. You may be covered under a policy carried by your parent(s) or guardian; have them contact their insurance agent to be sure. 

Students should plan to bring a cell/smart phone to use as their primary phone. Residence halls are equipped with signal boosters to enhance the quality of phone reception. 


  • Bedding and pillows (please review the “Amenities and Services” page on the Housing website to see what sized bedding to purchase based on your assignment.) 
  • Bath towels and cloths 
  • Bathrobe, slippers, shower shoes 
  • Cleaning Products 
  • First-Aid kit 
  • Plates, bowls, cups, and utensils 
  • Food storage containers 
  • Pots and pans (if you like to cook) 
  • Broom and/or vacuum 
  • Warm and cool weather clothes and jackets 
  • Hangers 
  • Re-usable water bottle 
  • Umbrella 
  • Photos and posters to personalize your space (please use blue painter’s tape or command strips for hanging items) 
  • Photo ID 
  • Shower bucket 
  • Toiletries (shower gel, shampoo/conditioner, soap, feminine hygiene products, etc.) 
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste 
  • Prescription medications and supplements 
  • Flip-flops for showering 
  • Laundry bag/basket and detergent 
  • Desk lamp 
  • Laptop/ipads 
  • School supplies: stapler, pens, pencils, notebooks, stationary, stamps 
  • Other class specific items communicated by your professors 
  • Chargers and cords for your technology 
  • Headphones 
  • UL-approved power strips (please avoid extension cords) 
  • Rice cookers 
  • Coffee makers that do not have an open heating element 
  • Electric kettles 
  • Iron 
  • Alarm clock 
  • Flashlight 
  • TV  
  • Gaming system 
  • Bike, scooter, moped (for outdoor use) 

  • Large furniture (e.g., sofas/futons, lounge chairs, bookshelves, beds/mattresses, etc.) 
  • Bed risers are permitted. However, we do not allow bed lofts, nor will we loft your bed for you. 
  • Your pet(s), unless it’s an Emotional Support or Service animal approved through SDAO 
  • Fish in aquariums less than 25 gallons are permitted. 
  • Personal items of high monetary or sentimental value (e.g., jewelry, irreplaceable family heirlooms or photos, etc.) 
  • Personal printers (each community has a networked printer for student use) 
  • Students are encouraged to rent a micro-fridge from Blue Devil Deliveries. Orders are open for the 2023-24 school year via our partner, Collegiate Concepts, Inc. All orders placed by 8/1 are guaranteed delivery to your room before main move-in date. All units are brand new–never used before. More information can be found on the HRL website.
  • Appliances with an open heating coil or unit (e.g., hot plates, toasters, toaster items, portable grills, air fryers) 
  • For damage and safety reasons the following items are specifically prohibited in student rooms, suites, and apartments: halogen lamps, all types of strip lights with adhesive backing, and all types of string lights.
  • Candles, halogen lamps, lava lamps, “spider lamps”, hoverboards 
  • Alcohol, cannabis or illegal drugs (and any related paraphernalia) 
  • Students are allowed to have cigarettes and tobacco-vapes; however, Duke University is a smoke-free campus. Students are not permitted to use these products inside the residence halls or on campus. 
  • Nails, thumbtacks, hammers, and abrasive tape (e.g., duct tape, two side tape) and other items that could damage walls 
  • Personal AC units or space heaters (each room has central air or a window AC unit) 
  • Water-based furniture (e.g., water beds) 
  • Weapons (e.g., firearms (including BB, pellet guns, airsoft guns, etc.), explosives, large knives and swords, bow and arrows, etc.) These are prohibited for actual use or for decoration on Duke’s campus 
  • Flammable items (e.g., lighter fluid, charcoal, propane tanks, paint, other items and fluids that can easily catch on fire). 

CAMPUS MAIL SERVICES

phone: 919-382-4500 | email: dukepostoffice@duke.edu | postoffice.duke.edu/

Duke Campus Mail Services handles over 3 million pieces of U.S. Mail and 136,000 parcels yearly for the University and Health System. In order to ensure timely delivery of your mail and packages, we have created this Survival Mail Guide to get you through with the basic mail services. 

For information about using your mailbox, including getting your first mailbox assignment to learning how to address your letters and packages and even replacing keys and questions about fees: 

The Student Mailbox Center service window is also available for packages too large to fit in a mailbox. See Locations & Hours for a full list of hours and holidays. 

Learn how to address mail and packages to students living on campus.

For information about items requiring special handling, perishable items, and tracking your parcels: