Living on Campus

What a great way to make the transition from home to college life and meet new people from around the world! Enjoy the convenience of being steps instead of miles away from your 8:00 class! Make friends with the other students on your floor. Get together for a study session and order take-out pizza at midnight. You can even sign up for one of several residential learning communities that provide a shared academic experience in your residence hall!

Being part of the UT residential community offers you:

New Friends—Part of the total educational experience is meeting new friends and participating in the activities and programs offered at UT.
Convenience—You can walk, bike, or ride the “T” to class, the library, the Rec Center, and dining facilities. And visiting friends across campus is easy!
Housing Services—Cable and computer connections in your room; 24-hour desk operations with attention to your safety and security.
Value—Your rental rate is locked in for the entire school year. Free local phone service and no charge for utilities.

Roommates & Suitemates

There are no right or wrong answers as to what makes a good roommate. What we know is that it is important to find someone you can get along with who has similar study habits and whose lifestyle will fit with your own.

Does this mean you should live with your best friend? Some students say yes, that living with a best friend made their first year easier. Others say that it kept them from making new friends. Keep in mind that being friends is sometimes easier than being roommates.

Requesting A Roommate

If you would like to request a specific roommate or suitemate, you should do the following:

• Applicants must request each other by listing the requested student’s Social Security Number in the space provided at the bottom of the application. Roommates should be listed in the first set of boxes and suitemates in the second and third set.
• Both individuals must request the same three halls and visitation options in the same order; and
• Roommates must apply at the same time.

The sooner we receive the applications of all parties, the better chance you have of being assigned together. Although we try to honor all mutual roommate requests, space does not permit us to fill all of them. If you do not request a roommate, University Housing will assign one to you.

Roommate Assignments

You will be notified about two weeks prior to opening day of your room assignment and roommate. You will receive the name, address, and telephone number of your roommate, along with additional information about moving in. We encourage you to get in touch with your roommate before arriving.

Learn more about your fUTure on campus at the University Housing Web site.

Dining Services

Part of living on campus is eating on campus. UT Dining Services offers a variety of meal plan options for residents—and if you live in a dorm, you may have a cafeteria on premises. To make things a bit easier to "stomach," Meal Plan accounts are set up on your VolCard (that's your official university ID card), so there's never a need to dig between the cushions of the dorm couch to find your lunch money. If you choose a meal plan with Dining Dollars, you can use your VolCard at any campus dining location-- including convenience and grocery stores-- just like a debit card.

Books & Gear

This may come as a surprise, but you're expected to register for and attend classes while you're at UT. Your professors will assign textbooks for these classes, and you can purchase them here on campus at the UT Bookstore. Once you're there, you'll also find a wide variety of school supplies and UT gear, primarily in shades of orange and white. You may want to check out the educational discounts at the computer store while you're at it.

Bring your laptop, because we have wireless! As the most wireless campus in the world, UT Knoxville is known both nationally and internationally for its extensive wireless network coverage. UT provides access through more than 1200 wireless access points spanning over 15 million square feet of space. Almost all academic buildings have wireless access coverage as well as many of the campus' non-academic buildings, including many of the athletic facilities, lounges, and common areas.

The Life Preserver is the Office of Information Technology's guide to getting wired on our campus network, Nomad.

Dining Services now offers "Hip Kits," a way for your parents to quickly and easily send you a care package!

Dining Dollars may be purchased online by students (or parents) currently enrolled in any campus Meal Plan program. They're also good for the entire academic year--unused Dining Dollars roll over from fall to spring semester!

University Residency Policy states that all freshmen who do not commute from the home of a parent or legal guardian are required to live in theUniversity residence halls as long as space is available.

You’ll have the opportunity to turn your room into your home. We’ll give you a head start—each resident is provided with a twin bed (extra long), desk, desk chair, dresser, closet, mattress pad, trash can and micro-fridge.

Each residence hall has the following common features:
→ Post Office
→ ID card access
→ Cable hook-up
→ Telephone
→ Internet access
→ Air conditioning
→ Laundry room
→ Vending machines