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Move-In Email Archive

On-campus Living Tips for Incoming Hokies

Residential Experience Campus Countdown

Each summer, Virginia Tech Residential Experience helps incoming Hokies prepare for fall move-in through a series of interactive emails. Incoming Hokies can follow along with the series in their vt.edu email for helpful Hokie Hints about life on campus — from living with roommates to fire safety, laundry, trash, and more.

The information provided in this email series is archived on this website — check back weekly for updates.

Please note: There is a giveaway tied to the email series. It is exclusively for incoming students in the fall class of each year through their vt.edu email. If you're part of the class of 2030, be sure to check your inbox for more information and chances to enter the Fall 2026 Campus Countdown Giveaway.

Email: Wednesday, June 10

Hokies — the Campus Countdown for the class of 2030 starts this June! Follow along with our interactive email series this summer to prepare for on-campus living and win Hokie-themed merch.

Each Campus Countdown email will include helpful videos, links, and resources about the Residential Experience to help you prepare for your move to campus life. Keep reading to learn more and take the survey in this email for your first entry!

If you have ever wondered what happens when you lock yourself out of your residence hall or worried about roommate disagreements, this email series is for you.

Here's How it Works

  • Each week, you will receive an email covering important topics related to on-campus living at your vt.edu email address.
  • Read our helpful Hokie Hints, then fill out the survey attached to the email to earn one entry into the giveaway.
  • You earn one entry for each email survey completed.
  • Winners choose their prizes on a first-come basis, starting with participants who complete the most surveys.

The Residential Experience

At Virginia Tech, our priority is to ensure every student that calls our campus home has the best experience possible.

We have four offices dedicated to YOUR on-campus Residential Experience. Each office has a specialized function, from work orders to mental health, designed to help you. Learn more about these offices on Instagram or click the links above for contact information.

At Virginia Tech, the Residential Experience includes:

  • Housing Services.
  • Residential Well-being.
  • Student Affairs Facilities and Operations.
  • Living-Learning Programs.

Get Ready to Move-in and Win

Do these four things to prep for move-in and learn more about the Campus Countdown

  • Complete your New Student Checklist, the essential incoming Hokie to-do list, at the link below. Have you checked off all the steps?
  • Check your vt.edu email often — housing deadlines, Campus Countdown updates, and tips for living on-campus at VT
  • Get to know FERPA: You’re in charge of your records now! FERPA is a federal law that says only you (the student) can decide who has access to your info. Want someone to have access or communicate with VT for you? You’ll need to set them up with permissions. Look under “June” on the Checklist for more info!
  • Follow @vtresidential on Instagram to stay informed about your on-campus experience

Email: Sunday, June 14

Hey Hokie!

It is time for New Student Room Selection - the process through which YOU select your on-campus home!

Almost all Virginia Tech students choose their own residence hall and room, with a few exceptions covered below. Keep reading for:

  • Room selection tips, with or without a roommate group.
  • How to select you and your preferred roommate living together.
  • Text and video walkthroughs for room and roommate selection.
  • How to handle housing accommodation requests.

Take the survey in this email to earn another entry into our summer giveaway series!

Your Room Selection Timeslot

Your time slot is the exact day and time you will select the building/room you’ll live in and your roommate using the StarRez Portal. Time slots are given based on the order in which students signed their housing contracts and cannot be changed.

  • Check your vt.edu email address regularly — that is where you will receive your time slot.
  • The email will also state the deadline for you to choose your room. If you miss the deadline, you will be manually placed!
  • If you cannot find the email, you can also see your time slot in the StarRez Portal.

Room Selection and Roommate Group Tutorials

There are text and video tutorials with step-by-step instructions on selecting a room and creating a roommate group! It is highly recommended that you review these materials before your room selection time slot.

Once you (or the group leader of your roommate group) completes the steps in the walkthrough and selects a room, you are finished with the process and cannot make changes. The assignment is set and can only be changed by the Housing Services office.

Roommate Groups and Room Selection

Planning to live with a friend this fall? Follow these steps to make sure you end up in the same room!

A roommate group, which can only include two people, allows two students to go through room selection together.

  • Make sure your roommate group is created and verified in the StarRez Portal — unverified groups won’t be pulled into the same room. If you change group leadership, reverify.
  • The roommate with the earlier room selection time slot should be the leader!
  • Only the group leader can make the room selection and the other roommate should not login.
  • When the time slot opens, log into the StarRez Portal to select.

Living-Learning Communities

  • When searching for roommates, if you are not in an LLC, leave the LLC roommate questions on “any.”
  • If you are in an LLC, select “yes.” If you are in an LLC, your roommate must be in the same LLC.
  • Our system cannot pull one student in the LLC and one student who is not in the LLC to a roommate group.
  • LLCs have specific buildings/rooms designated for them. Only LLC students can be in those rooms.
  • If your LLC has houses, roommates must be in the same house.

Groups Not Selecting their Own Room

Some students will not select their own room. Check your vt.edu email for more info.

  • Students who sign their housing contract late in the process/close to the deadline.
  • Students who get a time slot and don’t select a room during it.
  • Members of the Corps of Cadets.
  • Athletes on the Athletics Roster.
  • Students whose SSD accommodations require specific placements.

Consider disability-related and access needs

Helpful Hokie Resources

  • Complete your New Student Checklist, the essential incoming Hokie to-do list. Have you checked off all the steps?
  • Check your vt.edu email each week for more on-campus life tips, important housing information, and chances to win our summer giveaway!
  • Get to know FERPA: You’re in charge of your records now! FERPA is a federal law that says only you (the student) can decide who has access to your info. Want someone to have access or communicate with VT for you? You’ll need to set them up with permissions. Look under “June” on the Checklist for more info!
  • Follow @vtresidential on Instagram to stay informed about your on-campus experience.

Email: Tuesday, June 23

Hey Hokie! Do you have your packing list ready for fall ‘26 move in?

Keep reading for our Hokie Hints on what you ACTUALLY need to bring to campus (and a few things you can’t), or watch a short video about packing.

Don’t forget to take the short survey linked in this email to earn your entry, and follow us on Instagram @vtresidential for more info.

Download Our Official Packing List

What to bring, what to leave at home? Download and print our check-off packing list to start your on-campus journey strong.

Leave These Items at Home

Save yourself some packing space and leave these items at home. The following items violate Virginia Tech housing policy.

You will have a MicroFridge and a microwave provided in your room.

  • You are not permitted to bring additional microwaves or refrigerators with you.
  • You are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of these items in your room.

E-scooters and other transportation devices powered by lithium-ion batteries cannot be stored or charged on campus.

  • As a fire safety precaution and to remain compliant with university Policy 5005, these devices are not permitted inside any university buildings.
  • While they may be secured at outdoor bike racks, charging these devices on campus, whether indoors or outdoors, is also strictly prohibited.
  • Should any prohibited items be found within university buildings, the matter may be referred to Student Conduct for further action. If you have questions, learn more about Policy 5005.

Other items to leave at home include:

  • Any open-coiled appliance
  • Air conditioners
  • Candles
  • Electric blankets
  • Electric stoves
  • Grills
  • Plug-in air fresheners
  • Space heaters
  • Toasters
  • Ovens
  • Hot plates
  • Halogen lamps
  • 3D printers

Virginia Tech Mail Services

Shipping packages to campus? Love online shopping? Here’s what you need to know about campus mail.

  • If you are mailing packages to yourself before move-in, please plan for them to arrive no earlier than the week of August 03 to help manage the increased volume during that time.
  • Move-in is BUSY for Mail Services, so processing delays are more likely. Pack essentials for your first two weeks, shop local when you arrive, and order early.
  • You’ll receive an email once your package arrives. It’s important to pick it up ASAP.
  • For best results, use the Campus Mail Portal to track your packages and always use your proper residence hall address.
  • Packages with incomplete addresses are refused and handed back to the carrier as they arrive.
  • Packages with incorrect address information are held in a “Mystery” area. Students can claim them by submitting their tracking number in the Portal.
  • For more details and address formatting tips, visit the Mail Services website.

Personalize your Residence Hall

Make your residence hall room feel like home with these specialized room items.

Our office of Residential Well-being has long-standing partnerships with vendors who offer specialized room items for students living in Virginia Tech's residence hall rooms.

Helpful Hokie Resources

  • Complete your New Student Checklist, the essential incoming Hokie to-do list. Have you checked off all the steps?
  • Check your vt.edu email each week for more on-campus life tips, important housing information, and chances to win our summer giveaway.
  • Get to know FERPA: You’re in charge of your records now. FERPA is a federal law that says only you (the student) can decide who has access to your info. Want someone to have access or communicate with VT for you? You’ll need to set them up with permissions. Look under “June” on the Checklist for more info.

Email: Monday, June 29

Hey Hokie!

Are you ready to earn a giveaway entry and learn more about life at Virginia Tech?

Life on campus comes with many changes, and getting a roommate or two is a big one! Check out our Hokie Hints on how to live with a roommate below, or watch a quick reel about roommate relationships by Hokies for Hokies.

Don’t forget to take the short survey linked in this email to earn your entry, and follow us on Instagram @vtresidential for more info! See past Campus Countdown emails on our website.

Living with Roommates can be Amazing...

We know it can be challenging to share a small living space, a bathroom facility, and more with another person.

BUT — it's also an important part of the college experience and can lead to close friendships that last beyond your time at Virginia Tech. Here are our top tips for making the most of your roommate experience.

  1. Discuss Schedules
    • What are your preferred sleep and study schedules? When will you be at class or work?
  2. Respect Privacy and Belongings
    • What items can be shared? What are your individual needs regarding privacy?
  3. Discuss Guests
    • When will guests be allowed in the room?
  4. Keep it Clean
    • How will you work together to keep your space clean? What chores will be done and how often?
  5. Plan for Communication and Compromise
    • How will you handle conflict? Discuss concerns as soon as they arise and plan for compromise. If you and your roommate cannot reach an agreement after discussing your concerns with each other, contact your Student Leader (SL).
    • Key Topics to Discuss
      • What time do you wake up? Are you a light sleeper? Do you take naps?
      • Will we share personal belongings? Are some things off limits?
      • Will we schedule quiet times for studying or sleeping?
      • How do you study best (e.g., music, silence, privacy)?
      • How frequently can guests visit?
      • How clean do you expect the room to be?
      • How will we bring up disagreement?

What is an SL?

Watch a quick reel from our Student Leaders here.

Student Leaders, also commonly referred to as an SLs, are innovative and adaptable student leaders assigned to residential halls to promote the well-being and safety of the students. These staff members are trained to help mediate a situation and find a solution before making a room change.

Your experience at VT starts with you and what you put into it! Looking for more tips on living in a residence hall community? Check out our webpage on Hokie Living here.

Helpful Hokie Resources

  • Complete your New Student Checklist, the essential incoming Hokie to-do list. Have you checked off all the steps?
  • Check your vt.edu email each week for more on-campus life tips, important housing information, and chances to win our summer giveaway!
  • Get to know FERPA: You’re in charge of your records now! FERPA is a federal law that says only you (the student) can decide who has access to your info. Want someone to have access or communicate with VT for you? You’ll need to set them up with permissions. Look under “June” on the Checklist for more info.
  • Follow @vtresidential on Instagram to stay informed about your on-campus experience.

Was this email helpful? Take the move-in communications survey.

Help us improve our move-in communications by letting us know what worked for you and what could have been better!

Monday, July 6

Hey Hokie!

Living on campus this fall? Help prevent on-campus fires by reviewing the resources below, and enter to win our Campus Countdown Giveaway by taking the survey in this email!

For more on-campus living tips, follow us on Instagram @vtresidential or check out the move-in email archive on the move-in website!

Fire Safety Videos

Find more fire safety information on the Student Affairs Facilities and Operations website, keep reading, and watch the videos below to prepare for on-campus life.

Why should you follow the fire safety rules? To help keep you and your fellow Hokies safe, and avoid burning down your residence hall, for a start! Every rule has a reason. Check out our Fire Safety Rules and Reasons video.

How to Decorate your Residence Hall (while following fire code and housing policy)

Top 5 Fire Alarm Triggers and How to Prevent Them

Fire Alarms and Drills

The safety and well-being of Virginia Tech students is our top priority, and among the most effective ways to protect residents is to have a functional and available fire alarm system and to educate residents how to quickly and safely evacuate the building.

As a student living in a residence hall, you might experience a fire alarm for a variety of reasons:

  • State and local laws require fire drills each semester
  • Smoke from burnt microwave popcorn or other cooking situations (p.s. Don’t forget to put water in your ramen noodles!)
  • Acts of vandalism or misuse of fire equipment
  • Find more information on scheduled fire drills

Top 5 Fire Alarm Triggers and Preventing Them

Keep reading or check out an animated video about the top 5 fire alarm triggers and how to prevent them.

  • Burnt food: Never leave food unattended in the microwave, stove, or oven
  • Steam: Do not leave hot water running while not actively using the sink or shower
  • Pranks, intentional tampering, and alarm pulling: Do not bring flammable materials or tamper with the fire prevention systems
  • Vaping and smoking: Do not vape or smoke inside or within 25 feet of any building
  • Hair, body and room sprays: Do not use excessive amounts of these products

Behaviors that Promote Fire Safety

Residence hall fires are not common, but they can occur and could have devastating consequences to both people and property. Fire safety reduces the risk of these instances and minimizes residence hall evacuations.

  • Do not interfere with your room smoke detector in any way. This includes muting the alarm speaker, covering the unit with any material, or otherwise tampering with the detector in any manner.
  • Do not alter or disable room doors, including the closing mechanism or preventing the lock from engaging. Fire door systems slow and contain fire to limit damage and aid evacuation.
  • Every resident must promptly exit the building each time the building fire alarm sounds.
  • Follow fire safety guidelines and VT Housing Policies when decorating your room

Tampering with fire and life safety equipment on campus will have consequences

False alarms and misuse endanger lives.

Don’t get caught red-handed! To deter false alarms, dye indicators have been added to fire alarm pull stations and extinguishers. This dye can mark your hands for days.

Avoid serious legal charges. If a student is found to have pulled a fire alarm or discharged a fire extinguisher without cause, that person may:

  • Be referred to student conduct,
  • Be responsible for any costs required to restore affected equipment, related clean up, and the use of campus and local resources called upon in response to the false alarm,
  • Face criminal charges filed through the Virginia Tech Police Department, and/or
  • Face the cancellation of their housing contract.

Additional sanctions are possible.

  • If you are aware of any acts of vandalism involving a fire alarm system or any safety-related items within a residence hall, please notify Virginia Tech Police, your residential well-being student leaders, or Student Conduct.

More Hokie Resources

  • Complete your New Student Checklist, the essential incoming Hokie to-do list. Have you checked off all the steps?
  • Check your vt.edu email each week for more on-campus life tips, important housing information, and chances to win our summer giveaway!
  • Get to know FERPA: You’re in charge of your records now! FERPA is a federal law that says only you (the student) can decide who has access to your info. Want someone to have access or communicate with VT for you? You’ll need to set them up with permissions.Look under “June” on the Checklist for more info!
  • Follow @vtresidential on Instagram to stay informed about your on-campus experience

Wednesday, July 15

Hey Hokie!

If you have questions about life on campus (How do I open my room door? How does laundry work?) this email is for you!

Don't forget to take the survey in this email for a chance to win VT merch!

Hokie Passport

Your Hokie Passport is your key to your building and room. It will also be your way to access your dining plan. The last day to submit your photo ID for your Hokie Passport is today — Wednesday, July 15!

Make move-in a breeze by making sure to submit an approved photo so that your Hokie Passport can be mailed to you! IDs are only mailed to those with domestic addresses (and living on campus for the fall).

Submit your ID Photo and Validate your ID

The last day to submit your ID photo for your Hokie Passport is today — Wednesday, July 15!

When submitting your ID photo, follow these steps to avoid delays with your Hokie Passport being mailed to you!

  • The most common reason a photo is denied is background — use a smooth, light colored background.
  • You get a maximum of two attempts to submit a photo or you must visit the Hokie Passport Services office.
  • Student conduct could get involved if inappropriate photos are submitted.
  • Wait for confirmation that your photo has been approved (1-3 business days).

When you arrive to campus, you must visit the Validation Station at the Student Services Building to validate your ID within three days of moving in! You will need a valid, original U.S.-issued driver's license, international passport, or U.S. military ID for this process. If you do not validate your ID within three days of moving in, your card will be deactivated. Follow Hokie Passport on Facebook for more info and updates!

See all the services you can use your card for on the Hokie Passport Services website.

Adding Money to your Hokie Passport

  • Hokie Passport Account funds are stored on your Hokie Passport ID Card and can be used at laundry facilities, campus vending machines, print labs, dining centers, and many retail locations.
  • Follow this link for specific instructions for adding funds.
  • You can also visit Hokie Passport Services in person to add funds via cash or check. This office is located at Student Services Building, STE 100, Virginia Tech, 800 Washington Street, SW, Blacksburg, VA 24061.

Hokie Passport PIN and Entering Your Residence Hall Room

  • Hokie Passport Account funds are stored on your Hokie Passport ID Card and can be used at laundry facilities, campus vending machines, print labs, dining centers, and many retail locations.
  • Follow this link for specific instructions for adding funds.
  • You can also visit Hokie Passport Services in person to add funds via cash or check. This office is located at Student Services Building, STE 100, Virginia Tech, 800 Washington Street, SW, Blacksburg, VA 24061.

Hokie Passport PIN and Entering Your Residence Hall Room

A four-digit PIN will be emailed to your vt.edu email prior to your arrival. This PIN is a temporary code. You should set your own PIN or reset your PIN once you arrive on campus. You cannot reset your PIN before arriving on-campus. Make sure you are connected to the Eduroam WiFi. You must be connected in order to set or reset your PIN!

  • Place your Hokie Passport in front of the door’s keypad.
  • Wait for the door to beep (red-green, red-green).
  • Enter your 4-digit PIN and the door will unlock.

Check out our pinned Reels on Instagram @vtresidential or visit YouTube for a quick video demo on how to enter your room using your Hokie P.

Questions regarding your Hokie Passport?

Laundry Facilities On Campus

You will have a self-service laundry facility to use if you choose to do your own laundry on campus. You can use your Hokie Passport Account through the Speed Queen App or quarters to pay for laundry!

It is $2 wash/$2 dry per load of laundry. Doing larger loads could affect the cost, as you may have to run the machine multiple times.

What if you forget to check on your laundry? We know our Hokies are busy, so we have an app that will let you know when your laundry is done and help you avoid your laundry being moved or dumped.

You can find more info about on-campus laundry online!

Speed Queen

If you do your laundry on campus, you can use your Hokie Passport Account through the Speed Queen app to manage it! The app is offered through the company that makes the washing and drying machines, Caldwell & Gregory.

How can I upload money on the app and monitor my laundry's status?

The app offers:

  • Flexible payment options, including debit/credit cards, Hokie Passport Account, or a combination of both
  • Up-to-the-minute machine availability and notifications for when your cycles are complete

Questions regarding the Speed Queen App?

Laundry Subscription Service

We partner with the subscription service University Cleaners to give you an option where your laundry is done for you, leaving you more time to study and build relationships! Your laundry will be washed, dried, folded, and returned to or near your residence within two days if you subscribe to this service.

University Cleaners is now serving off-campus students for the first time, and they are offering a monthly installment payment plan.

To learn more or subscribe to University Cleaners:

More Hokie Resources

  • Complete your New Student Checklist, the essential incoming Hokie to-do list. Have you checked off all the steps?
  • Check your vt.edu email each week for more on-campus life tips, important housing information, and chances to win our summer giveaway!
  • Get to know FERPA: You’re in charge of your records now! FERPA is a federal law that says only you (the student) can decide who has access to your info. Want someone to have access or communicate with VT for you? You’ll need to set them up with permissions.Look under “June” on the Checklist for more info!
  • Follow @vtresidential on Instagram to stay informed about your on-campus experience

Tuesday, July 21

Hey Hokie — we need your help!

To help keep Virginia Tech’s beautiful campus a clean home for you and your fellow Hokies, read our Hokie Hints below and watch an Instagram Reel about proper trash disposal and recycling methods on campus.

Take the survey in this email to earn another entry into our summer giveaway series! Check your vt.edu email and @vtresidential on Instagram for more interactive content that will help you lead a successful and sustainable social life at VT!

Trash Disposal: Green Flags and Red Flags

Green Flag: Throw the following items in the trash

  • Plastics #3-#7
  • Tin foil
  • Plastic bags and straws

Green Flag: Dispose of these items in a dumpster or trash compactor marked "Landfill/Trash Only" located around campus for you to use

Green Flag: Learn to use the trash compactor

Check out this short Reel made for Hokies, by Hokies with step-by-step directions for using the trash compactors on campus.

Red Flag: Leaving trash on the ground

  • You may be charged for clean-up/disposal for improperly disposed trash that is traced back to you
  • Your trash attracts vermin and pests
  • Just because someone else leaves their trash on the ground, you should not follow their example

Recycling: Green Flags and Red Flags

Green flag: Recycle the following items:

  • Plastic bottles (#1 and #2 only)
  • Paper and cardboard
  • Aluminum cans

VT does single stream recycling on campus. All of the above can be put together in a recycling dumpster nearest your residence hall. You do not have to sort!

Green flag: Compost

  • Our dining facilities compost food waste and containers from the dining centers
  • Our dining centers have compostable items such as cups, straws, and to-go flatware

Green flag: YTOSS

  • The YMCA at Virginia Tech collects items such as books, clothing, and small electronics every spring during move-out. Students and families can donate items. The items collected are available to other Hokies during the Y-toss sale each fall.
  • Learn more about YTOSS, items sold there, and check back for fall '25 updates coming soon!

Red flag: Contaminating recycling materials with trash materials

  • When trash is improperly disposed of in recycling bins, it contaminates the entire load of recycling.
  • Contaminated recycling must be sent to the landfill.
  • If you throw just one bag of trash into the wrong bin, you may disrupt an entire dumpster’s worth of recycling and add over 1,200 pounds of waste to landfills with each contaminated dumpster.
  • Trash sent to landfills generates more greenhouse gas emissions than waste that is properly recycled.

Red flag: Putting your recycling in the trash compactor or dumpster. The compactors are not intended for recycling disposal.

Dumpster and Trash Compactor Locations

Visit a Google Map with locations of permanent dumpsters and compactors available for your use on campus. Save this map and use it to find your nearest dumpster stations and avoid charges for improper trash disposal!

Access a PDF map of the dumpster and trash compactor map that includes additional, temporary locations available on move-in days through the move-in website.

As a member of the Hokie Nation, you are now part of VT’s mission to be a zero-waste campus. We thank you for your contributions to our clean and sustainable campus.

Read about how VT has been globally ranked for sustainability efforts, and check out how you can help us keep moving forward through sustainable living, sustainable dining, and sustainable transportation.

More Hokie Resources

  • Complete your New Student Checklist, the essential incoming Hokie to-do list. Have you checked off all the steps?
  • Check your vt.edu email each week for more on-campus life tips, important housing information, and chances to win our summer giveaway!
  • Get to know FERPA: You’re in charge of your records now! FERPA is a federal law that says only you (the student) can decide who has access to your info. Want someone to have access or communicate with VT for you? You’ll need to set them up with permissions.Look under “June” on the Checklist for more info!
  • Follow @vtresidential on Instagram to stay informed about your on-campus experience