1. Offices
  2. Residence Life Office

What to Bring

a panorama of a dorm room

Room Specifics and What To Bring

Pitzer College has three residence halls on campus. Pitzer, Atherton, Sanborn & Skandera (PASS) Halls are home for the first-year student population. Pitzer’s transfer and New Resources students live in West and East Hall and Mead Hall. PAS/S Hall and West and East Hall rooms are air conditioned, double occupancy rooms with two rooms sharing an adjoining vanity, bathroom, and shower. Mead Hall are suites that include single and double occupancy rooms with bathrooms that are shared with four students, and a common room shared with eight students.

What’s in each room?

  • Each double room includes 2 beds, 2 desks, 2 desk chairs, 2 dressers, 2 closets, 2 internet ports, wireless internet, recycling and trash bins. Please note all beds in PAS Hall, WES, Mead and CCA are twin XL long (36 inches x 80 inches). However, due to the size of the single rooms in Mead, some single rooms in Mead have standard twin size mattresses.
  • The bookshelves on top of the desks in WES/PAS can be moved off the desk, but need to stay in the room.
  • Students should bring their own sheets, towels, blankets, comforters, etc.
  • Each residence hall is equipped with laundry machines which accept Claremont Cash or quarters. Washing costs $1.00 and drying costs $0.75. Students are expected to clean their own rooms and bathrooms.
  • We encourage roommates and suitemates to communicate about purchasing cleaning supplies and setting up a cleaning schedule.  The College cleans every bathroom on campus during winter break.
  • Students cannot keep their bikes in their rooms during the academic year, except during breaks.  We encourage all students to bring their bikes into their rooms during breaks to reduce the risk of theft when the campus is emptier than usual.
  • Students can have potted plants in their rooms or next to their doors (in PAS and WE Hall) as long as the plants do not obstruct the walkway.
  • Students can bring a mini fridge and/or microwave with them.
  • Bed lofting information – Due to the limited number of lofting kits available, lofting requests will be granted based on availability by building. Instructions will be sent to students in early August regarding requesting bed lofting equipment.
  • Students who bunk or loft their beds are encourage to purchase and bring their own bed rails, or bed safety devices.
  • The telephone lines in the residence hall rooms are NOT activated unless a student requests it.
  • All residence halls are air conditioned.

Shipping Items to Campus

If you’re interested in shipping items to our Pitzer Mail Center prior to your arrival on-campus, please follow these instructions:

  • Items shipped for New Students will NOT be accepted prior to one week before move-in.  (For example, if move-in is Saturday, August 22nd, the earliest date packages for New Students will be accepted is Saturday, August 15.)
  • New Students should ship items to:

HOLD FOR NEW STUDENT,

1050 N. Mills Ave., Pitzer College,

Claremont, CA, 91711

  • The Mail Center will be open on move-in day for certain hours so New Students can get their packages.

What to Bring

Although we wish you could bring everything with you to your new residence hall, it is essential that you limit yourself to necessities. We recommend that all students communicate with their roommates to make sure that items are not duplicated, such as refrigerators, etc.

Here is a list of things we recommend that you pack with you to make your living space as comfortable as possible.

  • Bed area
    • Bed sheets, pillow, pillowcase, blanket, bedspread or comforter
    • Under bed storage
  • Room items
    • 2 plates, 2 bowls, cups, and utensils
    • Reusable water bottle
    • Microwave & mini fridge (communicate with your roommate about this)
    • Decorations to make it feel like home
  • Desk area
    • Desk lamp
    • Flashlight and batteries
    • Surge protector power strip
  • Closet
    • Hangers
    • Laundry Basket
    • Laundry supplies (Eco-Friendly recommended)
  • Bathroom
    • Towels, washcloths, toiletries, shower sandals, vanity/shower (3) and toilet (1) rugs
    • Hand soap
    • Cleaning supplies (Eco-Friendly recommended)
    • Broom/dust pan
    • Small vacuum (Residence Life Office offers larger vacuums for sign out)
  • Bike, bike lock, helmet, skateboard/scooter, lock for skateboard/scooter racks

It can be tempting to pack everything you have and bring it to campus. We recommend our students think about what they would really need. When asked what NOT to bring to the residence halls, most students say:

  • Pack light! Don’t bring too many clothes, shoes, or too many personal items! Think about what you really need versus what you want. You can also purchase items from near by stores once you get here!
  • Check out the re-room sale available move-in weekend for previously owned items.
  • Consider how often you would use a bike before bringing one! Look into the Pitzer Green Bike Program (GBP)! 
  • Big screen tvs! Not a lot of space for those.
  • Take a look at our student code of conduct for prohibited items (ex: candles, toasters, hot plates, drugs, incense, hookah, drug paraphernalia, pets, drones, fireworks, halogen lamps, oil fueled lamps, weapons, air conditioning units, duct tape, nails, etc …)

Roommate/Suitemate Conversations

These talking points are to help you shape the conversation with your new roommates and suitemates in advance of the Academic Year. Pitzer Residence Life encourages you to be open and honest when reflecting on this document and with your suitemates.  It’s in your best interest to do so, as you will be creating the most successful living space for everyone. Residence Life staff will also help facilitate Roommate, Suitemate, and Community Agreements once you get to campus where these conversations will continue.  

Bed Height / Bed Lofting Information

Students will receive a form to complete in summer, after housing assignments are released, with the option to request a lofted bed. Bed lofting is primarily used in WES/PAS to free up floor space for additional furniture. Mead Hall beds in double rooms can also be lofted. Lofting is not available at CCA.

Standard Height: All beds will be at a standard height upon move-in. This typically means there is about 35.5″ of space under the bed for storage.

Standard Height Bed

standard bed

Lofted Height: Loft kits are available for main campus residents on a first-come first-serve basis. Lofting is typically done in early August before move-in days. Beds may not be lofted in time for early arrivals.

Bunked Beds: Bunking both double beds is available throughout main campus housing at the Lofted Height (see below).

lofted beds