New Student Information

If this is your first time living on your own, you’re probably excited, nervous, and maybe even a little overwhelmed. You have so much to do. And buy. But, where to start? Use the list below and our Amazon shopping list (with direct links to many of the items you might need) to get started. Don’t forget to check with your roommate(s) to see what they are planning to bring. 

• Pets, except fish and axolotls in a 30-gallon tank or smaller.
• Extension cords without a surge protector, multiple plug adapters, and surge protectors with more than six outlets.
• Alcohol, if you are under 21, or alcoholic containers for display
• Candles and incense (prohibited for safety reasons).
• Air conditioners, unless you are living in Hebron Hall.
• Toasters, toaster ovens, electric skillets, hot plates, George Foreman grills, space heaters, Pizza Pizzaz, and other electrical appliances with exposed heating coils (fire hazard). 
• Guns, knives, fireworks, and other weapons. 
• Wireless routers. All halls have wireless routers, so personal routers are not needed.
• Duct tape, masking tape, nails, or thumb tacks intended for hanging wall items. 
• Halogen lamps and multiple head spider lamps. These types of lamps are particularly prone to starting fires because they are prone to tipping and may ignite items like curtains, bedding, lofts, or clothes if placed under or near them.

Does Wartburg offer health insurance?
Wartburg does not offer, nor require, students to carry health insurance; however, the college strongly encourages students to have health care coverage.

What if I get sick?
You can call the Noah Campus Health Clinic at ext. 8436 or visit the website to make an appointment to be seen by our staff. The clinic is located in Suite 1392 of the Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center. Noah Campus Health Clinic is a comprehensive out-patient clinic on Wartburg College’s campus that can meet most health needs of students, faculty, and staff. Medical conditions that go beyond the scope of the campus health clinic are referred to off-campus providers.

What about security in the residence halls?
Wartburg has Area Coordinators and Security staff members on duty 24 hours per day, 365 days each year. Resident Assistants perform duty rounds in their halls to ensure safety in each building. Residence hall doors are locked 24/7 for added security. Students have access to the buildings with their ID card.

Can I bring a car to campus?
All students may bring one vehicle to campus. They must register it with Campus Security. Students commuting from home may register more than one vehicle. All vehicles must be registered, regardless of duration. Always park in one’s assigned student parking lot pending receiving a parking decal or, if not registered, park in D Lot until a decal can be arranged.

If I like to hunt, where can I store my equipment?
Ammunition and weapons may not be kept in student rooms or vehicles. Students who wish to have a weapon for hunting purposes must store the weapon and ammunition with the Wartburg Campus Security Office.

Where do I find dining information?
The dining web page is full of resources, including meal plans, dining options, and special diet support.

How do I get involved on campus?
Campus involvement, especially in the first year, is an early predictor of success! Wartburg has more than 100 campus groups, organizations, music ensembles, and athletic teams for students to join. You will have the opportunity to participate in the Involvement Fair during your New Student Orientation, which will help you get connected to student groups and clubs that might interest you while exposing you to all that Wartburg has to offer. 

Does Wartburg have a residential policy?
All full-time students must live on campus. Representatives of the Student Life Office review all submitted applications for off-campus approval. Criteria that is heavily considered include the student being married, having dependents, living with a parent or legal guardian within 30 miles of the campus, or is 23 years old by Sept. 1. Students who move off campus without permission will continue to be charged for campus room and board. Students should plan on living on campus the entire duration of their Wartburg education. Click here for information about gender-inclusive housing.

Can I see my room during the summer?
Once you receive your housing assignment letter, you can find your room dimensions on our website. We welcome you visiting campus to view your room prior to move-in, however you will need to work with the Residential Life Office to ensure your room will be available for viewing and someone will be available to accompany you on the day/time you would like to come.

When do I move into my residence hall?
First-year and transfer students will receive move-in information mid-July. Student-athletes participating in fall athletics will receive specific information about early arrivals, such as date, time, and check-in location, from their coach in collaboration with Residential Life.

Can I build a loft in my room?
Lofts are allowed in some residence halls, but they must be rented through our approved partner, College Products. 

Who can I go to in the residence halls if I have a question?
Area Coordinators are trained professional staff members who oversee assigned buildings, manage resident assistants, adjudicate disciplinary conduct issues, act as a liaison with facilities management, and promote positive living-learning environments. Professional staff members are assisted by trained student staff who live in each hall.

Resident Assistants (RAs) are selected and trained student leaders who assist residents by peer counseling, advising, mediating conflicts, providing programs, maintaining community standards and assisting in orientation to collegiate life. RAs play a key role in creating an environment for students that is conducive to academic, personal, and social growth and development. RAs are friends, resources, mentors, role models, and community leaders.

What is the visitation policy?
Guests may visit for a maximum of 72 hours at any one time. Non-students aren’t permitted to stay on campus longer than three consecutive nights, even if that guest changes their host. Visitors should always be accompanied by their host and should never have direct access to buildings or rooms through the use of student ID cards or room keys. Wartburg College reserves the right to revoke visitation rights for specific hosts or visitors when the policy is abused and/or the visitation is negatively impacting the living-learning environment.

When are quiet hours?
Quiet hours are from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and midnight to 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday. During quiet hours, noise should not be audible outside of a resident’s room with the room door closed. All students are expected to respect other students’ rights to study and sleep free from interruptions. Courtesy hours exist at all other times. Simply stated, you need to respect requests from other students to keep all noise down to an acceptable level.

Can I stay in my room during campus breaks?
Students are permitted to reside on campus during our three major breaks (Christmas, Winter,  and Tour Week). The cost to remain on campus during break is $25.00 per day. This charge will be waived if a student meets one of the following criteria:

• A student is required to stay for an in-season NCAA athletic event (verified by coach)
• A student is required to stay for an academic reason (verified by faculty)
• A student is required to stay for an on-campus job (verified by supervisor)
• A student lives more than 500 miles from campus

Students will be sent additional information prior to each break, including a link to register and a deadline to complete break housing registration.

Do I need insurance for my housing?
The college does not assume liability for loss or damage to a student’s personal items. Students and their parents are encouraged to insure their personal property. It is a good idea to review your home owner’s insurance to verify coverage and to consider renter’s insurance, if necessary.

Wartburg College has a 10 gigabit internet connection offering transformative benefits for students. This high-speed connectivity enables virtual discussions and group collaborations, overcoming physical distance barriers. Beyond its educational benefits, our 10GB connection promotes innovation and creativity through support for bandwidth-intensive activities like virtual reality simulations and high-definition multimedia production. Additionally, students can enjoy ultra-fast gaming, HD streaming, seamless video chat, and social media experiences.

Most students bring a laptop computer to campus. There is not a specific brand or operating system that is recommended for all, though we do recommend avoiding Chromebooks. Recommendations by department are offered below. 

Wartburg College does not house physical books in The Wartburg Store, so students need to make plans for purchasing materials through other vendors. To view and purchase required and recommended textbooks and course materials, visit the Wartburg.TextbookX.com, which offers:

• Personalized list of registered courses and the textbooks/course materials that are assigned to each course
• Free shipping on retail orders over $49
• New, used, eBooks, & rental textbook formats
• Cost comparison tools for a variety of book vendors
• Quick ordering process – complete your purchase in 5 minutes!
• Year-round access to post and sell any textbooks – you name the price!

Wartburg participates in Inclusive Access (IA), which provides students with discounted digital course material available on or just before the first day of class. Students should not make separate purchases for IA material listed as the cost will be charged automatically to your account. This model helps reduce costs comparted to printed materials, eliminating the need for additional purchases unless a student chooses to buy printed materials. More information about Inclusive Access can be found here. To opt out of IA course materials, click here.

When you log in with your student account, all courses, required materials, and prices are displayed for courses in which students are currently enrolled. Textbook orders delivered directly to campus will be available for pick-up at the Mail Center.

Did you know enrolled Wartburg College students are allowed to charge up to $1,000 at the Wartburg College Online Bookstore to their student tuition account? This option is available for a limited time from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30. To be clear – you will be required to pay these charges during the term after these appear on your monthly statement, but it offers a convenient option to purchase materials.

You can take advantage of this opportunity by going to the Wartburg.TextbookX.com adding course materials to your shopping cart, then selecting the opportunity to charge to your account.More information is available at Wartburg Store website.