Life at DWU
How do I have fun?
Living at DWU
Getting ready to move for college should be the most exciting time in your life right now!
We want you to be fully prepared, so here’s everything you need to know ahead of time.
To prepare for your arrival, please complete the Housing Intention Form. (ALL students, even students not planning to live on campus, must complete this form.)
Moving into your new residence hall can be a tiring experience for you and your family, which is why we do our best to keep it as fun and stress-free as possible! If you are moving into Dayton Hall we’ll have staff, faculty and current students available to help you carry things to your room.
- The Big Move: August 22, 2025
- New Student Orientation (NSO): August 23-24
- Classes Begin – August 25, 2025
- Fall 2025 sport-specific move-in dates coming soon!
Thursday, August 22
-
9 a.m. – Move-in for students with last name N-Z (Dayton Loop)
Tip: NSO team will carry everything to your room. Approach Dayton from the south via Norway Street. - 11 a.m. – Welcome to DWU, Finalization Stations, Meet with various offices (Sherman Center)
- 12 p.m. – Lunch (DWU Dining Hall)
- 12:30 p.m. – Parents Depart
-
1 p.m. – Move-in for students with last name A-M (Dayton Loop)
Tip: NSO team will carry everything to your room. Approach Dayton from the south via Norway Street. - 3 p.m. – Welcome to DWU, Finalization Stations, Meet with various offices (Sherman Center)
- 4 p.m. – Parents Depart
- 5 p.m. – Settling into your room, meet your RA's, get to know your floormates.
- 6 p.m. – Dinner / Football Tailgate (DWU Dining Hall / Avera Fieldhouse)
- 6:30 p.m. - Football scrimmage (Behind the DWU/Avera Sports and Wellness Complex), games and activities (Dayton Lawn)
Friday, August 23
- 9:45 a.m. – All students assemble (Sherman Center)
- 10 a.m. – NSO Activities begin
- 12:15 p.m. - Lunch
- 1:30 p.m. – NSO Activities
- 5 p.m. – Dinner (DWU Dining Hall)
- 6:30 p.m. – Ice Cream with the President (Dayton lawn)
- 9 p.m. – Floor Meeting, Meet with your RA
Saturday, August 24
- 9:45 a.m. – Teams Assemble (Sherman Center / Jackson Plaza)
- 10 a.m. – NSO Activities (DWU Campus)
- 12:15 p.m. – Lunch (DWU Dining Hall)
- 1 p.m. – Flex time: relax, find your classes, meet more people, take care of any items
- 3 p.m. - Corn Palace Festival (optional - downtown Mitchell)
- 5 p.m. – Dinner (DWU Dining Hall or Corn Palace Festival)
Sunday, August 25
- 10 a.m. – Fusion Church (optional) (Sherman Center)
- 11 a.m. – Lunch (DWU Dining Hall)
- 12:30 p.m. – Food Drive (Sherman Center)
- 5 p.m. – Dinner (DWU Dining Hall)
If you are having trouble making one of our move-in dates work, please contact Student Life.
Room Layouts
As a freshman, you will live in Dayton Hall. This is a great opportunity to build new friendships with other freshman students.
Women’s rooms in Dayton Hall are usually about 12’x12’ and men’s rooms are about 15’x11’.
There are common bathrooms on each floor and a common lounge. Each room has:
- In-room A/C and heat control
- Free wi-fi
- Two twin extra-long beds with mattresses
- Two closets
- Vanity area with mirror and drawers
- Lofts must be ordered and paid for before move-in.
After your freshman year, you will have options to live in our Allen Hall pods and suites, Koka Hall, Dakota Hall, campus-owned houses or in an off-campus location.
What to Bring
....Not the kitchen sink! Packing for college is an exciting time, and we want to make sure you’re able to hit the ground running when you arrive at DWU with everything you’ll need to feel at home.
We’ve put together a catch-all list of items most students tend to find useful. However, please note that this list is not comprehensive, and it may help you to visit campus to get a look at a residence hall room before you begin buying supplies.
- Office supplies such as pens, highlighters, notebooks and Post-It notes
- Comforter, bedspread or blanket
- Bed linens for a twin extra-long bed
- Pillow
- Mattress pad
- Pictures of family and friends from home
- Clothes hangers
- Coffeemaker and mug
- Dishes, cups and silverware
- Poster putty or 3M tabs for hanging up decorations
- Plastic containers with tight lids for storing snacks, detergent, etc.
- Headphones or earbuds
- Cell phone and other chargers
- Power strip with surge protection
- Futon, small couch or other seating (optional)
- Desk lamp or bed lamp
- TV/DVD-Player (there is a common area TV if you don’t bring one)
- Small fan
- Air freshener
- Small refrigerator and/or microwave (you can discuss this with your roommate)
- Small shelving unit (optional)
- Paper towels
- Sewing kit, scissors and other tools
- Message board for your door
What to Wear
- Comfortable clothes and shoes (most students wear sweats or jeans to class)
- A few dressy outfits and shoes for more formal affairs (such as banquets)
- Workout clothes and shoes
- Heavy coat, boots, mittens, scarf, hat (we’ll be honest with you: it gets cold in Mitchell, and you’ll want to be prepared)
- Slippers
For Your Room
We’ve put together a catch-all list of items most students tend to find useful. However, please note that this list is not comprehensive, and it may help you to visit campus to get a look at a residence hall room before you begin buying supplies.
- Carpet or rug (Dayton Hall has tile floors)
- Quarters (laundry facilities are $0.50 per wash and $0.75 per dry)
- Comforter, bedspread or blanket
- Bed linens for a twin extra-long bed
- Pillow
- Mattress pad
- Clothes hangers
- Coffeemaker and mug – (We do have Starbucks on campus!)
- Dishes, cups and silverware
- Poster putty or 3M tabs for hanging up decorations
- lastic containers with tight lids for storing snacks, detergent, etc.
- Power strip with surge protection
- Futon, small couch or other seating (optional)
- Desk lamp or bed lamp
- TV/DVD-Player (there is a common area TV if you don’t bring one) Small fan
- Air freshener
- Small refrigerator and/or microwave (you can discuss this with your roommate)
- Paper towels
- Sewing kit, scissors and other tools
Personal Items
Keep in mind that you’ll be sharing your bathroom and laundry facilities with other students!
- Bathrobe
- Shower shoes
- Towels and washcloths
- Soap, shampoo and conditioner
- Shaving cream and razors
- Shower caddy
- Laundry basket or bag
- Laundry detergent
- Dryer sheets
- Feminine hygiene products
- First-aid kit, including Band-Aids, aspirin, cold medicine, etc.
- Personal medications and necessary medical supplies
Other Things
Think about your daily activities and hobbies and bring what you need with you.
- Access to money (i.e., bank account, bank card, credit card, etc.); your bank may or may not have a presence in Mitchell.
- A vehicle
- Renter's insurance (have your parents check their homeowner’s insurance to see if you are covered under their policy)
- Key ring or lanyard (we will issue you at least one key and one key fob)
- Flashlight
- Batteries
- Sports or recreation equipment (ping pong and spike ball are huge on campus!)
- Nonperishable snacks for your room (you can never have too many snacks!)
Do Not Bring
The following items are prohibited:
- Halogen bulbs and halogen lamps
- Expensive jewelry or "priceless" items
- Toasters, toaster ovens, hot plates or skillets
- Air conditioners
- Extension cords
- Candles
- Pets
- Waterbeds
- Picture hangers that require nails
- Weapons of any kind (including guns, ammunition or hunting knives)
- Ironing boards (they take up a lot of valuable space)
May I live off campus?
DWU encourages all students to live on campus. Here’s why:
- Better academics: According to the American Council on Education, students who live on campus earn higher GPAs, are more likely to graduate and are more satisfied with their college experience.
- Lasting friendships: Students who live on campus make friends easier and form stronger friendships. Students who live off campus often miss out on opportunities to bond, and report feeling disconnected and less engaged than their on-campus peers.
- Convenient and affordable: To get to class, you just roll out of bed and you’re halfway there. With on-campus dining, laundry and other resources, you won’t have to worry about grocery shopping, washing dishes, paying for utilities or cable, furniture, monthly rent payments or gas money for commutes.
- Safe and secure: Our campus is safe, and the residence halls are secure and staffed 24 hours a day.
- Participation: Students who live on campus are more likely to participate in activities, groups, ministry and leadership opportunities. When students live off campus, they’re much less likely to get involved and have a harder time making friends.
- Support: Students who live on campus benefit from the support of community with their peers as well as the emotional, academic and spiritual support of their resident adviser.
You may live off campus if:
- You are 21 years of age or older by the first day of the semester.
- You have been disciplinarily dismissed or banned from the residence halls.
- You will be living with parent(s)/guardian(s) within 40 miles of campus.
- You are enrolled as a part-time student, taking less than 12 credits.
- You are married.
- You have dependent children living with you.
You can read more about the housing policy in the student handbook.
DWU Dining
Dining with friends and peers is one of the best college experiences. Our meal plans allow for flexibility that fits in perfectly with your lifestyle. Enjoy an all-you-care-to-eat buffet at DWU Dining Hall with one swipe of your I.D.
A huge selection of meal plans is available, and we are excited to offer vegetarian, gluten-free and other dining options to accommodate your dietary needs.
Tiger Café
Sometimes you need a boost of caffeine while you study, write or just hang out. That’s why we built a Starbucks coffee shop right into our library. Enjoy a smoothie, refresher, pink drink, cold brew or blond blend at the Tiger Café in the McGovern Library. And best of all, your meal card works here, too!
DWU Parking
DWU offers a variety of parking locations across campus. Best of all – parking is FREE! Take a moment to register your vehicle for your free parking pass by following the steps below:
- Log in to TigerNet
- Click “Student Life”
- Click “My Vehicle Information”
- Click “Add Vehicle” and fill out the information.
