Life as a Husker

At Home on Campus

Whether your student is living in University Housing (a "residential" student) or commuting from a family home or off-campus residence (a "commuter" student), campus can become your student's home base.

Hi, I'm Osvaldo! Check out my POV on living on campus!

Watch Osvaldo's POV

POV: Living in University Housing

Hi, I'm Jacob! Check out my POV on being a commuter student!

Watch Jacob's POV

POV: Being a Commuter Student

Residential

Though living in University Housing may be your student's first venture into independence, they don't have to go at it alone! Each residence hall floor has a resident assistant (RA), who is an upperclass student who is there to assist your student in transitioning to college, feeling at home on campus, and getting to know other students on their floor. Your student will meet their RA during move-in. Each residence hall also has a team of professional staff, including a residence director (RD) who lives in their hall and is available to meet with students.

Right now, you’re probably most interested in Housing processes and move-in. Official move-in will begin on January 15. You will receive an email update from University Housing outlining important dates and information for living on campus.

If your student has an application-specific question, they can contact University Housing at housing@unl.edu or by responding to the application confirmation e-mail.

Commuter

You’ll learn more about campus parking and campus organizations later in this orientation. As for establishing your student's "space” on campus, they can consider renting a locker in Love Library for $7.50 a semester, and if they bring a bike to campus, they can rent a bike locker at the Outdoor Adventures Center for $10/month or $80/year. Some of our orientation leaders’ other recommendations are:

Meal Plans

Meal plans at University Dining are created with both on-campus and commuter students in mind. Meal plans give students more flexibility and help maximize their options.

Meal plans have a combination of meal swipes and Dining Dollars.

Meal swipes are used in the dining halls in an "all-you-care-to-eat" environment.
Dining Dollars can be used at the residence hall convenience stores or grab-and-go meal locations.

Students can choose a plan with a mix of dining hall meal swipes and Dining Dollars that best suits them. Check out this detailed breakdown of meal plan options.

Mobile Ordering App

Students can download the Transact Mobile ordering app to order grab-and-go options in the dining halls or other dining options around campus. All students are able to order using the app. You can pay for meals using a debit/credit card, your meal swipes, or dining dollars.

Download the Transact Mobile Ordering App on your mobile device.
Select our campus, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Sign in with your university credentials and place your first order!

On both City and East campuses, students can order from many great options like:

Selleck and Abel Dinning Centers (including Qudoba, Godfathers Pizza, and Moxie's Gluten Free Cafe)
- Also Harper Dining Centers late night options!
City and East Union restaurants
Tazza Coffee in Knoll Residence Hall and Yes Chef in the College of Business
and more!

Every incoming first-year student must complete one of the following: A University Housing Application, Residency Confirmation for UNL-approved Greek Housing, or Request an on-campus residency exception.

What: University Housing manages all residence halls and dining halls.

Where: The halls are located throughout City and East campuses. Administrative offices are on the third floor of the Willa Cather Dining Complex.

How to: Your student can complete their Housing Application and other processes in their Housing Portal within MyRED.

How much: Billing rates depend on your student's assigned hall.

What if my student doesn't get along with their roommate?

Though most students have positive roommate experiences, it's possible your student will experience disagreements or conflict. If that happens, your student should first consult their Roommate Success Guide and discuss any issues directly with their roommate. If that doesn't work, they can talk to their RA, who can then connect them with the RD if necessary. Open communication is key to a positive roommate relationship. In the first two weeks of the semester, there is a housing freeze, and your student won’t be able to switch rooms so that conflicts or concerns have proper time to be resolved.

What are the campus food and drink options besides the dining halls?

A variety of food vendors and coffee shops are available throughout campus. Here are some of the options:

Use the NCard or debit/credit card at a food/coffee vendor in the Nebraska Union (Starbucks, Imperial Palace, Subway, Valentino’s, Steak n Shake, Chick-fil-A) or Nebraska East Union (Starbucks, Union Café)
Go to Dunkin’ Donuts in the Adele Learning Commons (City Campus) or the Dinsdale Family Learning Commons (East Campus)
Yes Chef Café in Hawks Hall (College of Business) or the Academic Grind in Oldfather Hall

What if my student is living in a Fraternity House their first semester?

Watch this video to learn more about the requirements for living in a fraternity house freshman year.