Allowed Possessions / Admissible Items
In Virginia Commonwealth University's (VCU) Residence Halls, a safe and comfortable living environment is prioritised. To ensure this, certain rules regarding the items allowed and prohibited in the residence halls have been established.
Small aquariums, equal to or smaller than 20 gallons, are permitted in Residence Halls. However, larger aquariums or any aquatic life requiring special care or larger tanks are not allowed.
Waste baskets must be flame retardant in Residence Halls. This rule is in place to maintain safety and prevent potential fires.
Cooking appliances such as popcorn poppers, hot plates, water heaters, toasters, toaster ovens, microwaves, and rice cookers are not allowed in Residence Halls. This is due to fire hazards and electrical capacity limits.
Hairdryers, bean bags with fire retardant tags, candles with wick removed, and coffee makers, clothing irons, and curling irons with automatic shut-off are permitted in Residence Halls.
Curtains are not permitted in Residence Halls. Small area/throw rugs with fire retardant tags are, however, allowed.
Items such as hairdryers, bean bags, candles, coffee makers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, kitchen knives, small rugs, and aquariums are only permitted in Village Housing, not in Traditional, Program, or Co-op housing.
George Foreman style grills are not allowed in Residence Halls. Kitchen knives with blades less than 6 inches are, however, allowed.
Water coolers may cause damage to the residence and the responsibility lies with the house/apartment residents. Wooden structures including lofts and room dividers are not permitted in Residence Halls (Firelands).
It is essential to note that alcohol-related items, hazardous and dangerous devices, unauthorized appliances and cooking devices, improper attachments or modifications to residence hall property, decorative items posing safety risks, non-compliant extension cords and lighting, essential oil diffusers, waterbeds, hot tubs, pools, pressurized tanks and cooking appliances (pressure cookers/Instant Pots), wireless routers or antennas, window screens removal, and throwing or hanging items from windows are disallowed to maintain safety and policy consistency.
Any prohibited items found may be confiscated, and possession can lead to disciplinary action. If unsure about a particular item, consulting the residence hall director or housing office is recommended. This synthesized guidance reflects VCU's and other universities' residence hall policies emphasising safety, wellbeing, and property protection.
Adopting a home-and-garden hobby might be appealing, but due to safety concerns, exotic aquatic life or large aquariums are prohibited in VCU's Residence Halls. To elevate one's lifestyle while residing in these dormitories, one may opt for fire-retardant small area rugs instead of curtains, which are not allowed.
