Does Sellery Hall have air conditioning?

Yes — Sellery's rooms are air-conditioned, with a thermostat you control in the 68–74°F range, and that's true of both big Southeast towers (Sellery and Witte). That makes it one of the more comfortable places to move into during a warm Wisconsin late August. You don't need a fan for survival the way you would in a no-AC hall; a small fan is still nice for air circulation or white noise, but it's optional. Note that personal window AC units are prohibited campus-wide anyway — with central AC in the room, you won't want one.

Is there a fridge or microwave in Sellery rooms?

There's a fridge but not a microwave. UW provides a compact 3.1-cubic-foot fridge/freezer in every room — and you're not allowed to remove it or swap in your own — so don't buy a mini-fridge for Sellery. A microwave is not provided: you may bring one (one per room, low wattage recommended), or use the shared kitchen on the lower level. That flips the usual dorm packing list — skip the fridge you'd normally buy, and add a microwave instead if you want one in the room.

What size sheets does Sellery need?

Twin XL. UW mattresses are 80 inches long — some 33 inches wide, some 36 — and Twin XL sheets fit both, so buy bedding labeled Twin XL or Extra-Long Twin rather than standard twin, which will pull off the corners. The beds sit on loftable frames, so you can raise the bed to create under-bed storage; decide your height on move-in day before the room fills with boxes. The mattress is dual-sided (a firm side and a soft side) — flip it to whichever you prefer.

What are the learning communities in Sellery?

Sellery houses two Residential Learning Communities: StartUp, for students interested in entrepreneurship and building things, and The Studio, for the creative and performing arts. They're optional — you live alongside others in the community and get related programming and advising — and you opt in through the housing application. Even if you don't join one, Sellery's size and Southeast location make it one of the most social first-year halls at UW, with Cross-College Advising right in the building for figuring out your major.

Madison, WI · Big Ten · Top public

Sellery Hall Dorm Checklist 2026

University of Wisconsin–Madison

Singles, doubles, triples & quads, community bathrooms by wing — one of the two big Southeast towers, mostly first-years

Verified Jul 28, 2026 · housing.wisc.edu

One of the two large tower-style first-year halls in the lively Southeast neighborhood, on Johnson Street steps from State Street, the Kohl Center, and Gordon Avenue Market. ~1,329 residents, thermostat AC, a lower-level kitchen/laundry/music practice room, and two learning communities (StartUp for entrepreneurship, The Studio for creative arts). Every room includes a fridge; bring a microwave.

Bed SizeTwin XL · 36"×80"
Under-BedLoftable frame
ACYes
On-CampusFirst-year guarantee

✓ In the room

Bed frame & Twin XL mattressdeskdesk chairdresserwardrobe/closetcompact fridge/freezer (3.1 cu ft)wastebasket & recycling bin

✗ Not provided

Beddingtowelsshower caddyhangersdesk lampmicrowave (bring your own)

⊘ Prohibited

Candlesincenseopen flameswax warmershalogen lampswindow AC unitsspace heaterselectric grillstoasterstoaster ovenshot plateselectric fireplaceshoverboardspersonal fridges

Your room already has a fridge — UW provides a 3.1 cu ft micro-fridge/freezer in every room and you can't swap in your own, so don't buy one. A microwave is NOT provided, though: bring one (one per room, low-wattage).
Candles, incense, and any open flame are banned campus-wide (a religious/cultural exemption exists through your Residence Life Coordinator). String lights are allowed but can't be hung from the ceiling or pipes.

Living in Sellery Hall: what to know before you pack

The room

Sellery is one of the two big Southeast towers, so expect the classic high-rise first-year setup: singles, doubles (two- and three-window), triples, and quads on mixed-gender floors, with community bathrooms shared by your wing. Rooms are carpeted and thermostat-controlled (68–74°F) — genuinely air-conditioned, which makes the warm end of August comfortable. The furniture is the UW standard: a Twin XL bed on a loftable frame, a desk and chair, a dresser and wardrobe, and — importantly — a compact fridge/freezer already in the room, so you don't buy one. There's no microwave, though: bring one (low-wattage, one per room) or use the lower-level kitchen. Buy Twin XL sheets; UW mattresses are 80 inches long (some 33 inches wide, some 36) and Twin XL fits both.

Day to day

Sellery's pitch is location and energy. It sits on Johnson Street in the Southeast neighborhood — the most central place to live at UW — a few minutes from State Street, the Kohl Center, and Gordon Avenue Market (the big Southeast dining hall) next door. It's a large, social building; the lower level has a kitchen, laundry, and a music practice room, and Cross-College Advising has an office on the first floor. Two learning communities live here: StartUp, for students interested in entrepreneurship, and The Studio, for the creative arts. If you want to be in the middle of everything with a built-in social scene, Sellery — and its twin, Witte — is the classic first-year choice.

Move-in day

UW's fall move-in runs August 29–31, 2026 (early move-in August 26 for approved programs); classes begin Wednesday, September 2. Sellery is a 1,329-bed high-rise, so elevator lines are real on move-in day — arrive at your assigned time and pack for a couple of efficient cart trips. Prioritize Twin XL bedding, a shower caddy and shower shoes for the wing bathrooms, and a microwave if you want one in-room. Skip a fridge entirely — it's already there — and leave candles, incense, halogen lamps, and any window AC unit at home; all are prohibited. A fan is a nice-to-have here rather than a must, since the rooms are air-conditioned.

Room ideas

See The Raised Bed styled

The frame goes up, and the floor underneath comes back as storage.

Styled render — not a photo of Sellery Hall.

Dorm shopping guides: Mini fridge · Surge protector · Storage bins · Mattress topper · Desk lamp · Bedding sets · Twin XL sheets · Shower caddy · Towels · Shower shoes · Laundry hamper · Area rug · Mirror · Over-door organizer · Closet organizers · Fans (no AC) · Loft bed setup

Sources & verification — last checked Jul 28, 2026

Sellery Hall FAQ

Does Sellery Hall have air conditioning?: Yes — Sellery's rooms are air-conditioned, with a thermostat you control in the 68–74°F range, and that's true of both big Southeast towers (Sellery and Witte). That makes it one of the more comfortable places to move into during a warm Wisconsin late August. You don't need a fan for survival the way you would in a no-AC hall; a small fan is still nice for air circulation or white noise, but it's optional. Note that personal window AC units are prohibited campus-wide anyway — with central AC in the room, you won't want one.
Is there a fridge or microwave in Sellery rooms?: There's a fridge but not a microwave. UW provides a compact 3.1-cubic-foot fridge/freezer in every room — and you're not allowed to remove it or swap in your own — so don't buy a mini-fridge for Sellery. A microwave is not provided: you may bring one (one per room, low wattage recommended), or use the shared kitchen on the lower level. That flips the usual dorm packing list — skip the fridge you'd normally buy, and add a microwave instead if you want one in the room.
What size sheets does Sellery need?: Twin XL. UW mattresses are 80 inches long — some 33 inches wide, some 36 — and Twin XL sheets fit both, so buy bedding labeled Twin XL or Extra-Long Twin rather than standard twin, which will pull off the corners. The beds sit on loftable frames, so you can raise the bed to create under-bed storage; decide your height on move-in day before the room fills with boxes. The mattress is dual-sided (a firm side and a soft side) — flip it to whichever you prefer.
What are the learning communities in Sellery?: Sellery houses two Residential Learning Communities: StartUp, for students interested in entrepreneurship and building things, and The Studio, for the creative and performing arts. They're optional — you live alongside others in the community and get related programming and advising — and you opt in through the housing application. Even if you don't join one, Sellery's size and Southeast location make it one of the most social first-year halls at UW, with Cross-College Advising right in the building for figuring out your major.
Is Sellery Hall a good hall to live in?: That depends on what you're optimizing for, but here's what's verified: Sellery Hall has Twin XL · 36"×80" beds with Loftable frame of under-bed storage, and is fully air conditioned. University of Wisconsin–Madison provides Bed frame & Twin XL mattress, desk, desk chair, dresser, wardrobe/closet, compact fridge/freezer (3.1 cu ft), wastebasket & recycling bin in every room. Compare those specifics against your priorities — or see how Sellery Hall stacks up against University of Wisconsin–Madison's other halls above.

Thinking About Living in Sellery Hall Next Year?

If you're choosing housing for next year rather than packing for move-in, here's what's already verified about Sellery Hall: it has Twin XL · 36"×80" beds with Loftable frame of under-bed clearance, and the room is air conditioned. On top of that, the room comes with Bed frame & Twin XL mattress, desk, desk chair, dresser, wardrobe/closet, compact fridge/freezer (3.1 cu ft), wastebasket & recycling bin; you'll need to bring Bedding, towels, shower caddy, hangers, desk lamp, microwave (bring your own) yourself; Candles, incense, open flames, wax warmers, halogen lamps, window AC units, space heaters, electric grills, toasters, toaster ovens, hot plates, electric fireplaces, hoverboards, personal fridges isn't allowed. The full day-to-day breakdown above covers the room, the building, and move-in day in more depth.

Still weighing this hall against others? Our guide on how to pick a dorm covers what actually matters, or see University of Wisconsin–Madison’s other halls below.

More University of Wisconsin–Madison halls

Each hall has its own verified checklist — pick yours for room-specific dimensions and packing lists.

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Sellery Hall Dorm Checklist 2026

Living in Sellery Hall: what to know before you pack

The room

Day to day

Move-in day

See The Raised Bed styled

Everything for your Sellery Hall room

Bedding

Fan — optional

Bathroom

Personal Care & Grooming

Self-Care Essentials

Storage & Organization

Closet Space-Savers

Tech & Power

Laundry

Desk & Study

Health & Safety

Comfort & Room

Kitchen & Dining

Misc Essentials

Move-In Day Gear

Sellery Hall FAQ

Thinking About Living in Sellery Hall Next Year?

More University of Wisconsin–Madison halls