You belong at URI—even while you live off campus.
Commuter Lounge
A Campus Anchor
A calm, cozy retreat located on the third floor of the Memorial Union, the Commuter Lounge is where you can hit pause—study, eat, connect, and recharge between classes.
🌟 Lounge Highlights 🌟
- Comfort First: Comfy sofas, tables, and chairs create a relaxed, welcoming space.
- Eat & Store: Keep your lunch in the fridge or warm it up in the microwave.
- Recharge Your Devices: Plugs, USB chargers, and a TV are all available.
This toolkit is a curated set of resources and essentials that help students who live off campus successfully navigate academic life, social engagement, and daily logistics, while feeling connected to their institution.
🧰 Essentials: Items to keep in Your Go Bag
| Seasons | Essentials |
|---|---|
| Fall | Light jacket, allergy meds, umbrella, hand sanitizer |
| Winter | Ice scraper, hand warmers, thermal blanket, gloves, extra socks, non-slip shoes or boots |
| Spring | Rain jacket, tissues, sunglasses, allergy meds |
| Summer | Sunscreen, mini fan or cooling towel, sunglasses, water-rich snacks |
- Campus ID card
- Reusable water bottle & snacks
- Charger (phone, laptop, etc.)
- Power bank / battery pack
- Headphones
- Non-perishable snacks (granola bar, nuts, dried fruit)
- Extra pens, highlighters, sticky notes
- Emergency cash / credit card
🚗 Planning Your Commute Strategically
- Understand your transportation options: personal vehicle, RIPTA, Amtrak, the MBTA commuter rail, campus shuttles, and park-and-ride lots.
- Apply for a URI commuter parking permit early each semester.
- Please note that parking permits are required for all vehicles parked on URI property.
- Use trip-planning apps like TransLoc or RIPTA’s Trip Planner to stay on schedule.
- URI provides bike racks and EV charging stations around campus.
- Build in buffer time around your commute to allow for traffic, weather, and finding parking.
- Prepare for early morning or evening classes with a packed meal, layered clothing, and portable chargers.
- Schedule study time or club meetings around your in-person class days to minimize extra trips.
- Treat your commute as transition time: listen to podcasts, reflect, or decompress.
What items should I keep in my vehicle?
Consider carrying:
- Jumper cables
- Bucket of sand (traction aid)
- Shovel (for snow)
- Ice scraper and deicer
- Basic tool kit
- Flashlight and flares
- Blankets
- Antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid
- Eating utensils and non-perishable snacks
- Change of clothes
🍽️ Staying Nourished on (and near) Campus
- Choose Your Meal Plan Wisely
URI Dining Services offers Campus (unlimited hall access + Dining Dollars) and Flex (select meals + Dining Dollars) plans. Commuters aren’t required to pick a plan—but they’re encouraged to explore the benefits for convenience and value. - Order Ahead with Grubhub+ Student
Use your free Grubhub+ Student account for on-campus mobile ordering via Grubhub—choose pick-up times, skip lines, and pay with your meal plan, Dining Dollars, Ram Account, or credit card. - Use Your Ram Account—Anywhere!
Every student ID card includes a “Ram Account” debit balance, usable on campus (retail outlets, vending, laundry, print) and at participating off-campus retailers in Kingston, Wakefield, and Narragansett. - Enjoy a Variety of Dining Spots
Options include:- All-you-care-to-eat halls: Mainfare & Butterfield
- Quick-service outlets: Daily Grind, Brookside Bistro, The Corner Store, PizzaXpress at Rhody Market, Ram’s Den, Rhody Eatz, and more.
- Meet Dietary Needs with Ease
Dining Services caters to various dietary preferences—vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free—and offers nutritional information and allergen guidance. Consult their registered dietitian if needed. - Save Time & Money with Smart Strategies
- Bring your own meals and use commuter fridges and microwaves in the Commuter Lounge or Women’s Center.
- Stretch your budget by packing snacks or leftovers instead of buying every meal.
- When finances are tight, visit the Rhody Outpost food pantry for free essentials.
- Use URI’s Free Farmer’s Market to access fresh, locally-grown produce from URI farms. Follow @urifreefarmersmarket on Instagram for up-to-date news, weekly produce previews, and recipes.
- Discover Kingston Emporium
Explore local shops and restaurants at Kingston Emporium—many accept Ram Account, so your student ID goes a bit further. - International markets in the Community
- Asia Grille Market (Providence)
- La Poblanita (Newport)
- Good Fortune Supermarket (Boston area)
- Local farmers markets (Kingston, Wakefield)
Find Your People. Build Your Network. Stay Connected.
Whether you’re commuting from home in Rhode Island, living off-campus in South County, or balancing school with work and family, there are many ways to build community at URI and beyond. Below are highlights of existing programs and resources, both on campus and in the surrounding areas, to help you connect with others who share your experiences, interests, or identities.
Disability, Access, and inclusion
Out and Proud at URI
Community, Equity, and Diversity
URI INvolved
URI ATHLETICS
Greek Life
Center for military and veteran education
Women’s
Center
Multicultural Student Services center
Gender and Sexuality Center
Office of International Students & Scholars
Graduate School
Campus Programs for Student Connection
- Creating a Campus “Anchor” – choose a reliable study or hangout space like the Welcome Center, the labs and study Spaces in Ranger Hall, the MSSC, library, Fascitelli Fitness and Wellness Center, student spaces in Tyler Hall, the Commuter Lounge, or anywhere in the Memorial Union to serve as your “home base” to relax, study, and meet friends.
- Use quiet corners between classes to reset and regroup.
- Map out study locations for breaks between classes.
- Store snacks, chargers, or gear in lockers while on campus.
- Join student organizations, campus groups, or learning communities with meetings on days you’re already on campus and attend events to connect socially.
- Not sure where to start? The Student Event Advising (SEA) staff can help you find ways to get involved.
- Get your blood pumping: Watch a game, take a fitness class, or join a competitive club or a recreational intramural sport.
- Attend events to connect socially.
- Look for lunchtime, evening, or weekend events, socials, or one-off workshops to meet peers that fit your schedule.
- Take part in or watch a URI Theatre performance.
- Visit one of the galleries or see an exhibit.
- Check out the Botanical Gardens or one of the farms.
Regional Resources in Southern New England
If you’re commuting from nearby towns or cities in Rhode Island, eastern Connecticut, or southeastern Massachusetts, these organizations and centers offer additional community-building opportunities for students and young adults:
- 🔗 Welcome RI: Resource hub for immigrants & multilingual communities
- 🔗 Progreso Latino: Citizenship, ESL, and job help in Central Falls
Rhode Island
- Youth Pride, Inc. (Providence) – LGBTQ+ support and community events
- United Way 211 RI – Connect to food, housing, and health resources
- Providence Community Library Events – Workshops, language exchanges, and meetups
Eastern Connecticut
- The Center: LGBTQ+ Community Center (Norwich) – Support, connection, and events
- SEAT Bus Transit Services – Public transit information for students in New London County
Southeastern Massachusetts
- New Bedford Whaling Museum Student Nights – Cultural connection events for local students
- SRTA (Southeastern Regional Transit Authority) – Transit information for students commuting from Fall River, New Bedford, etc.
- The Women’s Center of New Bedford – Support services for students who are caregivers, parents, or navigating transitions
Social & Cultural Belonging
- Local faith and cultural centers:
- Masjid Al-Hoda, the Muslim Community Center of Kingston
- Rhode Island Hindu Temple Society (Warwick)
- Atisha Kadampa Buddhist Center (Providence)
- Christian churches across South County
- Local public libraries offer free Wi-Fi, events, and ESL materials
- South Kingstown Public Libraries
- Kingston Free Library
- Peace Dale Library
- Robert Beverly Hale Library
- Maury Loontjens Memorial Library (Narragansett)
- Willett Free Library (Saunderstown)
- North Kingstown Free Library
- South Kingstown Public Libraries
📚 Academic & Tech Access
- Leverage campus Wi‑Fi, computer labs, libraries, and printing services.
- Schedule group meetings and office hours during your time on campus to maximize efficiency.
- Use on-campus resources to support your efforts.
- Find a mentor or make a connection within your academic college:
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Business Student Newsletter
- College of Engineering Faculty Mentors
- College of the Environmental and Life Sciences Student Organizations
- College of Health Sciences Student Ambassador Program
- College of Nursing Student Resources Portal
- College of Pharmacy Belonging, Inclusion and Wellness Coalition
- The Academic Enhancement Center (AEC) offers tutoring, writing support, and academic skills coaching.
- Tutoring is available in Swan Hall for students learning Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish, courtesy of the Languages Department.
- In addition to the help available at the AEC, Physics TAs are available to provide support to Physics students through the Physics Help Lab linked here.
- The Harrington School has public speaking assistance.
- Find a mentor or make a connection within your academic college:
Time Management & Wellness
- Track your commute time, weather, and class schedule to reduce stress.
- Use planner apps or calendars to organize your academic and personal commitments.
- Commuting students have full access to URI’s mental health, health services, and wellness resources.
- Opportunities in the Community
- Thundermist Health Center (Wakefield & Providence): Sliding scale fees
- Clinica Esperanza (Providence): Spanish-speaking care
- RI Free Clinic
- Opportunities in the Community
📞 Contact:
URI Commuter Affairs
📧 Email: commuter-group@uri.edu
☎️ Phone: 401‑874‑2828