Move-in Fall 2020

• New students:  Residence hall move in begins 9 a.m. Aug. 25. Apartment move in is on the apartment complex’s designated move in day.
• Returning students:  Residence hall move in begins 9 a.m. Aug. 30 – Sept. 1. You may be assigned a move-in block. Apartment move in is on the apartment complex’s designated move in day.

Aug. 7		Your assigned move in day and time emailed to your WMU account
Aug. 20	7 – 9 p.m.	Kalamazoo County students drop off belongings, return for Fall Welcome move-in. Eligible students to be emailed week of Aug. 3.
Aug. 23	2-6 p.m.	Students within a 50-mile radius drop off belongings, return for Fall Welcome move-in. Eligible students to be emailed week of Aug. 3. A – M arrive 2-4 p.m. N – Z arrive 4-6 p.m.
Aug. 27-29	Assigned arrival block	Fall Welcome move-in for first-year and registered transfer students 8/27: Aviation majors, College of Education and Human Development majors, honors students, ROTC, AFROTC 8/28:  Engineering majors, first-year seminar students, transfer students participating in Fall Welcome 8/29: all remaining first-year students
Aug. 30 – Sept. 1	Begins at 9 a.m.	Transfer students not participating in Fall Welcome

Athletes and Bronco Marching Band move-in will be communicated by coaches and the band director.

Aug. 30 – Sept. 1

Returning students will be asked their intended day of arrival. If numbers warrant, assigned arrival blocks will be issued.

COVID testing

Students are encouraged to do COVID-19 testing with Sindecuse Health Center the day they arrive on campus. Details about tests, insurance and support for uninsured students will be emailed the week of July 20. Click the link in the email to confirm interest in being tested so appointments can be scheduled.

COVID questionnaire

All students are encouraged to complete the WMU COVID questionnaire prior to arriving on campus. The questionnaire is in the Sindecuse portal. Take a screen shot of the results to show at the front door. You will not be allowed to enter before taking the questionnaire.

What to bring

Click here to see what comes in the room, TV compatibility, wireless compatibility for gaming systems and other devices, and what is not allowed. There is also a printable packing list that covers all the bases. If you are ordering a microfridge, carpet or futon for in-room delivery from one of our vendors, orders are due in early August.

Student ID

Students who need their WMU ID will submit a photo online and pick up their ID at check-in.  Directions are in Fall Welcome correspondence and your move-in assignment email coming Aug. 7.  Photos must be submitted by Aug. 18 in order to pick it up at check-in.

Online check-in

Aug. 17, the online check-in link will be sent to your WMU email. It must be completed before a room key can be issued. Once submitted, a copy will be emailed to you.

Lofts

All halls come with loft kits already in the room. Some beds may already be lofted. If not, the extra head and footboard, stabilizer rail and safety bar will be in the closet. You can set the loft to any height you desire. Watch our video showing how to loft your bed so you know what to do.

• Harrison/Stinson residents:  Beds are different in Harrison/Stinson. Please watch this video for how to loft your beds.

Other

Check the Golden Gateway for any information needed for Fall Welcome.

Download the WMU Mobile app. It provides access to online menus, the bus system and more.

Arrival time

Students will be assigned a move-in block of 90 minutes, with a maximum of 33 students arriving each block per hall. Students are limited to two move-in helpers. All parties must wear a face covering such as a mask.

COVID testing

Students who pre-arranged to take a COVID-19 test before arriving at their residence hall will go to the Student Recreation Center first. Sindecuse Health Center staff have a satellite COVID testing site set up on the lower level during move-in. Students would have been contacted via their WMU email account by Sindecuse Health Center informing them their appointment date and time is set and providing directions to complete the pre-visit questionnaire in the patient portal. The date and time of your appointment are visible when you log in under "appointments". Completion of this is REQUIRED prior to your appointed day. In the event a student tests positive, the student will be provided appropriate guidance from Sindecuse health professionals. Where possible, the student should return home until the isolation period is concluded. Sindecuse will also lead contact tracing for positive diagnoses in coordination with the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department. WMU Housing and Residence Life has identified isolation spaces for students unable to leave campus.

Unloading zones and parking

Volunteers will be in roadways to greet you. They will ask passengers a quick COVID health screening-questionnaire, confirm everyone has a mask, issue a 15-minute unloading permit, and direct your car into a temporary unloading spot in front of the residence hall.

• Move-in parking map

While students get their room key, family unloads the vehicle onto the grass. Once unloaded, the vehicle is moved to a nearby parking lot for the day.

Students and parents can park in any student space in lots designated A, C, F, K and W during move-in week. Valley parking lots fill quickly, so Valley overflow parking is designated in nearby lots (see map). Cars in employee, reserved and handicapped (unless a permit is displayed) spaces will be ticketed, as well as vehicles on sidewalks and the grass. Unloading areas in front of the residence halls will also be enforced.

Valley 1 and Valley 2 drives are converted to one-way roads between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. for new student move-in.

Check-in

Check-in stations will have one-way traffic in and out of the space. New students should have their phone cued to the Fall Welcome QR code to check in for the program and receive your materials. A government-issued photo ID or WMU ID is needed to get your room key. You will also receive directions on how to complete your online room inventory to document the condition of your room.

Carts and dollies

Each hall will have 15-20 large bins students or families can check out to help get belongings to the room. Bins will be wiped down between families. Families can also bring their own carts and dollies to move boxes and belongings.

Dining Services

Throughout Fall Welcome, Aug. 27 through Sept. 1, WMU Dining Services will be prioritizing the safety of out students by limiting dining service to enrolled students and Fall Welcome program staff only. Families, please plan accordingly and eat before or after moving your student into their residence hall at an off-campus location, or pack your own beverages and meals. To ensure that our enrolled students receive the best service, this also means that Guest Passes from student meal plans will not be accepted during Fall Welcome. Dining does sincerely apologize for this inconvenience, as usually they are thrilled to invite families and others to try the dining experience at WMU.

Doors, elevators and stairs

All front doors, security doors and stairwell doors will be propped open until 6 p.m. on major move-in days to eliminate a high-touch surface area.

All halls have elevators. Elevators will be limited to one family at a time to respect social distancing. To expedite the use of elevators, we encourage you to take the elevator up with belongings, but use the stairs to come down, as long as you are able to do so.

Valley halls have two stairwells, so one will be designated for traffic going up, and the other for traffic going down. Where possible, lobbies will have designated one-way lanes for people coming in and out of the building.

Problems with your room?

If you have any concerns with your room upon arrival, please speak with the hall director or graduate assistant. They can be found in the hall office or check-in room. Custodial and maintenance are on standby to assist.

Recycling

Move-in brings a lot of cardboard and Styrofoam. Large dumpsters are outside the hall where you can drop off your cardboard. Please remove Styrofoam and break down the boxes. There are large bags staked next to the dumpster for the Styrofoam. In 2018, WMU recycled 7.29 tons of cardboard and Styrofoam during move-in. Visit the Facilities move-in recycling page for more information.

Pets

Pets, other than fish and service animals, are not allowed into the residence halls.  We recommend leaving family pets at home so you do not have to leave them in the car during August’s hot temperatures.

Room inventory

Complete the online room inventory found in the housing portal. This documents the state of your room, furniture, etc. upon arrival. When you move out, housing staff compare the inventory to the room's move-out condition to determine if damages happened. Room inventories are due a few days after you move in.

Logging on – computer, phone, gaming systems, TVs

Once you get into your room, register your computer or phone on the wireless network. If you have a gaming system or TV, register them on the network too. The site includes a list of incompatible devices.

Mail

Mail will begin to be delivered to the residence halls the first day of move in. Click here for details about sending and receiving mail.

Hall postings

Please take time to look at the information posted in the halls. This will include information about policies and campus services, as well as information about campus and hall events.