Move In
Moving Into Your Residence Hall
The residence hall move-in process can differ for each term. As move-in day approaches, more details will be available here so you know what you need to do during arrivals.
What You Need to Know for Moving In
Moving In for fall 2026
Staff from all over the University work hard during move-in to welcome our Blue Hens to campus and make the process as smooth as possible!
First-Year Students
Saturday, August 22
7 a.m.–3 p.m.
Newly admitted first-year students will move into their rooms at a designated time on Saturday, August 22. Newly admitted Flex Pathway students and freshman transfer students living in first-year residence halls will also move in on Saturday. These students were emailed in mid-July with their appointment time to arrive on campus, pick up their room key and move in.
Move-in appointments are staggered to help ease traffic and congestion in the area and in the buildings. Do NOT come earlier than your appointment time—you will be waiting!
- Don’t have an appointment or need to change your appointment?
Log in to the My Housing portal and go to the Fall 2026 Move-In section to view available times and select a new appointment. This process closes on August 13, 5 p.m. - Need to arrive earlier than August 22?
Consider early check-in. If you sign up for early check-in, your originally assigned move-in appointment will be canceled, and you will follow different move-in instructions. - Can’t arrive on campus until after August 22?
Contact your Residence Hall Coordinator in advance to arrange your arrival.
You must check in at the Bob Carpenter Center at your assigned appointment time before going to your residence hall.
You will also be able to interact with representatives from various units across campus while at the athletic center.
At check-in, you’ll receive:
- Your room key
- Directions to your residence hall unloading zone
- Dash tag for one vehicle to enter the unloading zone
- A map to designated long-term parking areas*
*To reduce traffic in the unloading area, each student will receive only one vehicle dash tag. You must ask for a "long-term parking pass" for any additional vehicles when picking up your key at check-in, and these vehicles must go directly to long-term parking areas.
Important: Do NOT go directly to your residence hall before checking in. If you arrive at your building first, you’ll be directed back to the Bob Carpenter Center.
After checking in at the athletic complex, follow the provided directions to get to your residence hall. As you get closer, Parking staff and University Police will direct you to the designated unloading area.
Learn more about parking and unloading.
Blue Hen Helper volunteers wearing yellow T-shirts will be stationed in each area of campus to assist with moving student belongings into rooms. Volunteers are limited, so plan to do most of your own lifting and dress comfortably.
Upper Division and Transfer Students
Sunday, August 23
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Students living in upper division residence halls do not have assigned check-in appointments, but must arrive and pick up room keys or fobs during the 9 a.m.–4 p.m. timeframe.
This move-in timeframe is for returning students (rising sophomores, juniors seniors), Flex Pathway students transitioning to the Newark campus and incoming transfer students.
- Need to arrive earlier than August 23?
Consider early check-in. - Can’t arrive to campus until after August 23?
Contact your Residence Hall Coordinator in advance to arrange your arrival.
Report directly to the designated location for your residence hall listed below. Resident/Apartment Assistant staff will be on site to distribute room keys/fobs for that specific area.
| Residence Hall | Check-In Location |
|---|---|
| Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney Commons Lounge |
| Independence East and West | Independence West Main Lounge |
| North Central: Sypherd, Harter, Sharp | The Green near Sypherd Hall (Rain location: Sypherd Hall Main Lounge) |
| Ray Street | Ray Street A Main Lounge |
| South Central: Cannon and New Castle | The Green near Cannon Hall (Rain location: Cannon Main Lounge) |
| South Central: Squire and Sussex | The Green near Squire Hall (Rain location: Squire Main Lounge) |
| University Courtyard Apartments (UCA) | UCA Clubhouse |
You will receive an email a few days before your arrival with a vehicle dash tag, map and directions to get to your building. As you approach your building, Parking staff and University Police will direct you to the designated unloading area. Once at the unloading area, go to the designated check-in location to collect your room key/fob.
Any student can request to check in early to their residence hall for a fee. There is no limit on the number of students who can check in early.
$50 for each night prior to standard arrival date
Students affiliated with a university-sponsored group may be eligible for a discounted fee and should contact their coordinator for information.
Entering transfer students are eligible for a discounted fee.
Blue Hen Helpers who complete their required volunteer shift will have the standard early check-in fee waived entirely. Learn more about Blue Hen Helpers.
Students must check-in and pick up their room key/fob between 5–7 p.m. on August 20, but can continue to move into their room after check-in closes.
Blue Hen Helper assistance will not be available during early check-in.
All dining plans will not be activated until breakfast on Saturday, August 22.
International students can relax in the International Student Hospitality suite in Trabant Lounge in the Trabant Student Center on Thursday, August 20 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. prior to the start of early check-in.
Certain university-sponsored groups (i.e. QUEST, First Year Honors, etc.) may have program-specific early check-in times that differ from what is listed here. These will be communicated with those students, who can reach out to their programs directly to verify their arrival information.
Report directly to the designated location for your residence hall listed below. Resident/Apartment Assistant staff will be on site to distribute room keys/fobs for that specific area.
| Residence Hall | Check-In Location |
|---|---|
| Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney Commons Lounge |
| George Read North and South | George Read North Lounge |
| Gilbert | Gilbert Main Lounge |
| Harrington | Harrington Commons Lounge |
| Independence East and West | Independence West Main Lounge |
| James Smith | James Smith Main Lounge |
| Lane and Thompson | Lane/Thompson Yard (Rain location: Lane Main Lounge) |
| North Central: Sypherd, Harter, Sharp | The Green near Sypherd Hall (Rain location: Sypherd Hall Main Lounge) |
| Ray Street | Ray Street A Main Lounge |
| Redding | Redding Main Lounge |
| Smyth | Smyth Patio (Rain location: Smyth Main Lounge) |
| South Central: Cannon and New Castle | The Green near Cannon Hall (Rain location: Cannon Main Lounge) |
| South Central: Squire and Sussex | The Green near Squire Hall (Rain location: Squire Main Lounge) |
| Thomas McKean | Thomas McKean Main Lounge |
| University Courtyard Apartments (UCA) | UCA Clubhouse |
You will receive an email a few days before your arrival with a vehicle dash tag, map and directions to get to your building. As you approach your building, Parking staff and University Police will direct you to the designated unloading area. Once at the unloading area, go to the designated check-in location to collect your room key/fob.
During check-in hours on our designated move-in days, vehicles may drive close to the residence halls for unloading belongings in the drop-and-go zones. This option is only available during these dates and times.
To reduce traffic in unloading areas:
- Students will receive only one vehicle dash tag to access the drop-and-go zone.
- Plan to unload your vehicle within 15 minutes of arriving at your residence hall.
- Any additional vehicle must go directly to long-term parking.
- Oversized vehicles (e.g. moving or box trucks, vehicles towing trailers and vehicles larger than a 12-passenger van) are not permitted in unloading zones and will be required to go directly to long-term parking, even if it’s the only vehicle brought to campus.
Vehicles in the unloading area around the building must never be left unattended.
Belongings should be unloaded next to the car and remain with the student or another member of the party while the vehicle is moved to a long-term parking area. Your cooperation helps keep traffic moving properly.
Maps with directions to long-term parking areas will be provided:
- First-year students arriving Saturday: Printed copies will be distributed.
- Students arriving on Thursday or Sunday: Digital copies will be emailed.
To help keep track of your items, label bags, boxes and other belongings with:
- First and last name
- Building name
- Room number
A handcart or dolly may be helpful for transporting belongings to your room. Buildings with elevators will have wheeled carts available to assist, but quantities are limited.
Move-in day involves lifting, carrying and possibly using stairs. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and closed-toed shoes.
Settling In
Once your belongings are in your room, it’s time to unpack and make your space your own! Family members and friends are welcome to help, but we encourage students to take the lead on unpacking, organizing and decorating.
UD Welcome Days events for new students begin Saturday evening, so plan your family/helper send-off accordingly.
Resident/Apartment Assistants and other live-in staff will be available throughout the residence halls during all move-in days to welcome you and answer questions.
Tech Questions
If you have tech questions during Welcome Days, look for the team in bright blue "Ask IT" shirts or stop by one of the Ask IT pop-up locations in Harrington Commons:
- Saturday–Sunday, August 22–23: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Monday, August 24: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
After move-in, you can visit the Ask IT Service Desk in Smith Hall during their office hours.
Student ID Cards (ONEcards)
Students living on campus (except in apartments) access their building using their student ID card (ONEcard) after checking in.
- First-year students who arrive on August 22 and do not already have their ONEcard will pick it up at check-in, provided they submitted their picture by the stated deadline.
- All other students (including those checking in early), who do not already have their ONEcard or need a replacement ONEcard must pick it up from the ONEcard Office before going to their residence hall to check in.
The ONEcard Office will be open during move-in days:
- Thursday, August 20: 8:30 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Saturday, August 22: 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Sunday, August 23: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Blue Hen Helpers are volunteers who help new first-year students and families move their belongings into their residence hall rooms during New Student Move-In on Saturday, August 22.
New and returning students are able to serve as Blue Hen Helpers, and if living on campus in the fall, have the opportunity to move into their room early on Thursday, August 20 between 5–7 p.m. for no additional fee. Students must complete their volunteer shift and participation will be verified. All current students can sign up to volunteer now through their My Housing portal.
University of Delaware faculty and staff (outside of the Division of Student Life) and Newark-area community members who are interested in volunteering can contact bluehenhelpers@udel.edu.
Questions? Please contact bluehenhelpers@udel.edu.
What is In Your Room and What to Bring
Review the lists below of items provided in your room, items to bring with you, as well as prohibited items that you should not to bring to your residence hall room.
What You Will Find in Your Room
Each student is provided with:
- XL twin bed and mattress (full-sized in University Courtyard Apartments)
- Desk
- Desk chair
- Wardrobe, closet or set of drawers
Each room also comes with:
- Waste basket
- Recycling bin
- Shower curtain liner (suite-style and apartments only)
- Ethernet access to the internet and secure wi-fi (no cable television)
In suite-style rooms and apartments, residents are responsible for cleaning and supplying their bathrooms. In traditional rooms, hall bathrooms are stocked with toilet paper and cleaned regularly by custodial services.
For virtual room tours and more building details:
Triples
There are several room types on the campus that house three students and are considered triples.
These are rooms that always house three students in the room or on each side of the suite. The room is designed to have all the furniture placed on the floor.
The “FY” notation means that these are triples in the newest first-year residence halls. These buildings have larger student room square footage to increase occupancy in a room depending on need. These buildings also have additional spaces in mind for the increased occupancy in the building including floor lounges and large common spaces (kitchens, laundry, etc.). These rooms are only located in buildings with air conditioning.
It should be expected that two of the three beds will be bunked in these rooms, meaning less under-bed storage is available. After arriving to campus, students interested in unbunking beds can submit a FixIt request to UD Facilities, however, all university-issued furniture must fit in the room and cannot be removed.
Third Party Moving and Storage Options
Want assistance moving your belongings to campus? Consider using Dorm Room Movers, a third-party company we’ve partnered with that helps students and families avoid the usual move-in scramble. For a fee, they send you boxes and tape, you pack your belongings and schedule your UPS pickup from your home, and they store your belongings and deliver them to campus when it’s time.
To learn more about the service and pricing or to sign up, visit the Dorm Room Movers website.
What to Bring
We put together a list of items students should consider bringing to campus. Connect with roommate(s) to discuss a plan for items that can potentially be shared.
- Bedding
- Twin XL for traditional and suite-style rooms
- Full-size for University Courtyard Apartments - Pillows
- Towels (bath, hand, washcloth, etc.)
- Clothing and shoes for rain and possible snow
- Clothes hangers
- Toiletries (shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)
- Bathmat (suites and apartments)
- Toilet Paper (suites and apartments)
- Laundry supplies (basket, detergent, etc.)
- Personal and OTC medications
- Bathroom cleaning supplies (suites and apartments)
- Kitchen cleaning supplies (basics for traditional and suite rooms, more for apartments)
- Vacuum
- Disinfectant surface wipes
- Paper towels or reusable cleaning towels
- Microwave no greater than 700 watts (1 per room)
- Refrigerator no larger than 4.5 cubic feet (1 per room)
- Or rent a combined unit from MyMicroFridge with Campus Specialties, Inc. (1 per room)
- Laptop/computer and charger
- Surge protector
- Desk lamp
- Headphones with mic
- Smart TV (no cable)
- Fan (specifically for non-air-conditioned spaces)
- Decorative items
- Food and snacks
- Bicycle and bike lock
For added safety, register your bicycle with Parking Services. - Umbrella and rain boots
- Shower caddy and shoes
- Kitchen items, depending on room type
- Microwave-safe dishes, mugs, utensils
- Small tool kit
- First aid kit
- Reusable water bottle or bottled water
What to Leave at Home
Bed lofts are not permitted, whether they're purchased or self-made. Students are permitted to utilize products frequently referred to as bed risers or furniture lifts which fit under the feet of the bed. These are only permitted under an individual bed, not under bunked beds. Most of these products are under eight inches tall, which provide the extra space desired for storage. When using bed risers, the top of the mattress height from the ground cannot exceed five feet.
Microfridge Rentals
One small refrigerator (4.5 cubic feet or less) and one microwave (700 watts max) per bedroom is permitted. If bringing a combined unit, one microfridge fitting the same specifications per bedroom is permitted. If living with a roommate(s), plan with them before purchasing or renting.
Students are welcome to purchase and bring their own minifridges and microwaves.
Alternatively, many families enjoy the convenience of renting a combined microfridge unit. Campus Specialties Inc. provides microfridge rentals (or call 800-525-7307) for all residence halls. All orders placed by August 1 will be delivered to your room prior to your arrival on campus. Units ordered after that date may face a late fee or delayed delivery. Students who do not know their specific room assignment by August 1 can still order; just be sure to update your order with your room assignment once you know it so that the unit arrives at the correct location before you come to campus. If both you and your roommate place an order, you can cancel one of the orders and receive a full refund if canceled before the unit is delivered.