With about 6,200 students moving into the residence halls this week, campus housing opens at full capacity with both a record number of first-year students and a record number of returning students.
Early arriving students, including some international students, and students involved in fall activities such as athletes and CSU band members, who started arriving over the August 15 weekend. By Wednesday more than 1,700 students will be moved in on campus. The remaining 4,500 will arrive on Thursday, August 20, and several hundred late arrivals are expected on Friday and through the weekend.
“We’re excited to welcome a record number of first year students, a record number of returning students, and an increased number of transfer students,” said Laura Giles, director of residence life. “Housing & Dining Services staff have been working hard all summer to prepare the halls, including some new and improved spaces, and we are also enhancing the student experience this fall with some new programs and initiatives.”
Units from across campus help make move-in successful
During peak move in days, more than 1,500 employees from Housing & Dining Services, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Athletics, Parent & Family Programs, and Facilities greet students and their families, assist with move in, and direct traffic. CSUPD will monitor key campus entry and exit points on Shields during move-in to promote traffic safety.
Because of heavier than normal traffic, the repaving of College Avenue, and construction projects on campus, the university is encouraging employees to consider taking alternative transportation to work during the week, and particularly on Wednesday and Thursday. Students and their families also were provided a detailed traffic plan and parking map for suggested routes and parking locations.
Around the Horn, the university’s on-campus shuttle, will start running an expanded route to a new parking lot on the south edge of campus west of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The 900 space lot will open on Thursday, and provide parking for valid CSU parking permits and visitors. The Horn, which loops through campus every ten minutes, now including the new lot, also will provide late-night hour service to the lot for Ram Welcome activities on Thursday and Friday.
Sustainability focus for new students
In addition to providing alternative transportation options to students, employees and visitors, the university’s commitment to sustainability will be top of mind during move-in. Volunteers at cardboard corals collected 20 tons of cardboard during move in for recycling last year. This year, 18 corals around the halls will also collect Styrofoam for recycling through a partnership with CSU Facilities Management and Surplus, Gallegos Sanitation, and CSU Housing & Dining Services.
“Cardboard corrals, expanded alternative transportation options, and a zero waste welcome picnic will greet new Rams and help them become part of our campus sustainability initiatives on day one,” said Tonie Miyamoto, director of communications and sustainability for Housing & Dining Services.
Ram Welcome events begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday for most first-year students, with some earlier programing for transfer, adult, and veteran students. Ram Welcome concludes on Sunday.
