New Student Move-In

Packing for Your Move-In

In general, pack the essentials and slowly expand into optional items from there. And remember... what gets moved into your residence hall room will eventually have to be moved out!

• Student Packing Suggestions

Move-In Dates

Residence hall check-in will take place by appointment as a contactless, drive-thru process to obtain keys and confirm arrival. Students will then drive to their assigned buildings to move in.

Students should enter the Check-In Line via Compton Drive at their designated move-in time. Individuals who arrive early will be diverted from the check-in process and asked to wait their turn.

All New First Year & New Transfer Residential Students

• Thursday, August 21 from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Returning Upper-Level Students

• Sunday, August 24 from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

Students Residing in Evans & Ludwell Apartments

• Monday, August 11 to Friday, August 15 between 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
• Sunday, August 17 to Friday, August 22 between 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
• Sunday, August 24 to Wednesday, August 27 between 9:00 am - 4:30 PM

Arriving on Campus

Screenshot or print out the residence hall QR check-in code received after making your appointment and use the directions below to navigate to the Check-In Line starting point on Compton Drive.

Trust us on this one! 

Students should enter the Check-In Line at their designated move-in time. Individuals who arrive early will be diverted from the process and asked to wait their turn.

All residential students will use a singular, contactless check-in line that will proceed down Compton Drive.

Residential Student Check-In

Residence Life staff will issue you a key and other important materials during check-in. Upon arriving at your building's unloading zone, please promptly unpack your vehicle alongside the curb or the lawn area and then park your car within the designated lot before moving your belongings up and into your room.

You will need the following when you arrive in your check-in line:

• The digital Residence Life QR code found on the Move In Next Steps page on the Fall Move-In Form within the Housing Portal.
• Clearance from the W&M Student Health Center. If you have not heard from a Health Center official, you can assume you are okay.
• Patience. Our staff will do the best they can to check you in quickly. However, circumstances sometimes occur beyond their control that may slow up the process. Remember that many of our check-in days have been fairly hot so a little extra patience could make the day go more smoothly for everyone!

Personal Property Insurance Recommended for Residential Students

The university is not responsible or liable for any loss or damage to property resulting from fire, theft, casualty or any cause, or for personal injury occurring within the leased premises, except as may be required by Virginia law. It is strongly recommended that personal property insurance be obtained by each student for his or her belongings. Renter's insurance is offered by most major insurance companies; some companies actually offer the option of a rider on a homeowner's policy to cover the belongings of students away at college. We recommend that you contact your current insurance provider or visit these informational websites for quotes, guides and reviews, to examine your options.

Navigating to Your Residential Assignment

Your vehicle should follow the designated color-coded route (linked below) to your unloading zone after driving through the multi-step residential check-in process. 

Blue Move-In Route

DuPont Hall, Botetourt Complex & West Woods

BLUE ROUTE DASH CARD (PDF)NAVIGATE THE BLUE ROUTe

Green Move-In Route

Fraternity Housing & Green & Gold Village

Green Route Dash Card (PDF)Navigate thE Green Route

Orange Move-In Route

Barrett, Chandler, Jefferson & Landrum Halls

Orange Route Dash Card (PDF)Navigate the Orange Route

OTP & Tribe Square Move-In Route

One Tribe Place & Tribe Square

OTP & TS ROUTE DASH CARD (PDF)Navigate the OTP & TS Route

Pink Move-In Route

Monroe & Old Dominion Hall and Bryan Complex

Pink Route Dash Card (PDF)Navigate the Pink Route

Purple Move-In Route

Hardy, Lemon & Cedar Halls and Ludwell Apartments

PURPLE ROUTE DASH CARD (PDF)NAVIGATE THE PURPLE ROUTE

Red Move-In Route

Hunt & Willis Halls and Evans Apartments

Red Move-In Route Dash Card (PDF)Navigate the Red Route

Richmond Move-In Route

Richmond Hall

Richmond Move-In Route Dash Card (PDF)Navigate the Richmond Route

Yellow Move-In Route

Sorority Court

Yellow Route Dash Card (PDF)Navigate the Yellow RoutE

Woodlands Move-In Route

Woodlands Hotel & Suites

Navigate Directly to the Woodlands

For more information, refer to the Residence Life Fall 2025 Housing Impacted by Construction FAQ

Unloading Zones

Upon arriving at your residence hall's unloading zone, we ask that you:

1. Promptly unload your vehicle (within 5 minutes)
2. Proceed to your designated parking area
3. Unpack your belongings and get settled in
4. Have your "See You Later" moment

Vehicle Restrictions

• No oversized vehicles are allowed (RVs, campers, trailers, box trucks, etc.)
• Only one vehicle per student allowed at any one point in time
• Be mindful that cartop storage carriers raise a vehicle's height to exceed the campus and OTP Parking Deck height limits

Zone Restrictions

• Vehicles must be accompanied by a driver at all times during the unloading process
•  One-hour time limit strictly enforced (fines range up to $100)
• Do not park in fire lanes, or on grass or sidewalks (fines range up to $100)