Move In Information

2020 Fall Move-in procedures for incoming and returning students will be updated throughout the month of August. As you begin to prepare your plans for move-in, keep the following in mind when coordinating your travel to St. Louis this fall. 

• First Year Student move-in will take place beginning on Friday, September 4 and continue through Sunday, September 6. 
• Returning Student move-in will take place beginning on Wednesday, September 9 and continue through Saturday, September 12. 

Move-in dates are currently available for viewing via the WashU Housing Portal. To evenly distribute the student population in order to support physical distancing, move-in arrivals will be managed by time slot to maintain safety protocols in response to COVID-19. We will not be taking requests for individual early arrivals or requests for dates outside of the above.

At this time, current plans are for the 2020 fall semester. Our de-densifying of the residence halls will continue as we monitor the public health conditions. Adjustments will be made as we respond to COVID-19. Information about Spring housing will be available in November. If you are no longer living in Residential Life managed housing and you received a move-in information, please log onto your WashU Housing Portal and cancel your housing contract.

For information about Local Accommodations and Hotels, please visit Division of Student Affairs Parents & Families website here.

Preparing to Travel to Campus

• Continue to limit your interactions with others prior to departing for St. Louis for the start of the fall semester. This includes staying at home, washing your hands, wearing a mask, and keeping at least six feet of distance from others.
• Don’t travel if you’re sick. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home. 
• Bring masks and hand sanitizer with you and use both while traveling.
• Wear a mask at all times in airports, on planes, or in any closed space with others.
• Stay at least six feet away from other people as much as possible.
• Use hand sanitizer after touching surfaces in airports or other transportation hubs.
• Avoid gathering with groups of people, paying particular attention to places where a crowd may form.

Before You Reach the Check-in Site

If you are under the age of 18, because we will be testing all students for COVID-19 upon move-in to residential housing, a HIPAA release and consent form must be completed. Students who are under the age of 18 must have the appropriate documents co-signed by their parent or guardian. These documents have been sent to you via email. Please complete the forms and bring them with you to your check in. If you do not have a signed consent and HIPAA release, you run the risk of not being able to move into the residence halls. 

Plan your arrival appropriately. All students have been assigned a move-in date and time. Adhering to your date and time will help us keep traffic spread out across the day and decrease wait times in the testing center. Use the restroom prior to arriving for your check-in. Restrooms will be limited. Do not eat or drink ANYTHING for 30 minutes prior to your test time. This includes, but not not limited to, tooth brushing, mouth washing, gum chewing, drinking water, and tobacco use before your testing. Use the restroom prior to arriving for your check-in. Restrooms will be limited.

Not following preparation guidelines could result in the delay of your testing and your move-in.

Arriving to the Check-In Site

Students and those accompanying them will arrive directly to the check-in site at West Campus Conference Center (7425 Forsyth Blvd, Clayton, Missouri, 63105) as their first stop (do not go to Residential Life Centers). Belongings should remain in the vehicle except for a form of identification and smartphone/tablet/laptop to register electronically for the test. Only the student should exit the vehicle and will be allowed to enter the facility to complete their testing and check-in. 

Students have been scheduled by Residential Life to arrive at the check-in site between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m CDT. It is critical that students show up on time. Testing will close promptly at 5 p.m. Should students miss the required testing on their assigned move-in day, they will be personally responsible for finding alternative accommodations for the night and will be required to return for testing on the next scheduled day. In order to comply with COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, there will be no exceptions granted for late check-in if a student does not arrive at the testing site before 5 p.m. on their scheduled move-in day. If you need an adjustment in your travel date or time, please contact Residential Life at reslife@wustl.edu as soon as possible.

Completing Your Check-In

• Once inside, students will complete COVID-19 testing and additional paperwork administered by Habif Health and Wellness Center employees. We ask that students do not eat or drink ANYTHING prior for 30 minutes prior to your test time. This includes, but not not limited to, tooth brushing, mouth washing, gum chewing, drinking water, and tobacco use before your testing. BRING a form of identification and smartphone/tablet/laptop to register electronically for the test.
• After you have completed your testing, Residential Life staff members will be present to distribute required items for access into the residence halls including a complimentary COVID-19 Care Kit that will have a thermometer, mask, and hand sanitizer. You will also receive a red wristband to indicate that you have completed your check-in. The wristband is required to be worn through September 14. Following the completion of check-in, students will proceed to the appropriate areas to unload their belongings and move into their Residential Hall. 

See below for mandatory instructions while waiting for your test results.

Preparing to Move Into Your Residence Hall

• Up to two additional people will be allowed in the residence hall and room during move-in. 
• Students and guests/helpers must wear masks to enter all university buildings and must maintain 6 feet of physical distance as much as possible. 
• To avoid multiple trips back and forth, we ask that you not venture off campus until your test results are back. We encourage you to get as many supplies as possible before coming and to bring them with you on your move-in day. Any interactions that are unavoidable, like picking up food (which will be available on campus), should occur under strict mask and distancing guidelines.
• When packing your belongings, make sure you can easily access what you would need for a minimum 10-day period in the event that you are exposed to COVID-19 or test positive and need to move to isolation or quarantine housings. Items you would need include: enough clothes, toiletries, and medications for at least 10-14 days; computer, charging cords, textbooks, and other items you may need to begin coursework online;  a pillow, and any other items you will need to be comfortable for at least two weeks.  Bedding (not including a pillow) and towels will be provided.
• We ask that you only bring belongings to campus that could easily be taken with you in the event that the university should have to close suddenly in response to COVID-19.

Moving Into Your Residence Hall

First-Year Students

Once you have completed your check-in, proceed to Shepley Drive (off of Big Bend in Clayton) to unload. You will be greeted by staff who can direct you to the appropriate building. Buildings names will be identified by flag banners. Once you have arrived at your building to unload, you will be met by professional moving crew members. It is advised that one person exit the vehicle to direct the movers on what to unload and move into the student’s room, You will be allowed to park your vehicle temporarily while one person remains with the vehicle. Belongings should be packed in labeled boxes or bins with the students’ first and last name, building and room number, and cellphone number. Belongings will be moved up to the student’s room by the moving crew. The student will need to lead the crew with a room key in hand for entry. 

Returning Students

Once students have completed their check in, vehicles should proceed to their appropriate buildings to unload. Residents living on the Northside will park in the Snow Way garage to unload their items. Residents living in off-campus apartments will unload at their respective buildings. More information on the following page about Quadrangle/Parallel and the Moonrise.

Students Assigned to Quadrangle/Parallel Off-Campus Apartments

• Students assigned to Quadrangle/Parallel off-campus apartments should have received communication from their administration with information about how to complete and upload necessary documentation. Please make sure this information is complete by September 7th. All students are required to complete their testing prior to moving into your apartment. Your keys will be available at the check-in site. More information about your student experience in Quadrangle/Properties can be found here.

Students Assigned to the Moonrise Hotel

• Students assigned to the Moonrise Hotel are required to complete their testing prior to moving into the hotel. Following check-in, students will receive the necessary items from Residential Life at the check-in site and proceed to the Moonrise Hotel to complete the remainder of their check-in. Residential Life staff and Moonrise Concierge will be available to assist students moving in to the hotel. Please note that you will not be allowed to complete your check-in if Moonrise management does not see your provided wristband that should remain on your wrist.  More information about the student experience at the Moonrise hotel can be found here. 

For All Students

If traveling by rideshare to the check-in site, shuttle service will be available for students. The shuttle will make multiple trips due to capacity limitations in response to COVID-19. Shuttles will stop at various locations, but will not be able to stop at all building locations. 

Once items have been moved in, students may begin to unpack. Any accompanying persons are asked to depart campus as soon as possible, but no later than 7 p.m. on your assigned move-in day. Parking will be available on the South 40 in Shepley and Wallace garages for first year move-in and Snow Way garage for returning students move-in.

While Waiting For Your Test Results

As a reminder, the processing time for tests is approximately 4 – 24 hours. Negative results will be e-mailed directly to the student’s WUSTL email account. Positive results will be communicated directly to Habif medical staff, who will then contact the student by phone and follow the established protocol for isolating students. 

Students who have completed their check-in, received their test, and are moved into their residence hall are expected to quarantine in place in their assigned space until they have received their test results. This means that students are expected to remain in their room and not travel outside of the residence halls – including trips to the store or dinner with family.

Dining while you quarantine in place

Students who have completed their check-in will have dining available in the form of grab-and-go meal options in Bears Den and the Danforth University Center (DUC). There will be no seating in any dining facilities. Grab-and-go options will be provided through Monday, September 14. The Village Dining will open on Friday, September 11. 

Please note, hours will be limited in response to COVID and testing requirements – it will be important to follow the Dining Services website closely. All guidelines and public health recommendations should be followed when retrieving meals. 

Additionally, students will be required to commit to the following health and safety guidelines for their entire time on campus and while waiting for their COVID-19 test results:

• Wear face coverings at all times when indoors, unless you live in suites and apartments AND are still able to maintain 6 feet of distance between each other; and when outside and unable to maintain 6 feet of physical distance.
• Physically distance AT ALL TIMES.
• Monitor symptoms and stay home if not feeling well – there will be a required completion of a daily self-screening tool before leaving your residence hall. 
• Practice great hygiene by washing your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds and following other health recommendations.

Will ALL students be required to quarantine upon arrival?

• Please see updates from 8/14/2020
• Students are asked to significantly limit their interactions with others in the 14 days prior to departing for St. Louis for the start of the fall semester. This includes staying at home as much as possible, washing your hands frequently, wearing a mask if you must be in contact with anyone outside your home, and keeping at least six feet of distance between yourself and others outside of your family. Please monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and if they develop, seek medical advice before coming to St. Louis. Do not come to campus if you have symptoms of COVID-19.

Will students be tested when they return to campus?

• Every student living in residential life housing will be required to take a free COVID-19 test within 24 hours of their arrival to campus.  We are planning on using a saliva test that will be administered through the Habif Health and Wellness Center and provide results within 24 hours.  Students are going to be asked to follow specific guidelines while waiting for their test results. Please see the most recent move-in communication for those guidelines.

How often will students be tested? What testing capabilities will be available?

• Testing will be available for students at the Habif Health and Wellness Center for students who are symptomatic or who were exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive.
  Students may be contacted by Habif Health and Wellness Center to take a COVID-19 test if they were identified as being exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive through contact tracing.

What safety measures should I be aware of related to the move-in process?

• The move-in process will occur over multiple days to ensure appropriate physical distancing during that process. More specific information will be provided shortly after fall room assignments have been confirmed and communicated.
• Up to two family members or supporters may accompany a student during their assigned move-in time.  Professional vendors will be provided to assist with the moving of belongings for First Year Move-In.  Outside moving vendors will not be allowed on campus.
• To help us reduce community spread, before move-in and during move-in procedures will be outlined via our website.
• Belongings to be moved in should be limited in size and number Please only bring essential belongings that you can easily take with you at move-out.

When can students move into the residence halls?

• All students will be administratively assigned a move-in day and time from the move-in dates below. Assignments are being done in order to control for the number of arrivals in accordance with Center for Disease Control (CDC) public health guidelines. As the university is coordinating testing students who will be living in Residential Life housing when they arrive in September there is no flexibility on assigned time frames.
• First Year Students: September 4, 5, 6
• Returning Students: September 9, 10, 11, 12

Will families be able to help students move-in?

• Up to two family members or supporters may accompany a student during their assigned move-in time.  Professional vendors will be available to assist with the moving of belongings for First Year Move-In on September 4th, 5th and 6th.

Will move-in dates and times be staggered?

• The move-in process will occur over multiple days for First Year students and returning students with all residential students receiving pre-assigned  time slots to ensure appropriate physical distancing during the move-in process. 

Will Deneb Stars still be moving in early?

• The Deneb STAR program is considered a scholar program. Please connect directly with your program leader for move-in information if you are a member of the Deneb STAR program. 

How should students get their items together?

• Students should physically bring their items to campus on their selected move-in day. Sending large and bulky items to mail services on campus may result in significant delays in the student receiving their items.

Will athletes be moving in early?

• Please connect directly with your coach for move-in information if you are a member of a fall sport. 

Available in late November.