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Housing & Residential Life

Early Arrival - North and South Campus

Early arrival must be requested and approved in advance. Only pre-approved requests are allowed to move in early. To request an early arrival, submit a request through the Housing and Dining Portal in your 2026-27 Academic Year application.

Please read this entire message carefully before making final travel arrangements. Following the instructions below and arriving at your designated time will help ensure a smooth and efficient move-in process.

For information about what you should do before arriving on campus, please visit the Prior to Your Arrival page. 

Arrival and Move-In Instructions 

Check-In Location 

All students must check in at the North Campus Student Check-in Desk, located on the first floor of the Robert Purcell Community Center (RPCC) to receive their Cornell ID and keys. Temporary parking is available in designated RPCC parking spaces while you pick up your key and ID. Long-term parking is not available at RPCC. 

North Campus Service Center Hours 

August 1-13, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 
Friday-Sunday, August 14-16, 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 
Monday, August 17, 8:00a.m. - 8:00p.m. 
Tuesday, August 18, 8:00a.m. - 7:00p.m. 
August 19-23, 9:00a.m. - 7:00p.m. 

Arrival During Service Center Hours

Arrival Location: RPCC Parking Lot 

Check-in Location: North Campus Student Check-in Desk (RPCC 103-105)

  • Proceed directly to RPCC room 103-105 to check in and pick up your keys/ID (if applicable).  
  • Proceed to your residence hall unloading area.  
  • You and your guests are responsible for unloading and moving belongings to your room.  
  • Once unloading is complete, move your vehicle to a designated Move-in parking lot to make space for other arrivals.  

If you have purchased an academic year parking permit, please follow the temporary move-in parking instructions provided by Transportation Services.  

Arrival After 7:00p.m.

Arrival Location: Your Residence Hall

The North Campus Service Center will be closed 

  • Proceed directly to your residence hall’s unloading area.  
  • Call the staff member on-call phone number posted at your building entrance.  
  • The staff member on-call will assist you with accessing your room so you may unload your belongings. 
  • You and your guests are responsible for unloading and moving belongings to your room. Staff unloading assistance will not be available. 
  • Once unloading is complete, move your vehicle to a designated Move-in parking lot to make space for other arrivals.  

You will not receive your keys or Cornell ID during after-hours arrival. You must return to the North Campus Service Center the following morning to officially check in and obtain your keys/ID. 

If You Cannot Call Within the United States 

If you do not have a phone capable of making U.S. calls, use a Blue Light Emergency Phone located near your residence hall. 

Press the button to connect with Cornell Police and tell them which residence hall you are trying to access. They will contact the RA on your behalf. 

Vehicle Unloading and Parking: North Campus 

To help manage move-in traffic, designated unloading areas are available throughout North Campus. Please use only the designated unloading locations and do not drive on pedestrian walkways unless specifically designated as an unloading route. 

Move-in bins and carts will be available at residence halls on a first-come, first-served basis. 

No Parking zones, including fire lanes and emergency access routes, will be strictly enforced. 

Designated North Campus Unloading Areas 

  • Akwe:kon parking lot loading spaces (accessible from Triphammer Road)  
  • Anna Comstock-Latino Living Center parking lot  
  • Balch Hall south loading dock (accessible from Cradit Farm Road) 
  • Dickson Hall loading dock area (accessible from Sisson Place)  
  • Ecology House parking lot (accessible from Country Club Road off Triphammer Road) 
  • Helen Newman parking area  
  • North side of Jessup Road loading spaces  
  • Program House Drive   
  • Risley Hall parking lot spaces  
  • Robert Purcell Community Center parking lot loading spaces (accessible from Jessop Road) 

Important Parking Information 

All unloading spaces are limited to 20 minutes. Drivers must remain with their vehicles at all times. 

After unloading, vehicles must be moved to designated Move-in parking areas, as general parking on North Campus is not available. 

Students with academic-year parking permits should follow the temporary move-in parking instructions provided by Transportation Services.  

Vehicle Unloading and Parking: South Campus

Cascadilla Hall Residents

Available parking options include: 

  • Paid City of Ithaca Garage (south of Cascadilla Hall)  
  • Paid parking spaces along Dryden Road  
  • Williams Street Lot (upper lot at the corner of Williams Street and Stewart Avenue)    

Sheldon Court  Residents

Available parking options include: 

  • Limited loading dock parking at Sheldon Court 
  • Paid parking spaces along Dryden Rd.    
  • Paid City of Ithaca Garage (south of Cascadilla Hall)  
  • Williams Street Lot (upper lot at the corner of Williams Street and Stewart Avenue)     

Schuyler House Residents

Available parking options include: 

  • Once unloading is complete, drivers must move their vehicles to parking spaces located furthest from the building entrance in the Schuyler House parking lot. 
  • Overnight parking is not permitted. 

301 College Avenue Residents

Available parking options include: 

  • Paid on-street parking 
  • Paid City of Ithaca Garage (south of Cascadilla Hall - 3 min walk) 
  • Williams Street Lot (upper lot at the corner of Williams Street and Stewart Avenue – 10 min walk) 

 

104 Mary Wood Drive

Available parking options include: 

  • Paid on-street parking 
  • Paid City of Ithaca Garage (south of Cascadilla Hall - 3 min walk) 
  • Williams Street Lot (upper lot at the corner of Williams Street and Stewart Avenue – 10 min walk)