Early Arrival - West 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, please submit a request via the housing portal in your 2025-26 Academic Year application.

Please read this entire message for detailed move-in instructions, and review everything carefully so you can finalize your travel plans for a successful arrival. It is to your advantage to arrive when scheduled and follow our instructions to make the move-in process as efficient and smooth as possible.     

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

Notes for early arrival residents:

• You (and guests) will be responsible for unloading and moving your belongings to your room.   
• West Campus house staff do not start on-call support until Thursday, August 14, 2025. Urgent crisis support is available 24/7 by calling Cornell Police Dispatch at 607-255-1111.
• Lock-out support will not be available until after 4pm on August 14.  

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

MOVE-IN AND ARRIVAL INSTRUCTIONS  

August 9-13  from 8:00am – 10:00pm, ONLY 

Proceed to the North Campus Service Center on the first floor of the Robert Purcell Community Center to check in and receive your Cornell ID and key. You will be able to temporarily park in Robert Purcell Community Center reserved spaces to get your keys; there is no long-term parking. Proceed to a designated unloading area listed below. Please know that you (and guests) will be responsible for unloading and moving your belongings to your room.   

There is NO after-hours room access. You will need to make alternative arrangements for the night and check in the next morning.  

August 14-15 from 9:00am – 4:30pm  

Proceed to your West Campus House Office to check in and obtain your Cornell ID and key. Each West Campus House has a House Office located in the main building.   

August 16-17 and AFTER-HOURS MOVE-IN AND ARRIVAL INSTRUCTIONS   

If arriving after the House Offices are closed you will need to call your Graduate Resident Fellow (GRF) at the number posted at the main entrance to your residence for assistance with the after-hours check in process. If you do not have a phone that can call within the United States, you can reach your GRF by using a Blue Light Emergency Phone on campus. Press the button to be connected to Campus Police. Let them know which dorm you are trying to get into and they will call your GRF for you.  

You will be able to temporarily park to unload in the areas listed below.  The staff member on call will assist you with checking in. Please know that you (and guests) will be responsible for unloading and moving your belongings to your room.  

CAR UNLOADING AND PARKING ON WEST CAMPUS  

We’ve outlined for you below those areas of West Campus where you will be permitted to drive and park temporarily to unload your vehicle. It is important that you adhere to these unloading locations and do not drive on any pedestrian walkways not designated for these locations. “No Parking” areas, including fire access pathways, will be strictly enforced. Gothics Way and Becker Drive above the loading dock will NOT be accessible.   

Along West Avenue  

• Across from Baker Tower: parking spaces designated as loading zones 
• Across from Founders & Lyon: the pull-off loading zone on the Slope side    

Near Bethe & Keeton  

• Mary Ann Wood Drive (just behind William Keeton House): parking spaces designated as loading zones 
• Forest Park Lane (just behind Noyes Community Recreation Center: parking spaces designated as loading zones   

Stewart Ave  

• Paid parking spaces along road, free after 6pm and Sundays  

Unloading spaces are 20-minute unloading zones only. Once unloaded, you will be able to relocate your vehicle to University Ave lot. If you have purchased a parking permit, please adhere to the temporary parking areas for move-in week outlined by the transportation email.  

If you have questions or need assistance with any move in arrangements, please contact Housing Operations, 607-255-5368, or housing@cornell.edu.