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Cornell University

Housing & Residential Life

Move-In Instructions for North Campus

This applies to all North Campus buildings except Risley Residential College, Latino Living Center, Ecology House, and Akwe:kon. For these communities, see their unique move-in instructions. 

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 at your selected time slot and follow our move-in instructions below to make the move-in process as efficient and smooth as possible. Note: We advise you to arrive and check in before the mall check-in center closes at 7 pm on Monday and Tuesday, or the RPCC Service Center closes Wednesday - Friday at 7, and at 4pm on Saturday - Sunday.  If that is not possible, please follow the instructions below.          

To ensure a safe and efficient move-in experience, all students are required to schedule a move-in/arrival timeslot via our housing portal by August 1, 2025. Students may select a timeslot according to what is available based on your building assignment. For more information regarding your scheduled building day, please visit the Move-in Schedule page. Please note that your move-in/arrival timeslot that you select is when you actually need to arrive to your designated check-in location. You'll have plenty of time to unload after the check-in time, so don't worry. Your 30 minutes is just for your arrival time, not unloading.

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

MOVE-IN INSTRUCTIONS  

Arriving on Campus Monday, August 18 and Tuesday, August 19 during Shops at Ithaca Mall Check-in, before 7 pm. 

You will start your check-in at the Shops at Ithaca Mall (mall entrance between Cayuga Health and Michaels) at the beginning of the timeslot you selected, where you will check in, pick up your keys, and your student ID (if applicable). Please do not arrive early. You will then proceed to the A Parking Lot on Pleasant Grove Road for queueing. Staff in the A Parking Lot will direct you to your assigned residence hall’s designated unloading zone. When you arrive at your designated unloading zone, you will sign out a bin or bins and unload your vehicle. We will provide assistance to unload your vehicle, but please know that you and your guests will be responsible for moving your belongings to your room. Once the vehicle is unloaded you will be directed to long-term parking on central campus. Shuttles will be provided to allow you transport back to North Campus (map). Please have your printed Dash Pass on your dashboard, with at least one cell or mobile phone number written on it.  

Arriving by Uber/Taxi - Please plan to arrive at the Shops at Ithaca Mall at your designated timeslot. We will have a shuttle from the mall to Robert Purcell Community Center (RPCC) to take you back to campus after check-in.  

Arriving by Bus - Students who are arriving by bus directly to North Campus/Robert Purcell Community Center can store luggage temporarily at RPCC. You will then take the shuttle to the Shops at Ithaca Mall for check-in and then return to RPCC to retrieve your luggage and proceed to your assigned hall.

*Please note: Please plan on only one trip through the car lot. If you choose to leave your residence hall to purchase more items after you have already moved in, there are several options for you:   

  • Cornell Store (on campus) – walk to the Cornell Store on central campus to purchase items and walk back to your residence hall. You might wish to bring a wagon or cart to transport your purchases from central campus.
  • Dump & Run (off campus) – Shop at Dump & Run for gently used items while you’re at the Shops at Ithaca Mall checking in. 
  • Go back to the Mall or downtown shopping and bring your items back to campus later following all parking, drop-off, and traffic instructions.  

If you leave campus, you must return to the A Parking Lot and re-enter the car queue for your designated unloading area. As an alternative to driving your own vehicle, you may take the shuttle that will be running between Robert Purcell Community Center and the Shops at Ithaca Mall. If you have purchased an academic year parking permit, please adhere to the temporary parking areas for move-in week outlined by the transportation email. 

Arrival to campus Monday, August 18 – Tuesday, August 19, 7:30 pm – 9 pm. 

Note: We cannot provide staff to assist with unloading after 7pm. You and your guests will be responsible for unloading and moving your belongings to your room. 

Proceed directly to Robert Purcell Community Center. Once at Robert Purcell, you will need to go to the Wendy Purcell Lounge located on the second floor, where you will check in and pick up temporary keys and access card (if applicable) for your assignment. You will then proceed to your residence hall’s designated unloading area, as listed below, for unloading. Please know that you (and your guests) will be responsible for unloading and moving your belongings to your room. Please have your printed Dash Pass on your vehicle dashboard with at least one cell or mobile phone number written on it.   

Unloading areas:   

  • North side of Jessup Road unloading spaces (no overnight parking permitted). Buildings: Townhouse Community Apartments, Low Rise #6
  • Robert Purcell Community Center Parking spaces. Buildings: High Rise #5, Jameson Hall, Donlon Hall, Ganędagǫ: Hall
  • Program House Drive parking spaces. Buildings: Low Rise #7, Just About Music (JAM), Holland International Living Center (HILC), Ujamaa, Hu Shih Hall, Mews/Loving House
  • Helen Newman parking lot unloading spaces (off Cradit Farm Drive). Buildings: Court-Kay-Bauer Halls  
  • North Balch Delivery Loading Dock. Building: North and South Balch
  • Dickson Hall loading dock and parking lot unloading spaces. Buildings: Clara Dickson Hall/McLLU, Toni Morrison Hall  

Once unloading is complete, the driver will be asked to move the vehicle to one of our designated parking lots for parking and Orientation on central campus. Instructions to parking locations will be provided online in the Housing and Dining Portal or distributed at check-in. Students with an academic year parking permit will be able to park in the Anna Comstock lot, Eco House lot and/or temporarily in the Outer Hasbrouck lot until Wednesday, 8/20 when announced designated North Campus parking re-opens.  

To obtain your keys and student ID, you will need to do the following: 

  • If you arrive after 7 PM on Monday, August 18, take the shuttle to go to the Shops at Ithaca Mall on Tuesday to pick up your student ID and permanent keys.
  • If you arrive after 7 PM on Tuesday, August 19, proceed to North Campus Check-in Desk located in the Wendy Purcell Lounge of Robert Purcell Community Center on Wednesday to pick up your student ID and permanent keys. 

Arrival to campus Monday, August 18 – Tuesday, August 19, after 9 pm 

Note: We cannot provide staff to assist with unloading after 7pm. You and your guests will be responsible for unloading and moving your belongings to your room. 

You will proceed to a designated unloading area listed below and call the number located on the main door of your residence hall for assistance with checking in. The staff member on call will assist you in accessing your room so that you may unload your belongings. You will not receive your student ID or keys at this time. Please know that you (and your guests) will be responsible for unloading and moving your belongings to your room. Please have your printed Dash Pass on your dashboard with at least one cell or mobile phone number written on it.  

Unloading areas:  

  • North side of Jessup Road unloading spaces (no overnight parking permitted). Buildings: Townhouse Community Apartments, Low Rise #6
  • Robert Purcell Community Center Parking spaces. Buildings: High Rise #5, Jameson Hall, Donlon Hall, Ganędagǫ: Hall
  • Program House Drive parking spaces. Buildings: Low Rise #7, Just About Music (JAM), Holland International Living Center (HILC), Ujamaa, Hu Shih Hall, Mews/Loving House
  • Helen Newman parking lot unloading spaces (off Cradit Farm Drive). Buildings: Court-Kay-Bauer Halls  
  • North Balch Delivery Loading Dock. Building: North and South Balch
  • Dickson Hall loading dock and parking lot unloading spaces. Buildings: Clara Dickson Hall/McLLU, Toni Morrison Hall  

To obtain your keys and student ID, you will need to do the following: 

  • If you arrive after 7 pm on Monday, August 18, take the shuttle to go to the Shops at Ithaca Mall on Tuesday to pick up your student ID and permanent keys. 

  • If you arrive after 7 PM on Tuesday, August 19, proceed to North Campus Check-in Desk located in the Wendy Purcell lounge of Robert Purcell Community Center on Wednesday to pick up your student ID and permanent keys. 

Arrival on Campus starting Wednesday, August 20 – Friday, August 22, from 8 am – 5 pm; Saturday, August 23, and Sunday, August 24, from 10 am – 3 pm. 

Note: it is highly advised to arrive and check in during open hours.

*Note: We cannot provide staff to assist with unloading after 5 pm on weekdays and after 3pm on Saturday, 8/23, nor on Sunday, 8/24. You and your guests will be responsible for unloading and moving your belongings to your room. 

For Arrival to campus when the North Campus Check-in Desk is open:

Proceed directly to the A Parking Lot on Pleasant Grove Road where you will queue for access to Robert Purcell Community Center. Once at Robert Purcell, you will need to go to Wendy Purcell Lounge located on the second floor, where you will check in and pick up your keys and ID (if applicable). You will then proceed to your residence hall’s designated unloading area, as listed below, for unloading. Please know that you (and your guests) will be responsible for unloading and moving your belongings to your room. Please have your printed Dash Pass on your vehicle dashboard with at least one cell or mobile phone number written on it.  

Unloading areas:  

  • North side of Jessup Road unloading spaces (no overnight parking permitted). Buildings: Townhouse Community Apartments, Low Rise #6
  • Robert Purcell Community Center Parking spaces. Buildings: High Rise #5, Jameson Hall, Donlon Hall, Ganędagǫ: Hall
  • Program House Drive parking spaces. Buildings: Low Rise #7, Just About Music (JAM), Holland International Living Center (HILC), Ujamaa, Hu Shih Hall, Mews/Loving House
  • Helen Newman parking lot unloading spaces (off Cradit Farm Drive). Buildings: Court-Kay-Bauer Halls  
  • North Balch Delivery Loading Dock. Building: North and South Balch
  • Dickson Hall loading dock and parking lot unloading spaces. Buildings: Clara Dickson Hall/McLLU, Toni Morrison Hall   

    Once unloading is complete, the driver will be asked to move the vehicle to the A Parking Lot. Students with an approved/purchased academic year parking permit can park in ND permit-designated spaces on North Campus.  

For Arrival to campus after the North Campus Check-in Desk is closed*:

Please know that you (and your guests) will be responsible for unloading and moving your belongings to your room. You will need to arrive at the unloading area of your assigned hall (below) and call the number located on the main door for assistance with checking in. The staff member on call will assist you in accessing your room so that you may unload your belongings. You will not receive your keys and/or student ID at this time. Please have your Dash Pass on your dashboard (with a cell phone number). Once unloading is complete, the driver will be asked to move the vehicle to the A Parking Lot. Students with an approved/purchased academic year parking permit can park in ND permit-designated spaces on North Campus.  

Unloading areas:  

  • North side of Jessup Road unloading spaces (no overnight parking permitted). Buildings: Townhouse Community Apartments, Low Rise #6
  • Robert Purcell Community Center Parking spaces. Buildings: High Rise #5, Jameson Hall, Donlon Hall, Ganędagǫ: Hall
  • Program House Drive parking spaces. Buildings: Low Rise #7, Just About Music (JAM), Holland International Living Center (HILC), Ujamaa, Hu Shih Hall, Mews/Loving House
  • Helen Newman parking lot unloading spaces (off Cradit Farm Drive). Buildings: Court-Kay-Bauer Halls  
  • North Balch Delivery Loading Dock. Building: North and South Balch
  • Dickson Hall loading dock and parking lot unloading spaces. Buildings: Clara Dickson Hall/McLLU, Toni Morrison Hall   
     

To obtain your keys and student ID, you will need to do the following:

  • Proceed to the North Campus Check-in desk (located in the Wendy Purcell Lounge in Robert Purcell Community Center) to obtain your keys/ID and officially check-in the following morning. 

Once unloading is complete, the driver will be asked to move the vehicle to the A Parking Lot. Be sure to leave your Dash Pass on the dashboard of your vehicle to show that you are authorized to park on campus. Students with a purchased ND parking permit can park in designated areas of A-Lot. You must print out your electronic permit and have it on your dashboard while parked in A-Lot.