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Cornell University

Housing & Residential Life

Early Arrival - Non-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 directed and follow our move-in instructions below to make the move-in process as efficient and smooth as possible.        

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

MOVE-IN AND ARRIVAL INSTRUCTIONS  

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.

If you arrive after they close, you must call your Resident Advisor (RA) at the number posted at the main entrance to your residence for help accessing your room to unload your belongings. If you are assigned to a North Campus residential hall, you will need to go to the Shops at the Ithaca Mall to obtain your keys/ID and officially check-in the following morning. You will need to return to the North Campus Service Center to obtain your keys/ID and officially check-in the following morning.  If you do not have a phone that can call within the United States, you can reach your RA by using a Blue Light Emergency Phone located near your hall. Press the button to connect to Campus Police. Let them know which community you are trying to get into, and they will call your RA for you. 

Please know that you (and guests) will be responsible for unloading and moving your belongings to your room.   

CAR UNLOADING AND PARKING ON NORTH CAMPUS 

We’ve outlined areas of North 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. Bins/carts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at buildings and the North Campus Service Center to assist with moving belongings from unloading point to building/rooms.  “No Parking” areas, including fire access pathways, will be strictly enforced.  

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

Unloading spaces are 20-minute unloading zones only. Once unloaded, you can relocate your vehicle to Forest Home/Martha Van Rensselaer Garage as parking on North Campus will not be available. If you have purchased a parking permit, please adhere to the temporary parking areas for move-in week outlined by the transportation email.