Penn Today offers a practical guide to undergraduates moving into College Houses and participating in orientation Aug. 19-26.
The University of Pennsylvania is getting ready for fall 2024 undergraduate Move-In Aug. 19-25, when nearly 6,000 undergraduates, including 2,409 members of the Class of 2028 and 3,486 returning students, will be moving into Campus Housing.
Hundreds of volunteers and staff working with New Student Orientation, College Houses, and Residential Services will be ready to assist with logistics. There are a variety of activities planned to welcome students and guests, including live music, College House meetings and activities, and a President and Provost Family Welcome. Families and guests who have pre-registered can join students for lunch and dinner at select dining halls.
Penn Today has gathered a few tips to help guide students and guests through the process.
Check out the Before You Move-In page for information on what to pack, what not to pack, shipping packages, getting moving carts, and arranging for microfridges.
The Division of Public Safety regularly provides traffic and construction advisories for the area. Before arriving on campus, families are encouraged to sign up for their email notices.
Wellness at Penn is dedicated to caring for students. The Public Health and Wellbeing team will help students understand and fulfill the University’s immunization and health insurance requirements. Students should visit the New and Returning Students page for information about these requirements. In addition, if you need medical care or counseling support, call 215-746-WELL (9355) to schedule an appointment with the Student Health and Counseling team. Visit wellness.upenn.edu for more information.
Plan ahead and be on time on your Move-In day. If you need to change your time, you may do so via MyHomeAtPenn.
Students may have guests assist them during Move-In. Guests must have a photo ID and mobile guest pass to enter the College House with the student.
Ten minutes before arriving on campus, students should use mobile check-in to begin the move-in process. Mobile check-in will occur on the RHS Portal. The mobile check-in tool will ask students to login using their PennKey and password and answer simple verification questions. As soon as students check in via the mobile process, they will have officially taken residency of their room assignment. The University’s standard Terms and Conditions apply.
For those coming by car, free street parking is offered for up to an hour to unload. After that hour, complimentary parking passes can be obtained at the check-in sites for one of the designated parking garages on campus for the remainder of the day.
Move-In drop-off locations will have staff available to assist and answer questions. Additional staff will be available at information stations inside the College Houses. Students may also email living@upenn.edu with questions.
The day of Move-In, first-year students must check in and pick up their PennCards upon arrival at their College House.
Penn Dining is welcoming students to campus by allowing families and guests who have pre-registered to join students for lunch and dinner on Aug. 19, 20, and 21 at Hill College House,Class of 1920 Commons, Lauder College House, English House (halal available) and Falk at Penn Hillel (kosher available). Those meals will be free as part of the NSO experience. All dining cafes will be open starting Aug. 27. Penn Dining recently received awards from the National Association of College and University Food Services, including for the new “Dine Well, Eat Smart” dietitian-led nutrition and wellness education series, which will continue this year, featuring online newsletters, articles, and in-café culinary events.
Students and guests can also find information on Facebook and Instagram.
Key dates
Move-In
8/19 Transfer, Exchange, International, and First-Generation and/or Limited-Income Student Move-In
8/20-8/21 First-Year Student Move-In
8/23-8/25 Returning Student Move-In
Welcome Events, New Student and Second-Year Orientation
8/20—New Student Resources Fair
8/21—President and Provost First-Year Family Welcome
*8/21—College House meetings
*8/22—New Student Orientation begins
8/22—Penn Spirit Day: Class of 2028 Photo and Highball-to-Hey Day Carnival
*8/23—Peers Helping Integrate New Students (PHINS) orientation activities
8/24—Evening at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
*8/25—Zoom meeting, Class of 2028
8/25—Second-Year Orientation begins, Class of 2027
*8/26—Convocation and undergraduate school events
8/27—First day of classes
8/27—President’s Welcome Back Reception for second-year and third-year undergraduates
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