Move-In coordinators help ease transition to college

Moving into college is an experience awash in emotions, for new and returning students alike. There is unbridled joy at proceeding to the next stage of personal development, boundless excitement at the buoyancy of freedom, right and proper nervousness rising from relocating to a new, city, state, country, or locale, and profound sadness at saying goodbye to loved ones.

It can be a lot to take in.

But fear not. Penn’s Move-In Coordinator (MIC) Program is here to help put incoming students at ease. Operated out of Residential & Hospitality Services, the program is staffed by 49 second-year, third-year, and fourth-year students—veterans of the University’s Move-In process—who assist the 6,000 or so new and returning Quakers with getting their PennCards, checking into their College Houses, and answering questions to expedite the endeavor.

The coordinators come to campus a week early to prepare for Move-In. This year, they arrived on Monday, Aug. 12, and went through an extensive training session on Tuesday, Aug. 13. Afterward, they were out and about, putting up signs, setting up tents, learning how to drive golf carts, and partaking in additional essential actions that will allow them to hit the ground running when Move-In begins on Monday, Aug. 19. Once Move-In concludes on Sunday, Aug. 25, the coordinators operate in reverse, taking down signs and tents, storing golf carts, and collecting rolling box carts.

Mark Cordova, assistant director for building operations in Residential & Hospitality Services, oversees the MIC Program. He says it is an opportunity for domestic and international undergraduates to learn about logistics and leadership, as well as welcome students to Penn and help build the connection with the new and returning student population. When vetting students who apply for the compensated coordinator positions, he says they like to hear a little bit about their perspective on customer service.

“They don’t necessarily need to have a customer service background, but we want to make sure that they know to interact with others,” he says. “We look for the ability to troubleshoot problems, knowing how to identify resources, and how to reach out to folks. Move-In can be a hectic period so we like to make sure that they know who they can go to.”

Many of the applicants, Cordova says, highlight a memorable piece from their own Move-In experience as the reason for their interest in becoming a coordinator, such as “someone who had an impression on them that really helped them feel comfortable and welcomed to campus.”

View large image

As Penn gears up for Move-In, Penn Today spoke with three undergraduate students who are working as Move-In coordinators. 

Liam Burke, a rising second-year in the Wharton School, is in his first year as a Move-In coordinator. A native of Pearl River, New York, he says he was interested in being a coordinator because, in part, they get to return to campus early. He received an email a couple months back advertising the coordinator position and jumped at the opportunity.

“I really enjoy campus and felt I was away for too long,” he says. “I like being in Philly. I really enjoy how it’s a campus environment. It feels very connected, but at the same time you have access to the city. Also, the people on campus are really very friendly. There are a lot of new people and new experiences in the city, so I think that’s really great to be involved with.”

Moreover, he says his own Move-In last summer was “great” and “enjoyable,” and he wanted to provide new and returning students with that same sense of joy.

“It doesn’t feel like that long ago,” he says of his 2023 Move-In. “I moved into the Quad. Moving into college is a very stressful process and you expect it almost to be very difficult, but I found it to actually be a very seamless transition and easy experience.”

Zwe Tun, a rising third-year in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, is working as a Move-In coordinator for the second consecutive year. From South Philadelphia, he says he was interested in the position so he could help others and help his community, especially new students who have never been to college, like he once was.

“We’re kind of like the face of the University during Move-In time,” he says.

Last summer, he worked first-year Move-In and was stationed in front of Kings Court English College House, handing out PennCards and signing parents into College Houses. He was also stationed at The Radian.

Tun says his favorite part of Move-In is seeing happy faces.

View large image

“It’s really great seeing people’s faces when they first come to college and we’re the first people that they see and their faces light up,” he says. “It’s just a really good time to meet new people and help them navigate this exciting but also nerve-wracking time because this is their next step in their life.”

Even though he only moved across the city, Tun says he was a little bit nervous during his own first-year Move-In, “so I can only imagine how nervous others are who are moving from other countries.”

“But I was greeted by people that are very heartwarming and encouraging, and I think that’s something that I try to replicate in my role,” he says.” “I remember having a really good time meeting new friends.”

Nilla Orina is a rising third-year in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is from Kenya and in her second-year with the MIC Program.

Well-versed in helping students, she has also worked at the front desk at Penn Admissions, so her people skills span the prospective student and new and returning student gamut.

View large image

Orina says she enjoys being the face that students meet when they first get to campus, how happy everyone is, and how excited everyone is to see in person everything they have been reading and writing about, and looking at online, especially the international students.

“Some of them don’t get to do the in-person tour so sometimes it’s their first time on campus,” she says. “Seeing their excitement also makes me really happy.”

Orina was stationed at Gregory College House last summer. She handed out PennCards to new students, gave directions, and helped to corral carts after Move-In concluded.

As a first-year, Orina had two move-ins: a move-in to Du Bois College House for the Pre-First Year Program and an official Move-In to Hill College House.

“I really love that people are out there to help you,” she says. “They realize that you’re new here, that maybe you don’t know where specific College Houses are, and things like that. It’s just good to see people actually reaching out to help you in those first few days.”