Fall Move-In

• August 9 - 11: Move-in days for new students
• August 12 - 15: Move-in days for returning students
• August 12 - 14: Move-in days for new transfer students
• August 17: First day of classes

• Read the Code of Student Conduct and become familiar with the rules and regulations at Tulane University.
• Review the Housing and Residence Life Community Living Standards. All students living in the residence halls are expected to read and follow these standards.
• Label all items of your belongings with your full name and Splash ID number.
• Make sure any packages you’re having delivered to campus follow the guidelines from Mail Services.
• View your room assignment, roommate(s), and move-in guide by logging in to your student account via Gibson Online and opening the Housing Portal. The move-in guide will be available closer to your move-in date, you will be notified via your tulane email.
• Get in touch with your roommate(s) and start coordinating items you may want to share and bring for your room. KEEP IN MIND: The shared space in your room can only fit so many belongings!
• Plan to bring and ship only what you need for the first few weeks on campus. You can always pick up additional items when you arrive in New Orleans.
• Check your Tulane e-mail consistently for important information regarding move-in day.
• Don’t forget to print your move-in pass. Move-in time slots will only be changed after the designated time slot change period for unique and unanticipated circumstances that arise prohibiting the student from participating in the change period.

Tulane University has worked with our travel partners to secure airfare discounts from several airlines.  Once those discounts and dates are finalized, the information will be updated below.  However, we strongly recommend waiting until you receive your move-in date and timeslot to book travel.

Mail Services will send a shipping information packet to students in June with specific information about how to ship boxes to campus. This shipping packet will be e-mailed to both new students’ and returning students’ Tulane e-mail address in early July. Students who follow the shipping instructions and have boxes arrive on campus between July 15-31 will have their packages delivered directly to their assigned residence hall room before Move-In Day. Each student may have 6 packages pre-delivered to their room for free; after that, the fee is $10 per box. Students are encouraged to ship items to campus and reduce the amount of items they bring with them on Move-In Day. Students who purchase linen packages and other items through USS and DormCo will have their items delivered to their room before Move-In Day with their other packages; DormCo boxes are free and not counted towards the 6 free packages for in room delivery. Students who miss this shipping window will pick up their packages from a central location on or after move-in day. Students do not need to have their room assignment to ship packages to campus. Room assignments will be added to packages once they are processed by Mail Services.

Ship to campus:

• Twin XL sheets
• Towels
• Pillows and blankets
• Clothing
• Hangers and organizers
• Storage bins
• Medium or small-sized TV
• Single-bulb lamps (LED bulbs are preferred)
• Shower footwear and caddy
• Dishes and utensils
• Flashlight
• Surge-protected power strip

Bring with you on Move-In Day:

• Clothing you'll wear while traveling to New Orleans
• Medications and toiletries you need for your trip
• Valuables that cannot be shipped

Buy after Move-In Day:

• Liquids and gels like laundry detergent and cleaning supplies (these items don't ship well)
• Room decor (you'll have a better understanding of what you need after you move in)
• Toiletries and household items

Anything that could be considered a safety concern, could cause facility damage, interferes with fire safety systems, or may be disruptive to other students should not be brought to campus. Students found with prohibited items will be required to remove the item and may be subject to disciplinary action through the student conduct process.

KEEP IN MIND >> The average room size in first-year halls is 12ft x 15ft for two people. Plan to ship only what you need for move-in and pick up additional items after move-in day. Coordinate with your roommate(s) before you ship items to prevent duplicate items. Remember that University furniture cannot be removed from your room.

Housing & Residence Life will send students an e-mail, to their Tulane email, containing time slot assignments in early June. Time slots are 30-minute windows of time dedicated to each student’s check-in. Students and anyone assisting with their move-in should arrive at the check-in area during their 30-minute time slot. After students have checked in, they have the rest of the day to unpack and get settled in their room.

After you receive your assigned timeslot, there will be a designated change period when students can go into their Housing Portal and self-select an alternate timeslot based on availability. They will cancel their currently assigned timeslot and select a new one. If your desired day or time is not immediately available, check back in your Housing Portal throughout the change period; more timeslots may become available as other students cancel. Timeslot availability takes into account the number of students we can accommodate to move in at a given time as well as on a given day. Therefore, specific times cannot be requested or reserved for students if it is not available to select in the Housing Portal. Questions regarding time slots can be sent to housing@tulane.edu. After the designated change period, time slot changes will only be made for extenuating circumstances that prohibited the student from participating in the change period.

During the student's assigned timeslot, the student should proceed to an orderly queue on Ben Weiner Drive. Students should not arrive to campus before their timeslot, but can move in anytime after their timeslot has begun. Please refer to the following section for step-by-step instructions. Important: The steps below are the steps for all students moving on to campus, including returning students. Following these steps ensures a smooth move-in day for you, our families and guests, as well as all other students arriving to campus.  

Step-By-Step

STEP 1 » Before heading to campus, confirm your move in day and timeslot via the confirmation email sent to you by Housing and Residence Life. You will receive a parking permit that is valid for your Move-In day only. Cars will need to be removed from the garage by 10 pm. 

STEP 2 » Plan to arrive on-campus via S. Claiborne Avenue during your 30-minute time slot. Use the address 2900 Ben Weiner Drive if using navigation software. All vehicles will enter the traffic queue at the intersection of Ben Weiner Drive and S. Claiborne Avenue. If you plan to arrive via taxi or rideshare service, use the same address to arrange your ride. You will use the same route as other vehicles to check in. Please follow the directions of the Police and Security officers, as well as Housing and Residence Life staff when you arrive for check-in.

STEP 3 » Once in the check-in queue on Ben Weiner Drive, you will proceed to the check-in tent at the intersection of Ben Weiner Drive and Janet Yulman Way. Housing & Residence Life staff will verify that you have arrived during your time slot and scan your check-in code to check you in to your residence hall room. Once you've been checked in, you will be given your check-in packet. This packet contains:

• Your Splash Card (new students only that submitted their photo to Card Services by the deadline)
• Your room key (if applicable)

STEP 4 » Once you have checked in and received your check-in packet, you should park in the Diboll parking structure and display your check-in pass on your dashboard. You will unload your belongings here and proceed to your residence hall. If you have questions or need assistance with your belongings, you can visit the Housing & Residence Life tent near the Diboll parking structure on Brown Field. You will find staff, bins, and golf carts to assist you with anything you need. Bins will also be available at your residence hall to unload items from the golf cart and transport to your room.

STEP 5 » Once at your residence hall you may proceed to your room. Returning students who use an electronic lock to access their room may need to visit their 24-hour desk to have access added to their Splash Card. If you have lost your Splash Card you should get a new card from Card Services before attempting to access your room. Your new card will need to be encoded at your area desk, if applicable.

STEP 6 » Pick up any mail delivered to campus by visiting the location described in your e-mail confirmation from Mail Services.

STEP 7 » Unpack your belongings and set up your room — Please take trash and recycling to the designated areas outside of your building, as trash rooms will be closed.

STEP 8 » Please move your vehicle from the Diboll parking structure by 10pm on your move-in day. This will provide space for other students to park in the Diboll parking structure for their move-in day.

Arriving via Car Service (Lyft, Uber, Taxi, etc)

Follow the same instructions above if you plan to arrive via a car service. Make sure to tell your driver to not drop you off until AFTER you've stopped at the check-in tent.

Arriving After 3 PM

If you arrive after 3 PM, you will receive instructions via email of how to check-in. You can also visit the Housing and Residence Life office in River Hall at 29 McAlister Drive and follow instructions posted on the office door if the office is closed. A staff member will check you in and give you your check-in packet. All students must check-in with a Housing and Residence Life staff member before proceeding to your room. If you need to troubleshoot electronic access on your Splash ID, you may need to visit your 24-hour desk the next day.

Vehicles will enter campus via S. Claiborne Avenue at Ben Weiner Drive and enter the check-in queue.

Students and families will remain in the vehicle queue until they reach the check-in area. Staff will scan students’ check-in codes and give them check-in materials, including access to their residence hall.

Students and families who need parking will park in the Diboll Parking Structure during their move-in and will need to move their vehicles by 10pm on their move-in day.

Those using rideshare or other car service will also be instructed where to unload after checking in on Ben Weiner Drive.

Once students and their families have checked in and parked, they may proceed to their residence hall to get their room set up. Most items should already be in student rooms before they arrive if they participated in the Ship-to-Room program.

For items you bring with you, golf carts and moving bins will be available. Please note, that bins may be limited and have a maximum rental time of 1 hour. Bins cannot be signed out after the last time slot concludes and all bins must be returned by 30 minutes after the last time slot ends.

Tulane Shuttles & Transportation will run an on-demand shuttle to local shopping malls and Target between 10 AM and 5:30 PM. Please call Tulane University Shuttles & Transportation to request a ride at (504) 314-7433.

Need to leave the Diboll parking complex and return to campus? Exit the Diboll parking structure by turning right toward Willow Street, driving away from the check-in station. When returning to campus, you may re-enter campus via Willow Street and show your move-in parking pass to the security officer at the intersection. You may then proceed to park in the Diboll parking structure. This is only an option on your move-in day. If you need parking before or after your move-in day you will need to find street parking close to campus.

Families can opt in to receive emergency alerts (such as weather alerts that could temporarily pause move-in activities) during move-in week by texting TUMoveIn to 888777. Students are automatically enrolled to receive emergency alerts (called TU Alerts) during move-in week. Students should make sure their cell phone number is listed in their Gibson profile. Opt-In users will stop receiving alerts at the conclusion of Move-In week. 

Can I be on campus before my assigned time slot?

You are welcome to be on campus prior to your check in time, however, students will not be allowed to check in to their room or visit their residence hall prior to their assigned time slot. Given the complexity of the arrival process, it is important for us to control the number of vehicles coming to campus at one time. If you must be on campus before your time slot, there will be limited parking available on campus. Please park on a street adjacent to campus and walk to your destination.

Do I need to move in within my 30-minute time slot?

No. The 30-minute time slot is for the check-in portion of your move-in only. You can continue to move-in all day after you've checked in. 

Where do I put my suitcases?

All of your personal items need to be stored in your room, stored with a storage vendor, or sent back home.

Does my time slot change if my room assignment changes?

No. You will use your same move-in pass and move in during the time slot on that pass.

Can I drop off my stuff early and check in later?

No. A student must be checked in to receive access to your room. Please wait to check in and visit your room until your designated move-in day and time slot. Students who live locally can drop off items instead of shipping them. To arrange a drop off, email mailbox@tulane.edu and Mail Services will send instructions for scheduling a drop off. All shipping restrictions still apply to packages that are dropped off.

Where can I find information about my room?

Room and furniture dimensions, photos, and more can be found on the Our Communities page.