Spring Move-In

This includes students who are coming to Tulane University for the first time.

Before You Arrive

• Refer to the complete Spring New Student Checklist for the most complete information for new students.
• Make sure you have completed your housing application. You will receive your housing assignment in December. Your housing assignment e-mail will include information about your room assignment and roommate(s).
• Review the Housing & Residence Life Community Living Standards and the Tulane University Code of Student Conduct before you arrive; you are responsible for knowing these policies and procedures as a student living on campus.
• Review your personalized Move-In Guide, which will be emailed and accessible on your Housing Portal on December 10, 2024.
• Ensure you know your check-in timeslot, which will be emailed on December 10, 2024. This is the 30-minute window when you should plan to arrive on campus to check-in. You can start moving into your room after you check-in. 
• Make sure any packages you are having delivered to campus follow the guidelines from Mail Services. More information about packages can be found in the Packing & Shipping section of this page.
• Check your University e-mail account regularly. This is where we will send important information for your check-in and while you live with us.
• To sign up for move-in alerts from Tulane's Department of Emergency Preparedness & Response, text TUMOVEIN to 8887777 then opt-in when prompted. These alerts are often used for changes to the move-in schedule, such as impacts due to inclement weather.

Packing & Shipping

We strongly encourage you to ship items to campus before move-in day so that we can deliver your shipped items to your room ahead of your arrival on campus.

Mail Services will send a shipping information packet to you with specific information about how to ship boxes to campus.

Students who follow the shipping instructions and have boxes arrive on campus during the shipping window (December 9th-31st) will have their packages delivered directly to their assigned residence hall room before Move-In Day. On your move-in day, you will be arriving to a central location on campus and will carry the items you brought with you to your building. We highly encourage shipping belongings and purchases to campus ahead of move-in.

You should not wait to receive your room assignment before sending packages to campus. Tulane University Mail Services will add your room assignment to your packages after they arrive on campus.

Students are responsible for the cost of shipping packages to campus and the University will deliver up to 6 boxes at no additional cost. Students who ship more than 6 boxes will be charged $10 per box to deliver each additional box. Items purchased through our partnership with DormCo will not count against the 6 box limit.

• All items ordered through the DormCo website will be shipped through the mailroom.

To provide this service, some items will not be accepted for in-room delivery and must be purchased locally or purchased after you move in.

Please follow these guidelines when shipping packages for in-room delivery:

• Packages must be in 20” x 20” x 20” box or smaller.
• Packages must not weigh more than 45lbs.
• Furniture, rugs larger than 5’, and appliances will not be accepted.
• Items that are prohibited in the residence halls will not be accepted.

Packages that do not meet these guidelines will not be accepted and will be returned to the sender’s address.

Ship to arrive on campus before January 3:

• Twin XL sheets and bedding
• 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 dispose of 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.

Move-in Day Step-by-Step

To ensure that your move-in runs smoothly and efficiently, we assign each student a 30-minute time slot between 10 am and 2 pm to check in before they drop off their belongings.  You can check in any time after your time slot has begun. Please refer to the following section for step-by-step instructions.

Step-By-Step

STEP 1 » Before heading to campus, make sure you have read your Move-In guide and printed your move-in parking pass with your check-in QR code. You can download your Move-In guide with your check-in pass in the Housing Portal. Please do not arrive before your time slot, you will not be able to check in. 

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 Versailles Blvd. 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 New Orleans Police Department officers when you arrive.

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 and Residence Life staff will verify that you have arrived during your time slot and scan your check-in code to check you into your residence hall. Once you've been checked in, you will be given your check-in packet. This packet contains:

• Your Splash Card (New students living in a building with an electronic lock will already have access added to their Splash Card).
• 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 and Residence Life tent on Brown Field, adjacent to the Diboll parking structure. There will be staff and equipment available to assist you in this location.

STEP 5 » Bring your belongings to your residence hall and head to your room.
 
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.

STEP 8 » Please move your vehicle from the Diboll parking structure by 10 pm on your 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 2 PM
If you arrive after 2 PM you should 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 meet you at the office to check you in and give you your check-in packet. If you need to troubleshoot electronic access on your Splash ID, you may need to visit your 24-hour desk the next day.

Parking after check-in
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.

This includes any student who lived on campus in the fall semester.

Check-in information

• Returning students will not select a time slot for their return to campus.
• Complete the Self-Check-In process by scanning a QR code and submitting a form in the Housing Portal. You will not be able to access your residence hall until you check-in. You will not be permitted to check in until your approved check-in day.

Packing & Shipping
Students returning to campus after the fall semester should continue to use their on-campus mailing address and mailbox code to send items to campus. Packages and letter mail will be available for pickup at the mail services location indicated in the package e-mail from Mail Services.

Students continuing to live on campus from the Fall semester will not be able to ship any items to be delivered directly to their rooms.

Move-in Day Step-by-Step

To ensure a safe and efficient move-in process for new students, we ask that returning students avoid entering campus via S. Claiborne Avenue if approved to arrive before returning student move-in day.

STEP 1 » Enter campus via Willow St. (new students will be checking in via S. Claiborne Ave.). If you need to park on campus, please use an established parking spot. If arriving via car service, please use the designated unloading area near PJ’s Coffee on Willow St. during new student move-in days. Do not allow the driver to stop on Willow St. blocking traffic. Do not park in fire lanes or special permit parking spots. Residential permit holders may park on the 5th and 6th floors of the Diboll parking structure.

STEP 2 » When you get to your residence hall, please scan the code posted near the building entrance and complete the Self Check-in form. This will let us know that you have arrived so we can give you access to your residence hall. Do not attempt to check in before your approved check-in date; you will not be permitted to check in. You may need to wait 60 seconds for access to be activated on your card.

STEP 3 » Bring any belongings to your room and get settled. Welcome back!

This includes any student off campus for the Fall semester or Mid-Year room changes.

Students returning to a different room for the Spring Semester should follow the room change instructions they received via email.

• Check-in for your new room at the Housing and Residence Life Office, located in River Hall, during business hours of 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.
• Do not complete self check in. You will be checked in upon picking up your keys/receiving new building access.
• If arriving after the office is closed, follow the instructions posted at the office door to have a staff member meet you and check you in.

Students who used USS to store their items will have them delivered to their rooms before they arrive on campus. Please confirm your on-campus delivery directly with USS.