Move-In Information

Residential Life staff are excited to welcome students and families to UMBC!  We want to make sure you have all of the information you need to make your move-in day fun and easy.

Move-In Dates & Times

Residents will receive an email with their specific move-in date and time prior to the start of the semester.  Check-in times are based on the student’s room assignment and can be viewed on the Housing Portal.

Semester

Newly Admitted Students

Returning Students

Fall 2025

Saturday, August 23, 2025

Monday, August 25, 2025

Spring 2026

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Fall Semester Check-In Procedures

  1. Print your Unloading Zone Pass. A week prior to move-in, students will be emailed an unloading zone pass which they must print & display on their dashboard. We recommend that students bring no more than two vehicles to support with move-in, as this helps to limit traffic and congestion. 
  2. Arrive on campus at your scheduled check-in date and time! Students should go directly to their community to start the check-in process; view this interactive map for instructions on where to go. Cars that are not carrying student items should go directly to the Stadium Lot, where riders can take a shuttle to meet up with their student at their building. University Police will help direct you as close as possible to your residence hall. As a reminder, please arrive at the start of or after your scheduled check-in time.
  3. When you arrive, you will report to your community’s check-in location, while your family or friends unload the vehicle. Our goal is for each vehicle to remain in the unloading zone for no more than 15 minutes in order to keep the move-in process traffic flowing steadily.
  4. At check-in you will need to present your UMBC ID and QR Code in order to initiate the check-in process. You will be able to view your unique check-in QR Code in the Housing Portal closer to your move-in date.
  5. Once your vehicle is unloaded, cars will need to be moved to long-term parking (usually no more than a 5- to 10-minute walk back to the residential community).

Pre-Move-In Checklist

Top Five Move-In Tips

  1. Pack light to make move-in and move-out a snap. Students will have the chance to come home during break periods to swap out items they need with the changing of the seasons.
  2. Label boxes with your name, building & room number.  Movers will be on site to help get items to student rooms quickly; having items labeled will ensure they make it to the right location.
  3. Bring a cart or dolly. Carts will be available but with lots of students arriving it helps to have your own.
  4. Dress comfortably. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and clothing, as students and families tend to do a lot of walking on move-in day and during welcome activities.
  5. Coordinate with your roommate. Since students may be assigned the same check-in time as their roommates, its helpful to coordinate when you each plan to arrive to best navigate the space together.

After You Move-In

Take your time to settle in and make your room your new home! Check out your new community, get connected with your roommates, and attend Welcome Week activities.

At some point during your first few days on campus, you should complete your Room Condition Report and start to review the Roommate Agreement.

If you are looking for dining options during move-in weekend, please visit https://dineoncampus.com/umbc.

Student Volunteer Opportunity

We are excited to introduce our new Retriever Haul Stars program. Retriever Haul Stars are the student volunteers (residents & commuters) that assist other students with the move-in process. It is a great opportunity for building community, making connections, and showing off our True Grit! Show that you are driven to help out your fellow Retrievers by contributing to our campus community!

This volunteer opportunity is open to all Fall UMBC students.

Why Participate?

  • An opportunity to meet new friends & their families
  • Volunteers with fall housing get to move-in early and for free on Thursday, August 21
  • UMBC Swag, and
  • Because you like surprises and there will be surprises!

Applications are due by July 31 at 11:59 p.m. and can be found on the Housing Portal.

Requesting a Move-In Date or Time Change

If you are able to come to campus on your original day, but cannot bring your belongings to move in, please consider coming to campus at your assigned time, and returning with your belongings at a later date or time which is more convenient. Alternatively, students are welcome to check-in any date or time after their scheduled move-in date/time.

Students are welcome to check-in any time after their assigned time and do not need to formally request to check-in late. However, if your intended arrival date is after the start of first day of classes we request that you submit an RT Ticket letting us know what date you will be arriving.

Since students are welcome to check-in any time after their assigned time, early arrival requests are rarely granted.

Students with extenuating circumstances (ex. international travel) are encouraged to complete the Early Arrival Request Form on the housing portal between August 1-August 15 for Fall move-in or between January 1- January 15 for Spring move-in.

Students who are you are part of an approved Welcome Week group or have other prior approval, do not need to request an early arrival through Residential Life but should work directly with their sponsored group. Departments seeking to sponsor Fall Early Arrivals groups are encouraged to view The Residential Life Guide for UMBC Departments.

Campus Card & Student ID Questions

In addition to being the official photo ID of UMBC, your Campus Card is also your meal, retail dining, library, gym, and transit card. Your card can provide access into swipe controlled residential halls, apartments, labs, and classrooms across campus.

As the physical UMBC campus remains closed and to maintain social distancing standards, we are requiring all new members of the UMBC community to submit their Campus Card photo online.  Once your photo has been accepted, Campus Card will pre-print your card, which you should pick-up before arriving to your residence hall.  Please bring with you a valid, government-issued photo ID to obtain your new Campus Card. Accepted forms of ID are:

  • Drivers License, Learners Permit or State ID (International licenses/IDs are accepted).
  • Passport or passport card.
  • Military/Dependent ID
  • Permanent Resident Card
  • Any form of photo ID with birth certificate.

As the physical UMBC campus remains closed and to maintain social distancing standards, we are requiring all returning members of the UMBC community to submit an RT 7 days prior to Move-In, requesting that a new Campus Card to be produced.  Campus Card will pre-print your card, which you should pick-up before arriving to your residence hall. Due to COVID-19 guidelines and campus closure, for requests made 7 days prior to Move-In, Campus Card will be submitting all replacement campus card charges to Student Business Services for invoicing. Individuals requesting a replacement card within 6 days of Move-In , will need to request a new card at Campus Card and Mail Services, located in the University Center, UC 112, on their day of move-in.