What it takes to welcome thousands of new Wildcats
By Kendall Sternberg, University Marketing and Communications
Gloria Aguirre of Housing and Residential Life helped with move-in last year, welcoming Wildcats and their families to campus.
Image courtesy Housing and Residential Life
Nearly seven tons of recycled cardboard. Almost eight months of planning. Countless volunteers. That's what it takes to welcome around 7,500 new Wildcats and their families to campus each fall.
While move-in itself takes place over a few days, behind-the-scenes planning starts in March and continues throughout the spring and summer.
"Most people see move-in as one week in August, but for us, the planning never really stops," said Megan Stanley, assistant director of residential education, and one of three Move-in chairs.
About 15 to 20 Housing and Residential Life employees spend time throughout the year preparing residence halls, coordinating student arrival schedules and staffing, creating signage, organizing welcome activities and managing countless other details that help the process run smoothly.
It takes a campus
Families unload cars, decorate rooms and help students begin their U of A journey.
Image courtesy Housing and Residential Life
The goal is to make the entire process streamlined and engaging, according to Stanley, and achieving that requires close collaboration across campus.
"Our biggest campus partner is Parking and Transportation Services," Stanley said. "We work hand in hand to make sure traffic flows smoothly, families know exactly where to park, where to unload and where they need to go."
The units work together to coordinate traffic flow, unloading areas and parking so thousands of families can navigate campus efficiently. University Facility Services helps by hauling off moving boxes to be recycled and Student Unions donates enough water to help keep students and their families hydrated throughout move-in.
The teamwork that makes move-in possible extends well beyond logistics. Volunteers from across the university – including Housing employees, the Alumni Association, Arizona Athletics and other departments – join the welcome crew each year to greet students, answer questions and help families navigate campus.
"People from across the university come together because they want to help welcome students and make them feel like they belong. It's one of my favorite parts of move-in day," Stanley said.
Those efforts often take the form of small but meaningful gestures, such as giving families a ride in a golf cart, taking family photos or simply pressing an elevator button for someone with their hands full.
Throughout move-in, Housing's custodial staff also plays a critical role by keeping residence halls clean, breaking down and recycling mountains of cardboard, emptying trash and supporting families and students as they settle into their new homes.
"Our custodial staff deserves so much credit," Stanley said. "They're a huge part of what makes move-in successful."
Making memories from day one
Students carry boxes into their residence halls as they begin a new chapter at the University of Arizona.
Image courtesy Housing and Residential Life
For Stanley, months of planning ultimately come down to one goal: helping students feel at home from the moment they arrive.
Beyond helping students move into their residence halls, Housing creates opportunities for families to celebrate the milestone together. Photo booths give students and loved ones a chance to capture memories, while letter-writing stations invite parents and family members to write encouraging notes that Housing delivers to students later in the semester – a reminder that they're supported long after move-in.
"We know this is a day filled with excitement, nerves and a lot of emotion for both students and their families," she said. "Creating a warm, welcoming experience is one of the most important things we can do."
That first impression can shape a student's entire experience.
"It would be easy for students to feel lost at a university as big as the U of A," Stanley said. "We work really hard to make move-in feel personal. We want every student to know we're excited they're here and that this is their home."