New Student and Family Programs was joined by our colleagues in Housing and Residential Education to discuss move-in and Discoveries Orientation for new students. Read below for office information, webinar recording, and top asked questions during the webinar. Slides are attached for reference.
You and your student will receive "Know Before You Go" emails containing logistics and more information leading up to move-in and orientation. This webinar offers you a broad overview of the process and is not the only point of information to be shared.
Click here to watch webinar recording
Housing and Residential Education (Move-In, Meal Plans, & Room Assignments):
Email: housing@du.edu
Phone: 303-871-2246
Website: https://studentaffairs.du.edu/housing/content/resident-resources
New Student & Family Programs (Discoveries Orientation)
Email: orientation@du.edu or families@du.edu
Phone: 303-871-6080
Website: https://studentaffairs.du.edu/new-student-family
Top Asked Questions in Webinar:
When will my student receive their housing assignment and roommate information?
Students will receive an email in their DU email account on Tuesday, July 28, with instructions for accessing their Housing Portal. Their room assignment, roommate information, campus mailing address, meal plan details, parking information, and instructions for requesting a room change will all be available through the Housing Portal, not directly in the email. A second email on August 4 will include detailed move-in instructions and information about selecting a move-in time.
Tell me about parking!
Parking permits for the 2026-2027 school year will go on sale on August 3rd at 9:00am. You do not need a parking permit for move-in day. As housing assignments come out the next day, you may have to wait to know your housing assignment to purchase your parking permit. Permits are not a specific reserved spot – they are a scanner into a parking lot of your choice. Find out more information on the Parking website.
How does move-in day work?
To help traffic flow on our urban campus, all students moving in on September 1 must reserve a move-in time slot. Students will receive instructions by email on August 4 and can select a time between August 6–24. Your move-in time is simply your arrival window. After unloading, you'll move your vehicle to long-term parking and can continue unpacking throughout the day. Carts, volunteers, and campus staff will be available to assist, and families may bring up to two vehicles through the move-in route.
Why do you have to select a move-in time and how does it work?
Because we are an urban campus, our streets can be narrow. To ensure everything runs efficiently, students will receive an email on August 4th with directions to select a move-in time. From there, we ask cars to be moved to the long-term parking lots and then you and your student can return and finish un-packing and organizing their belongings. Golf carts will be running to help shuttle people to and from residence halls and the long-term parking lots until 3pm. We recommend moving your vehicle to a closer designated lot before 3pm if a longer walk across campus is not accessible to your family.
You can bring two cars. Upon arrival, you'll be given a paper for your dashboard to write your name and contact information. Please be sure to leave your contact information in case we need your vehicle to be moved while you're inside. If you need to run an errand and come back, we encourage you to use the golf cart shuttles!
What if my student is moving in early for First Ascent, Athletics, ELI, PLP, LEP, DU-STEM, or another special program?
Students participating in approved early-arrival programs do not sign up for a regular September 1 move-in time. Instead, their program coordinator will provide their move-in instructions, arrival time, and schedule directly. If your student is attending First Ascent, registrants will receive trip-specific logistics email to their DU email 4-weeks, 2-weeks, and before their departure. Students can reach out to firstascent@du.edu with questions if you need assistance before then.
What is Discoveries After Dark?
Discoveries After Dark is a series of optional evening events during Orientation Week designed to help students build friendships and get to know campus. Activities vary each night and have included Rec Night, crafts, bingo, inflatables, games, magicians, axe throwing, and other community-building events. These programs are for students and are a fun way to continue meeting classmates after daytime orientation sessions.
What should students do to prepare before arriving on campus?
There are several important tasks students should complete before move-in:
- Complete all Discoveries Summer Experience Canvas modules by September 1
- Check their DU email regularly for important updates
- Review the New Student Checklist in My4DU
- Contact their roommate to coordinate what to bring
- Upload their DU ID photo
- Monitor upcoming emails about housing, move-in, and orientation
Most summer communications build on one another, so regularly checking DU email is one of the best ways to stay on track.
When should families leave during Orientation?
Family programming concludes with the Crimson Cookout on Tuesday evening, which ends around 8:00 p.m. After that, students transition into Discoveries Orientation activities designed to help them connect with classmates and begin their college experience. It is ultimately up to you and your student to decide when the best time for your departure is!
Can roommates request the same move-in time?
Each student signs up for their own move-in appointment. Roommates are welcome to coordinate beforehand if they would like to arrive around the same time, but each student must reserve their own time slot.
What comes furnished in the residence halls?
Residence hall rooms include a Twin XL bed, desk, dresser, closet/storage, mini-fridge, microwave, and trash/recycling bins. Furniture can generally be rearranged within the room. Building-specific room layouts, dimensions, amenities, and virtual tours are available on the Housing & Residential Education "Places to Live" webpage.
How can students adjust to Denver's elevation?
The best approach is to take it easy during the first few days, stay well hydrated, eat regular meals, and listen to your body. Students should not hesitate to take breaks or let their 4D Peer Mentor know if they aren't feeling well.
Which residence halls will house first-year students, and what is the difference between Centennial Halls and Centennial Towers?
First-year students will be housed in Johnson-McFarlane Hall, Dimond Family Residential Village, and Centennial Towers. Centennial Halls will not be used for housing during the 2026–2027 academic year.
Centennial Halls and Centennial Towers are two separate residence halls with similar names, which has caused some understandable confusion. Students who originally listed Centennial Halls as a preference will be considered for their other housing preferences or may be placed in Centennial Towers, which also offers a suite-style living environment. Some first-year students will live in Centennial Towers this year, even if older website information describes the building as primarily serving second-year, transfer, or graduate students.
What about dietary needs and restrictions at First Ascent?
Our Kennedy Mountain Campus also has a designated food allergy station in the dining hall where the top allergens, gluten, dairy, and nuts are always provided without additional permissions. Registration asks for any allergens for food restrictions that are shared with the catering team to ensure the menus for the weekend account for students' dietary needs. Additional questions or concerns can be sent to firstascent@du.edu 2 weeks before the trip to ensure time for additional food orders.
