Moving In

Residence hall check-in for First Year Students is Sunday, August 25, 2019.

• More Information about First Year Move In
• Information about NSOP Orientation Week

Some international students who fit into specific categories may be required to move in on Friday, August 23, 2019, to participate in a special pre-Orientation Program by International Student Services. Some first generation students may be invited to take part in the Bold Brilliant Beginnings Pre-Orientation Program by Dean Gedeon.

All students will check-in in the Barnard Hall Lobby (regardless of which residence hall you are assigned to).

If you arrive by car, please leave your luggage and other items for your room in the car while you check-in at Barnard Hall. It will be easier for you to unload at your residence hall.

• New Student Orientation Program
• Information for New Students

Students will be able to check in to their residence hall during the following dates, times, and locations:

Students will be sent an email on Thur, 8/29 with a personal BARCODE for check-in. Please print out the email or be prepared to show the barcode on your phone for when you check in. Thanks!

If you are not able to check in during the date/times above, please see LATE CHECK-INS below.

See below: Replacement Student ID Cards & Picking up Packages & Mail

If you will be moving into a Columbia residence hall, please see http://housingservices.columbia.edu/ for check-in information. Columbia students living in Barnard residence halls are subject to the move-in dates above.

Continuing students (including readmitted students, students returning from study abroad, etc.) who are new to campus housing for the Spring will be be able to start moving in on Saturday, January 18, 2020.

Students will need to show their Student ID to their residence hall Front Desk in order to get their key packet.

Permission to move into the residence halls early is only granted to students directly involved with NSOP (Orientation).

• Early Move-In Information for Approved Students

Unfortunately, early check-in for personal reasons is not available.

The Residential Life & Housing office (110 Sulzberger) will be open for late check-ins from 9am-5pm on Tuesday, September 3, 2019.

If you arrive on campus after 5pm on Saturday or Sunday (or after 2pm on Monday), please go directly to your residence hall front desk. If you do not have a roommate or suitemate who is able to let you into your room, you may show your Student ID to the Front Desk to borrow your emergency key for up to 15 minutes only so you can unlock your room (you may not hold on to the key overnight). You will then need to officially check-in the next day (see dates/times/locations above) in order to complete your paperwork & sign for your keys.

Please note that we cannot issue your room keys to anyone besides yourself (ex. friends or family).

In order to retain your room assignment, you are required to complete your check-in by 5pm on Tuesday, September 3, 2019. If a later check-in is necessary, this must be arranged prior to that date/time by contacting housing@barnard.edu to explain your requested late check-in. If you fail to complete check-in or coordinate late check-in before Wednesday, September 4, 2019, you may forfeit your room assignment.

• Campus Map
• Directions to Campus

The area in front of each residence hall is reserved for unloading only.

Please do not leave your car double parked without someone in it. Unattended and/or double parked cars block others from accessing the buildings and may be ticketed or towed by NYPD.

List of Parking Garages

A limited number of carts will be available for use from the front desk of each residence hall. A photo ID is required to borrow a cart for one hour.

Save yourself room in your car, suitcase, etc, by leaving things behind that are not allowed!

• Prohibited Items
• Recommended Items

Because space is tight, we encourage students to bring only the essentials. It's easier to purchase needed items after you move in than bringing too many belongings with you and not having room to storage them. Additionally, we encourage you to refrain from purchasing and/or cutting carpets, drapes. etc. until you move into your room and take exact measurements.

If your family homeowner's or renter's insurance does not extend to cover you while away at College, we strongly encourage you to look into purchasing Renters Insurance. The College accepts no responsibility for the loss of or damage to a student’s personal property, including (but not limited to) fire, theft, water damage, and the elements.

All students receive their mail & packages* at Student Mail Services in Altschul (students keep their mailbox all 4 years). Mail & packages must not be addressed to the student's building & room number (they will be returned to sender).

Please note that Student Mail Services will not accept any packages or mail for students until 3 days before a student's check-in day. For example, packages & mail for First Year students will be accepted starting Thursday, August 22, 2019 (or on Wednesday, August 28, 2019, for returning students). If you are sending items via the mail, UPS, FedEx, etc; please instruct them not to deliver the packages until that date or later.

The Mailroom will be open the following special days/times for Move-In:

• First Year Move-In -- 8am-2:45pm on Sunday, August 25, 2019
• Transfer Move-In -- 11am-4:45pm on Monday, August 26, 2019
• Returning Student Move-In -- 8:30am-2:30pm on Saturday & Sunday, August 31 & September 1, 2019 (closed on Monday for Labor Day)

For more information about packages and mail (including how to find out your mailbox number and combination) and the academic year schedule for the Student Mail Room, please visit the Mail Services webpage.

* Students in Cathedral Gardens ONLY may receive packages, not mail, at CG. More information

Columbia students living in Barnard residence halls must use their Lerner Hall Mailbox for mail and/or packages.

Did you lose your Student ID over the summer or not send in an ID Photo as a new student?

The Columbia ID Center (Kent Hall) will be open on the following dates and times:

• First Year Move-In - 9am-5pm on Sunday, August 25, 2019
• Transfer Move-In - 9am-5pm on Monday, August 26, 2019
• Returning Move-In - 8am-4pm on Saturday, August 31, 2019 (closed Sunday and Monday, September 1 & 2).

Please check out their website above for hours during the academic year.

If you do not have your Student ID, you must bring Photo ID to be permitted to check-in prior to getting a new Student ID.

If you stored items over the summer with SummerStorage.org, the company will bring boxes to campus for pick up on Sunday, September 1, 2019, from 10am-2pm. They will be lined up against the Main Campus Gate on Broadway, with boxes in alphabetical order.

Please make sure that you bring your Student ID with you to pick up your boxes. If you wish to arrange for another person to pick up your belongings or your have other questions or issues, please contact SummerStorage.com directly at avreda@aol.com or 516-729-5169 to make alternate arrangements.

RAIN PLAN: If it is raining on Sunday, SummerStorage will email you directly to confirm that the delivery of boxes to campus may be delayed until Monday, September 2, 2019. Please watch your email for any updates directly from SummerStorage.org. If you have any questions, please see their contact info above.

The College and Residential Life & Housing are committed adopting sustainable practices. Help us save the environment by planning a "Green" move-in!

• Get rid of stuff before you move it! You will have a limited amount of space in your room, so bring only the essentials to make your move lighter and more energy efficient.
• Instead of buying brand new cardboard boxes, ask your local liquor, grocery, hardware, or dry goods store for boxes. Or, use reusable plastic tubs.
• Instead of packing your boxes with newspaper or bubblewrap, use your towels or bed linens.
• After moving in, break down your boxes and put them in the recycle bin (in the Quad, take them to the basement); or better yet, flatten them and save them or send them home for a future move!

More information about the College's commitment to sustainability

If you would like to rent a refrigerator for your room, check out Collegiate Storage & Rental. Renting a fridge instead buying one means you don't have to worry about finding a place to store it for the summer or taking it back home.

The maximum allowable refrigerator size is 3.5 cubic feet.

Elliott residents: please note that only a smaller cube refrigerator fits into the special fridge alcove in your room. If you wish to rent a larger refrigerator, we encourage you to wait until after you move-in to see if you will have the floor space available for it.

Computer labs are provided in the Quad, 616, and Plimpton Halls and in academic buildings (Lab locations).

For information about connecting to the internet from your residence hall room, visit Student Computing.

• List of nearby hotels