University Housing

Move-In Dates & Times

The Appalachian Community looks forward to your arrival for the Fall 2020 semester! In mid-late July, you will receive information from University Housing about your room assignment and move-in time.

To help ensure everyone's safety during the move-in process, we will pre-schedule appointments to allow for physical distancing. You must arrive and check into your room assignment on your assigned day and during your assigned time. You will need to remain flexible in your plans as we will be unable to accommodate requests for changes to move-in dates and times unless already approved as a special population (including Marching Mountaineers, some University employees, etc.). University Housing will not accommodate requests for early arrivals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the procedure for physical distancing and sanitizing during move-in?

University Housing will require residents and families moving in to wear face coverings throughout the move-in process. Face coverings will be provided to students as a part of their move-in packet. University Housing will not provide face coverings for a student's family members or move-in helper, so please plan accordingly. We will place signage on elevators limiting occupancy. We will post safe usage guidelines including physical distancing and occupancy limits for all common areas, including lounges, kitchens, and lobbies. Traffic flow signs will be posted throughout all of the common areas of the buildings to ensure physical distancing can be maintained for residents as they move in. We will place hand sanitizing stations in buildings, particularly around elevators, restrooms, and common areas. We will increase the cleaning/disinfection frequency of common "high touch" areas (including elevator buttons and exterior door handles) and restrooms throughout each day of the move-in period. Carts will be provided for aiding in the move-in process and each will be cleaned between uses by a housekeeping staff member.

How can I find out more about free COVID-19 testing?

Appalachian State has engaged with Mako Medical Laboratories to offer on-campus residential students a free COVID-19 test prior to the start of the fall semester. This “pop-up” testing event will be held Aug. 10-15 - others will be scheduled as needed. Drive-up is encouraged but walk-ups are welcome.

Dates/times:

• Aug. 10-14 / 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Aug. 15 / 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: Holmes Convocation Center, tent across from Holmes Parking Lot 

• Drive-up directions: From Hwy 321 (Blowing Rock Rd.), turn onto Holmes Dr. (between the Holmes Center and Boonies Pizza). Continue around Holmes Dr. to the tent and exit by turning right onto Hill St. and then Rivers St.

We encourage all on-campus residential students coming to Boone during this time to get tested. No appointments required but you will be asked to provide the following information:

• First and last name
• Phone number
• Date of birth
• Banner ID

Testing is being managed by Mako Medical Laboratories. A nasal swab will be taken and instructions on how to obtain results will be provided. On average, results take between 24-48 hours. Results will be reported to public health agencies and appropriate campus areas to ensure proper contact tracing of positive tests and provide resources and support as needed.

Read more about reporting procedures including campus isolation and quarantine procedures here.

Testing events like these are one of many efforts each of us can take to promote the health and well-being of the Appalachian Community. If you have questions, contact safety@appstate.edu.

Will there be volunteers to help with my move-in?

There will not be volunteers to help with move-in this year in an effort to limit the potential spread of the coronavirus. Hall staff will be in the buildings and available to provide directions, but students will be responsible for moving their items into their room. There should be no trailers or extra-large vehicles, as move-in areas and traffic flow cannot accommodate vehicles taller than 7 ft. Students should not be bringing enough items to warrant these types of vehicles.

Who can be present at move-in?

Students will be limited to one family member or move-in helper. This decision is based on guidelines for physical distancing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, public health, and the university's Emergency Management team. The one-helper limit will reduce the likelihood of crowded stairwells, elevators, common baths, and hallways.

Additional family members are welcome to come to campus but they cannot be in the building at the same time with the student. Once the move-in period ends for a student, only residents will be allowed in the residence halls.

Before coming to campus, all individuals should check for symptoms using the COVID-19 screening checklist provided with your assignment email. Anyone exhibiting symptom(s) should not come to campus and should consult their health care provider. You can read about screening and other resources on Appalachian's COVID-19 website .

Will refreshments be provided?

University Housing will not provide water and snacks this year. We encourage you to bring your own water bottle. Refill stations will be available in some of the residence halls.

How should I pack my things?

In order to be certain that your belongings make it to your room, please follow these guidelines when packing:

• Don't bring it all! Given the current COVID-19 situation, we are asking that residents please limit the volume of belongings they bring with them to campus in case they are required to change rooms or return home during the semester.

• Consider bringing a dolly or handcart to make moving in easier.

• Clearly label your belongings with your full name, residence hall, and room number. Include labels on everything and make them easily visible.

• Pack everything in a box, suitcase, or storage bin. Loose items are more likely to get lost and create more trips back and forth. In addition, in the event of inclement weather your belongings will be much safer in a box than on their own!

• Size matters (and weight too)! Remember that, in a lot of cases, you will be using stairs and not elevators to move your belongings.

• Communicate! Make sure that you have talked with your roommate and made an effort to avoid duplicating items for your room.

• Be informed! Make sure that you review the list of approved/prohibited items and know what is and is not allowed in your room. Again, this will save time and effort for everyone!

• Given the current circumstances, students may not want to travel often so they will need to bring enough items for the semester but not so much that they can't move it all into their rooms by themselves. University Housing will provide a suggested packing list with the assignment email to help narrow down items to bring.

Where do I go when I arrive on campus to move in?

When families arrive for move-in, there are a multitude of highly visible yellow/black signs posted along the roadways. The signs come in two varieties, one being for WEST CAMPUS and the other for EAST CAMPUS.

Residence halls on the WEST CAMPUS are: Appalachian Heights, Belk, Bowie, Coltrane, Eggers, Frank, Gardner, LLC, Mountaineer, Newland, Raven Rocks, and Thunder Hill.

• Appalachian Heights, Coltrane, Gardner, LLC, and Mountaineer Halls will check in directly at their hall.
• Halls in the Stadium area of campus (Belk, Bowie, Eggers, Frank, Newland, Raven Rocks and Thunder Hill) will check in at the Peacock Parking Lot .
  • Drivers will then be directed to a staging area to await further instructions.
  • At the lot, there will be a tent where residents will be given a check-in packet after their photo ID is provided and verified.
  • Residents will report to Peacock Parking Lot first and then be released to their specific building as parking spaces are available and building capacity is appropriate for additional students.
  • Each car will be given a numbered tag which will be used to help attendants direct you to the appropriate unloading area.
  • The color of the tag will correspond with the student's assigned residence hall and should be placed on the dashboard of the vehicle.

Residence Halls on the EAST CAMPUS are: Cannon, Cone, Doughton, East, Hoey, Lovill, Summit, and White. The EAST CAMPUS signs provide directions to Hardin Street. From there, additional signs are in place to divide traffic appropriately. Specifically:

• Appalachian Panhellenic Hall should drive directly to that building.
• East Hall traffic is turned onto Dauph Blan Street.
• Cone/Lovill/White Hall traffic is turned onto Locust Street.
• Cannon/Doughton/Hoey Hall traffic is directed to the Legends parking lot.

Students on EAST CAMPUS will check in at their assigned residence hall. Here each student will be given a check-in packet after their photo ID is provided and verified.

What will happen at check-in?

Only the student should approach the staff at the check-in area. Students will receive their AppCard at check-in and photos will be verified there. Each student will then receive a move-in packet, which will include:

• The student's AppCard
• The student's room key
• A document highlighting the updated Community Standards, to include expectations for screening, physical distancing, face-covering, hand hygiene, cleaning of personal and community space, and guest visitation policy
• University-supplied cloth face coverings
• Touchless tool

Where do I park once I find my move-in area?

The driver of the vehicle is directed upon entering the appropriate area for unloading. Upon completing the unloading process, vehicles on WEST CAMPUS will be directed to the Greenwood parking lot near Appalachian Heights residence hall. Vehicles on EAST CAMPUS will be directed to the State Farm parking lot off campus where shuttle buses will be available to bring them back to campus and return them later to their cars. Please see the campus parking map for further information.

Construction on the west side of campus requires vehicles to exit (after unloading) at Stadium Drive. At the bottom of the hill, they will turn left onto Rivers Street. At Bodenheimer Drive, vehicles will turn left and follow it to the Greenwood parking lot (just past the Appalachian House).

Vehicles on EAST CAMPUS will exit unloading zones using Hardin Street and proceed down Blowing Rock Rd. (US Route 321) to Shadowline Drive. They will turn left on Shadowline Dr. and continue straight onto Dale Street. The State Farm parking lot will be on the right, approximately 0.2 miles passed the Dale St. intersection. 

What will first-year students do between move in and the start of classes?

All first-year students will participate in Trailhead after their assigned move-in time. Trailhead is a continuation of new student orientation and all first-year students are expected to attend. Small groups of 10-12 peers will meet outdoors as much as possible, or when needed indoors in large classroom spaces that are set up for social distancing.

You will receive an email at your Appalachian State email account with details on when and where to meet your Trailhead group.

In Trailhead, you will create connections with peers, find useful resources and develop the capacity to succeed at Appalachian State. You will also receive a copy of the common reading book, an advising planner, and your "A" first-year lapel pin. For more details, visit the Trailhead website or email trailhead@appstate.edu.

Once you complete your Trailhead experience, you will be able to join in on any of the Welcome to App activities throughout the week. A full calendar of events can be found on the Welcome to App website.

Learn more about Trailhead

Which residence halls have elevators?

All of the residence halls have elevators, with the exception of East Hall. East hall has no more than four floors. Elevator capacity will be limited due to COVID-19 to maintain appropriate physical distancing.