Office of Student Affairs
Nicholas Goodman
Assistant Dean of Students
Move-In Guide & Dates
We are excited to welcome you to your home away from home! Students moving on campus are expected to arrive on specific days.
NOTE: These dates are provided as a general planning guide and may be changed from year to year based on NAIA and academic schedules. Please refer to housing assignment emails that are sent in early July for confirmation of final dates and times.
Move-In Dates
- Football: First Friday in August, 9 a.m. – Noon
- Soccer, Volleyball: First Saturday in August, 9 a.m. – Noon
- Cross Country: Second Saturday in August, 9 – 11 a.m.
- Cheer & Dance: Determined annually
- New BU students registered for August orientation*: Third Friday in August, after orientation
- New BU students: Third Saturday in August, 9 a.m. – Noon
- Returning students: Tuesday before first day of school, 9 a.m. – Noon
- New BU students registered for January orientation*: Fourth Friday of January, after orientation
*New students who are not fall athletes and are registered for August or January orientation sessions will check in for housing as part of orientation and will move in after orientation is completed.
Check-In Process
On the approved move-in day, students start at the Harter Union half-moon circle. View map for on-campus directions. Dearborn Street is one way, east to west, during the move-in days. Enter from Sixth Street and turn west onto Dearborn Street to enter the queue. Please stay in your car. Check-in will be a drive-through process. Once you have checked in, you may proceed to your residence hall and begin moving into your assigned room.
Additional Move-In Info
If you are on a fall sports team listed here, you have specific report dates. Your coach may have specific times in the afternoon for you to be with an athletic trainer or other team commitment on your move-in day. Please plan your housing move-in accordingly.
Students are expected during assigned move-in times and days only. If you have an extreme need that calls for an exception, please submit an alternate move-in date request. Asking for an exception does not guarantee an exception and will be granted on a case-by-case basis. For more information, please see the alternate move-in date information.
Parking & Traffic
Dearborn Street is one-way, east to west, during all move-in days. You MUST have a parking permit if your vehicle will stay on campus. Order your FREE permit before you arrive.
Parking is available during move-in days throughout campus in any legal space, including street parking in front of Gessner and Irwin and the east side of Seventh Street. Parking lots are available close to Denious, Irwin, Gessner, the Lodge, and the Apartments.
NLC residents: Unloading on Dearborn Street in front of the NLC is NOT available. Please use the alley behind the NLC via Seventh Street to unload into the courtyard, and then proceed to any legal parking spot, and start moving into your room.
Question?
Email the Office of Residence Life at reslife@bakerU.edu if you have questions.
Rules & Regulations
Baker University is committed to providing student housing and establishing a residential environment that offers guidance and opportunities to learn through engagement with the Baker community. Please read the Residence Life Policies in the student handbook so that you fully understand and appreciate your rights and responsibilities while living in Baker-owned housing.
What should I bring?
- Waterproof mattress pad (required and should be purchased at a retailer offering extra-long twin mattress pads)
- Sheets, pillow/pillowcases (extra-long twin)
- Comforter and blankets
- Bath linens and supplies
- Wastebasket and liners
- Cleaning supplies
- Carpet (cannot be installed)
- Microwave (1.5 cubic feet or smaller)
- Mini refrigerator (3.7 cubic feet or smaller)
- Iron and ironing board
- Desk lamp (non-halogen)
- U/L-approved extension cord/power strip (7 plugs or fewer)
- Vacuum cleaner
- Crates for storage
- Computer
- Ethernet cord
- TV (cable-ready)
- TV stand with mount
- Gaming system
- Portable radio/stereo
- Laundry basket and detergent
What is prohibited?
- Pets (other than fish)
- Appliance with an open heating coil
- Broiler ovens, toasters/toaster ovens (only approved for apartments)
- Alcohol and alcohol paraphernalia (please refer to University Policy)
- Smoking materials and smokeless tobacco
- Candles, incense, candle warmers, paraphernalia
- Four-way or cheater plugs
- Extension cords w/o breaker
- Sun or heat lamps
- Appliances not marked as U/L approved
- Tacks or nails in the walls or ceiling
- TV wall mounts
- Contact paper on walls or furniture
- Electric blankets
- Electric sauce pans or hot plates
- Laser pointers
- Halogen/quartz light bulbs and lamps
- Space heaters
- Oil popcorn popper
- Paint ball, BB guns, weapons
- Firearms
- Fireworks
Alternate Move-In Date Information
Baker University’s residential facilities are in use throughout the summer. Between summer groups, conferences, and repair and preparation work done by maintenance and custodial staff, Baker’s residential facilities are far from empty during summer months! This busy and complex schedule of summer use makes it difficult for Residence Life and Student Affairs to accommodate move-in requests outside of the scheduled move-in dates.
At times, however, it may be necessary for a student to move into his or her assigned on-campus housing before the designated move-in date. If you would like to be considered for early move-in approval, please complete the online early move-in application below.
Requests should be based on a need to move in early, rather than a preference to move in early. Submitting an application does not guarantee early move-in approval. Students without official early move-in approval will not be permitted to move in (items or personally) until his or her assigned move-in date.
Once your early move-in request application has been reviewed, you will receive an official notice email (to the email address provided on your application) regarding your approval or denial. If your request is approved, notice will also be sent to your Residence Hall staff, IT, maintenance, summer conferences, campus security, business office, and financial aid so all may prepare accordingly for your arrival.
Out of courtesy to the large number of offices involved in accommodating an early move-in request, you must arrive promptly at the date and time indicated on your official approval notice. Arriving at a time other than that approved (either late or early) will terminate your ability to move in early.
Reasons for Early Move-In Approval or Disapproval
Following are examples of reasons a student might be approved for an early move-in:
- Involvement in a university-related activity that begins before the designated move-in date
- Long-distance student as deemed reasonable by Residence Life
- Other reasons deemed reasonable by Residence Life
Early move-in requests, however, WILL NOT be approved for the following reasons:
- Involvement with another lease that ends before the designated move-in date
Students are responsible for arranging outside housing between lease dates in such situations. - Early arrival to campus without prior early move-in approval
Last-minute and same-day approval will not be granted. - Work commitments not associated with the university, including work responsibilities of family and friends
Please be aware of move-in dates and make appropriate arrangements in advance. - Other reasons deemed unreasonable by Residence Life