Penn Today offers a practical guide to undergraduates moving into College Houses between Aug. 17 and 23 and participating in New Student Orientation between Aug. 19 and 24.
3 min. read
The University of Pennsylvania is getting ready for fall 2026 undergraduate Move-In between Aug. 17 and 23, when nearly 6,000 undergraduates, including 2,722 members of the Class of 2030 and 3,397 returning students, will be moving into campus housing.
Hundreds of staff working with College Houses and Residential Services, along with PHINS (Peers Helping Integrate New Students) Orientation Leaders working with New Student Orientation & Academic Initiatives will be ready to assist with logistics. There are a variety of activities planned to welcome new students and guests Aug. 18-20, including live music, festivities, and a President and Provost First-Year Family Welcome.
Penn Today has gathered a few tips to help guide students and guests through the Move-In process:
The Before You Move-In page for information on what to pack, what not to pack, shipping packages, getting moving carts, and arranging for microfridges. New Student Orientation also offers advice for 10 steps students are encouraged to complete in advance of their arrival. These tips include how to set up a PennKey and ways to set up and protect their student registration and financial services record.
The Division of Public Safety regularly provides traffic and construction advisories for the area. Before arriving on campus, families are encouraged to sign up for their email notices.
Wellness at Penn is dedicated to caring for students during their academic journey. The Public Health and Wellbeing team will help students understand and fulfill the University’s immunization and health insurance requirements. Students should visit the New and Returning Students page for information about these requirements. Additionally, if you need medical care or counseling support, call 215-746-WELL (9355) to schedule an appointment with the Student Health and Counseling team. Visit wellness.upenn.edu for more information.
Plan ahead and be on time on your Move-In day. If you need to change your time, you may do so via MyHomeAtPenn.
Students may have guests to assist them during Move-In. Guests must have a photo ID and mobile guest passes to enter the College Houses with the student.
Ten minutes before arriving on campus, students should use mobile check-in to begin the Move-In process. Mobile check-in will occur on the RHS Portal. The mobile check-in tool will ask students to login using their PennKey and password and answer simple verification questions. As soon as students check in via the mobile process, they will have officially taken residency of their room assignment. The University’s standard Terms & Conditions apply.
For those coming by car, free street parking is offered for up to one hour to unload. After that hour, complimentary parking passes can be obtained at the check-in sites for one of the designated parking garages on campus for the remainder of the day.
Move-In drop-off locations will have staff available to assist and answer questions. Additional staff will be available at information stations inside the College Houses. Students may also email living@upenn.edu with questions.
The day of Move-In, first-year students must check in and pick up their PennCards upon arrival at their College House.
Penn Dining is excited to welcome students to campus. Families and guests who have pre-registered can join students participating in New Student Orientation for lunch and dinner on Monday, Aug. 17 and Tuesday, Aug. 18. Hill College House, Class of 1920 Commons (both with halal options available) and Falk at Penn Hillel (kosher café) open on Aug. 17, while Lauder College House and English House (dedicated halal cafe) open on Aug.18. These meals will be free of charge as part of the NSO experience. All dining cafés will be open starting Aug. 25.
Students and guests can also find information on Facebook and Instagram.
On the move: Water quality and antimicrobial resistance testing goes mobile
Penn researchers have developed a mobile field laboratory allowing them to test water quality and track antimicrobial resistance in and around San Cristóbal in the Galápagos.
Penn researchers Vanessa and Alexis North are studying one of the largest collections of Egyptian blue objects ever found in the ancient Near East, shedding new light on how the world’s first synthetic pigment may have traveled far beyond Egypt.
A new role for dental providers? Rethinking where vaccines are given
Vaccinations have traditionally been administered in primary care settings or pharmacies. However, for about a decade, some states have authorized dentists to administer vaccines, and many others did so during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effectiveness of this approach has led some countries and states to expand or consider expanding the role of dental providers in delivering routine vaccines, including those against COVID-19 and the human papillomavirus (HPV), and in providing vaccine education.
Penn student develops a way for computer chips to run more efficiently
Fluid Silicon, a platform from President’s Sustainability Prize winner Nhlanhla Mavuso, allows computer chips to continuously monitor their health and self-tune as their characteristics change. The technology has the potential to reduce energy usage in data centers and improve reliability in mission-critical applications.
