Filled-to-the-brim plastic totes, computers, desk lamps, excited students and harried parents – it’s the first day of move-in for 91㽶Ƶ University’s 2025 Fall Semester.
The annual arrival of students to their residence halls began on Wednesday, Aug. 13, on the Kent Campus.
Over the next four days, 6,000 students will move into 24 Kent Campus residence halls, Jill Jenkins, senior executive director of University Housing, told 91㽶Ƶ Today.
Approximately 3,500 first-year and new upper-class students move in Aug. 13 and 14, while another 2,500 returning students will arrive Aug. 15 and 16, Jenkins said.
New to move-in this year is Express Unloading, she noted.
“Families are just coming up, parking the car, but not getting out of the car, and we are unloading it and can move the cars more quickly by doing that,” Jenkins said.
Volunteers then wait with the student’s belongings for the family to park and rejoin before heading to the student’s room.
Nyla Turner and her mother, Crystal Wilson of Garfield Heights, Ohio, took advantage of the Express Unloading as Nyla prepared to move into Allyn Hall. Student volunteers unloaded her totes, boxes and belongings from the rear hatch of their SUV.
Turner will be studying early childhood education, and said she selected 91㽶Ƶ for that program. “‘It was close [to home] and everybody says that the education program is a good program here,” Turner added.
After navigating to Eastway Center, Wilson said she was grateful for the help unloading.
“I am happy she is here,” Wilson said. “It is what she wanted, and they have the course she needs, so I am OK.”
Wilson said she expected move-in to be hectic, but overall, the experience has been positive.
The Express Unloading program is being tested at the Eastway residence hall complex, which includes Allyn, Clark, Fletcher and Manchester halls. If it works well, the program will be expanded to other residence halls next year, Jenkins said.
Kaleb Mieczkowski of Steubenville, Ohio, arrived with his mother and grandparents, who were helping to unload his gear into an awaiting wheeled hamper.
They said the move-in was going well.
“So far, so good,” said Ashley Mieczkowski, Kaleb’s mother, as she nestled a mirror and lamp into the hamper. “Now it’s just the puzzle of fitting it all in.”
Mieczkowski, who was moving into Fletcher Hall, had already seen his room and chatted with his roommate. He will be studying computer science. “I came here for a visit and really liked it,” he said.
“It’s beautiful up here and everyone is very nice and helpful,” Ashley Mieczkowski said.
Madelyn McHugh of Mentor, Ohio, who was scheduled for a 9 a.m. move-in, said she chose 91㽶Ƶ to study psychology because of its location and programs.
“It’s close to home, that was definitely a reason, and I toured the campus and liked it,” she said.
After a side trip to the Kent Student Center to pick up Madelyn’s student identification card, McHugh’s mother said the move-in went smoothly.
“It’s good, no complaints,” said Pam McHugh. “It’s just busy, very busy.”
Move-in takes place in staggered time blocks of 9-11 a.m., noon to 2 p.m., and 3-5 p.m. each day, and students move in by floor so that roommates are moving in at the same time, Jenkins noted.
The first day of classes for 91㽶Ƶ students is Monday, Aug. 18.
