As school begins again for students around the region, some of the newest Stanislaus State Warriors will be heading to college for the first time. At Stanislaus State, some will even be the first in their families to attend college.
As move-in day looms, new students are encouraged to keep their cool as campus staff attempt to make the transition as smooth as possible
“We really are that kind of support net for students. Move-in is a very exciting day for us,” said Jennifer Humphrey, Housing and Residential Life Director at Stanislaus State University. “Move-in is really the start of the journey.”
Campus staff and volunteers will be there to help as nearly 700 students prepare for move-in day. In order to help streamline the process and make the day a little easier, there are some helpful tips to know about move-in day at Stanislaus State.
1. There’ll be people to help you when you move in
“I think our biggest secret is really something that is a true indicator of our campus culture… we have over 75 student volunteers that come in from our student clubs and organizations,” said Humphrey.
Students from athletic teams, Greek organizations, and student clubs have volunteered their time to help Stanislaus State, families, and new students with the move-in process. It is an effort that can sometimes take between two to six hours of the day.
One important part of the culture at Stanislaus State is their population of first-generation students. Even during move-in day, this is something the campus keeps firmly in mind.
“We know demographically that the base of our students is first-generation. Pretty much everything we do is geared toward first-generation,” Humphrey said.
Students who do not have someone with college experience to lean on for advice are specifically addressed by the college. Those students can get insight through a range of communication and entrance activities or even speak with actual first-generation students on campus.
2. There are common misconceptions about move-in day
Some student housing residents came to learn that some of what they expected to happen on move-in day did not happen at all, according to Humphrey.
Students had concerns over what they believed would be a hectic arrival, check-in, and unloading process, however, the process turned to be more organized than students believed.
“They kind of worked themselves up; that it would be this mad, chaotic day where they would feel lost and not sure what was happening,” Humphrey said.
Other elements include pacing of the day and over-packing. Some students realize that they had misconceptions about how much stuff they needed to bring with them. Once a student arrives into the room and gets a sense of the space they have, the way they envisioned their room being set up can change.
3. Read the material from the college and plan ahead
If an easier move-in day is the goal, then Humphrey suggests that new residents on campus read everything the campus provides to them.
The school website can provide numerous resources on what to bring, what not to bring, general information to get situated, and many other frequently asked questions. There are also ways to access roommate contact information to help break the ice with a roommate before the move-in day happens.
Humphrey also suggests thinking of affordable ways to decorate the new room.
“Looking for kind of creative ways to decorate is an important thing for them when kind of visualizing what they want their space to be,” Humphrey said.
A final practical tip from Humphrey is to pack a dolly, or hand truck, to help carry items.
4. Cast aside insecurities on move-in day
A lot of students are experiencing a move-in day for the first time, and sometimes that move-in day can be scary and intimidating. However, according to Humphrey, students should embrace the new experience.
“There’s going to be a lot of students going through the same thing and having the same thoughts and feelings. One of the beautiful things about living on campus is you’re not alone.”
“It’s probably a little bit of fear about the unknown. It’s a start of journey. You started an application process to a university. You’ve been accepted. You’ve gone through student orientation,” added Humphrey. “This is the day you’re moving in. It’s real. It’s happening.”
5. Know that help doesn't stop when you finish moving in
Move-in day can be intimidating for a number of reasons. Students are coming from a variety of different backgrounds and some are coming from hundreds of miles away. A new student may not know the area, may not know the campus, and may not know anyone in the whole city.
“We don’t treat every student as if they’re all the same student. We try and understand what the unique needs are of students…,” said Humphrey.
Building events, resident meetings, floor events, and community events are all implemented to help new students get their bearings in city and community they don't know.
The university also provides practical resources for their students, some readily available in their new room. There are resident assistants, academic leaders, and a list of resources in the area, ranging from grocery stores to haircuts and banks.
