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WELCOME
Fall 2024 Move-In Guide
Table of Contents
03
General Information
Move-In Schedule, Moving Assistance, Planning Your Arrival
07
Packing and Preparing
Packing Sustainably, What You Can and Can't Bring to Residence
11
Directions
Directions to Guelph, Parking Information, Traffic Routes
12
When You're Here
Parking, Campus Card Pick-Up
13
Settling In
Orientation Week, Saying Goodbye, Campus Eats
16
Seeking Support
Residence Life Staff Support, Roommates, Community Living Standards, Desk Services
Land Acknowledgement
Student Housing Services recognizes that the University of Guelph resides on the ancestral
lands of the Attawandaron people and the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of
the Credit. We uphold the significance of the Dish with One Spoon Covenant and the
continuing relationship our Indigenous neighbours have with this land. We recognize that
today this gathering place is home to many First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples and
acknowledging them reminds us of our relationships to this land where we learn and work.
Learn more by visiting uoguelph.ca/land-acknowledgement.
Moving into residence is an exciting and important day
for new students.
MOVE-IN
DATES
We want you to be prepared so that you can have a great experience coming to the University of
Guelph. This guide is intended to guide you through the process!
Move-in at U of G will take place on August 30 and 31, 2024. Limited move-in will also take place
on August 29 for specific locations. You will receive an email in advance to select a specific
timeslot for your move-in. To view your specific time or make a change visit the Housing Portal.
Questions about the information in this booklet may be directed to housing@uoguelph.ca.
Friday, Aug 30
Saturday, Aug 31
Welcome Home!
Where Campus Comes to Life
Welcome to residence at the University of Guelph! You have
made a wonderful choice to live on campus. The first-year
experience can be a challenging one as you move from the
familiar setting of your home and the support of family and
friends to the “uncharted” territory of university living and studies.
Our Student Housing Services staff are excited to meet you and
to help you get comfortable both socially and academically!
The most memorable parts of the residence experience will be
the people you meet and the experiences you collectively share.
Your time in residence will be guided by our Residence Life Staff
who are live-in professional and paraprofessional staff who will
help develop a sense of community, identify campus resources,
and help you navigate any of the challenges that may come your
way during your stay on campus.
From the Director
Patrick Kelly
Director, Student Housing Services
Living in residence and your first year of university is all about new experiences. I hope that you
take the opportunity to challenge and learn about yourself. Student Housing Services will be there
to ensure a safe, secure, healthy, and fun environment!
Plan ahead for a smoother move-in
Before Your Arrival
Packing up to move into residence will take some planning. We don’t want you to arrive and
discover you have missed something important. The list provided on page 8 is meant to be a
general guide to the basics you will need. As you are likely coming from far away, you will need to
bring a wide range of items for the whole semester.
Connect with your roommates or suitemates
If you are living in a multi-occupancy room, your roommates or suitemates will be listed on your
Housing Portal, including their U of G email to get in contact prior to move-in. Contact them to
discuss how you want to decorate your room, determine if there are items you want to share (such
as a fridge or kitchen supplies), and what things you might have in common!
Know your move-in time
Your move-in time can be found on the Housing Portal. Be sure to arrive at the assigned move-in
time you selected. This helps us manage traffic flow and ensure we are minimizing contact between
individuals.
Label all boxes or packing
containers with your last
name, hall and room number.
MOVE-IN TIP
Click here to
download a handy
template!
Will You Help Me Move?
Once you have arrived at your building location, our staff will guide you to an unloading area. While
you go and retrieve your keys, your family will start emptying the car. Please move your car to a
parking lot as quickly as possible so that we can accommodate others in the queue.
Elevators are not available in all
residences and stairs may be required. Large and heavy items (such as mini-fridges) will need to be
moved by you. Consider packing in a way that makes items light and easy to carry when possible.
What's an OV?
An OV (oh-vee) is an ORIENTATION
VOLUNTEER!
These awesome students are here to help make your
orientation experience as smooth and welcoming as
possible. You will recognize an OV by their bright and
fashionable t-shirts. When you arrive on campus, an
OV will help you find your way, and answer any
questions you may have about Orientation.
Be on the lookout for red vests with "RLS" on the
back. These amazing folks are our student Residence
Life Staff. These are upper-year students who will live
in residence with you all year and assist you with your
transition to university life! They will be around all
orientation week to help you settle in.
Although we are here to guide and support you with your move, you are responsible for
moving your belongings into residence.
Moving into residence is a physically demanding process.
Make Your Move Sustainable
Sustainability is a cornerstone to life at the University of Guelph. We are committed to operating in ways
which reduce waste, limit over-consumption, and promote healthy communities.
Student Housing Services has partnered with U of G's Sustainability Office to create move-in tips that
encourage sustainable practices. When packing for residence, we encourage you to do so in ways that
are more environmentally conscious.
10 Sustainable Move-In Tips
Bringing less makes your move-in day smoother and saves on packaging, transport and cost. For
example, leave the printer at home and instead utilize our library printing services if/when you need to
print something!
1. Pack only what you need
Remember to bring along those items that help you avoid single-use disposables: reusable travel mugs
and water bottles, food storage containers, utensils, napkins, and shopping bags. Other items to consider
bringing: LED lightbulbs, a power bar, and a drying rack.
2. Bring reusable
Move in to your place before investing in large or expensive items. That
way, you’ll know the space better, be able to coordinate with your
roommates, and maybe even discover more convenient options.
3. Wait on big purchases
In the Fall of 2021, the Lang
School of Business planted over
600 trees in our North Campus.
Students living in Lambton
and Addington Halls can
watch them grow from
their window!
Did you know?
Support your community at home or in Guelph by not purchasing online! You’ll also lessen the carbon
footprint created by plastic and styrofoam packaging and delivery emissions.
4. Shop local
Reduce waste by looking for good-quality used items. Alternatives to new items keep existing items out of
the landfill, and at the same time, decrease the demand for the production of new items! Check out our
Guelph local thrift stores or digital platforms like Facebook Marketplace or the Cannon.
5. Buy used
Environmentally-friendly products include ENERGY-STAR certified appliances and items with minimal,
recyclable packaging. But it gets even simpler: buy items that will last 4 years and beyond.
6. When you have to buy items, purchase sustainably made
Instead of using cardboard boxes and garbage bags, try bringing your stuff in reusable containers like
suitcases, duffle bags and laundry baskets! You can also eliminate the need for bubble wrap and packing
peanuts by wrapping fragile items in clothes, towels, or bed sheets. Clean-up will be easier and you won’t
have to send nearly as much to the landfill.
7. Pack sustainable
Plan ahead so that your trip will be as efficient as possible: fitting as much as possible in vehicles, taking a
direct route, and turning off the transmission to unload. Always avoid idling.
8. Travel sustainable
At any point during the process, you may find yourself with items you no longer wish to keep. Collect and
drop-off your unwanted (but working) items to a charity or thrift-store nearby (a quick Google search will
provide you with possibilities for giving your items a second life)!
9. Donate what you don't need
As a last resort, recycle items appropriately. Diligent recycling is an important practice for waste diversion,
and it’s easy with the help of the University of Guelph Waste Wizard hosted by the Sustainability Office.
10. Recycle what you can't donate
Sustainability in Residence
Looking for ways to get involved and promote sustainability on campus? The Residence Sustainability
Committee is a student group which strives to implement new sustainable practices in residence.
For more information, visit uoguel.ph/sustainableresidence or speak with your RA after move-in. All
residence students are welcome!
Tips Compiled by Sarah Allen, a U of G Sustainability Office Summer Student
Don’t forget to bring pictures,
posters and decorations to make
your room YOURS!
Get ready for our room decorating
contest and you could win
a great prize!
Forget something?
U of G is close to many amenities including Walmart, Best
Buy, Canadian Tire, Stone Road Mall, and more.
Visit the University Bookstore for other campus essentials!
MOVE-IN TIP
What to Bring
Personal toiletries and hygiene products
Masks, sanitizers, and wipes
Bath towels, hand towels, and facecloths
Headphones
Alarm clock
Backpack
Blankets, sheets, pillows, mattress cover
All beds are standard twin size (excluding Gordon Hall)
Clothes hangers
Dishes, cutlery, mugs and glasses
Reusable beverage container
A bar-size fridge for your snacks and drinks
Health Card and other ID
Additional lamps and lighting (no halogen lamps)
Laundry basket and supplies (detergent, etc.)
A power bar
Pens, pencils, and other school supplies
Personal computer (laptop)
Pictures, posters, things to personalize your room
Shower shoes
Snacks
Toilet paper (it is supplied, but some like
their own!)
Umbrella
University documents (including your room
assignment information!)
A personal fan
Storage containers
Clothes for hot and cooler weather
Reusable travel mug and water bottle
Dishes and cutlery
Dish soap
Pots and pans
Groceries
For students living in residences with a fully equipped kitchen
(such as East Village and East Residence Suites), you will also
want to bring: