Greetings incoming residents! We are excited about your upcoming arrival to UC Merced Housing and Residence Education, and we want to help make your transition to college as smooth and comfortable as possible. This page will be updated periodically as information supporting move in and welcome week activites is finalized.
Dates and Times
Dates | Move in | About | Carts & Resources | Check in Location |
BEFORE August 5 |
Athletes; housing employees Select UROC / College Corps residents (with program approval) |
RAs & student athletes ONLY during this time |
Dollies only ; no carts Resident Servcies Desk |
Resident Services Desk |
August 6-August 12 |
Student Employees 2023 Summer Housing Move |
Student Employees should consult with supervisor about housing costs. Campus Employers paying for student early arrival housing must request directly from housing@ucmerced.edu. Students employees covering their early arrival move in costs, or students who want to move in early for other reasons, can request early arrival directly on the housing portal. |
Moving carts available Alpine Room at Tenaya | Resident Services Desk in Terraces Center |
August 13-15 |
Graduate Student Housing Move in Undergraduate early arrival move in |
Graduate students can schedule their move in time on on the housing portal home page. | Moving carts available Alpine Room at Tenaya | Resident Services Desk in Terraces Center |
August 16 |
Move in volunteers Undergraduate early arrivals |
Campus wil be configured for residential move in on August 16. Move in volunteers should follow signage and park in designated areas. |
Conference Center AFTER 5pm: Resident Services Desk in Terraces |
Conference Center Ballroom AFTER 5pm: Resident Services Desk in Terraces Center |
August 17-20 | Undergradute Student housing move in | Undergraduate students can schedule their move in time on housing portal home page |
Conference Center AFTER 5pm: Resident Services Desk in Terraces |
Conference Center Ballroom AFTER 5pm: Resident Services Desk in Terraces Center |
August 21-22 | Undergradute Student housing move in | Undergraduate students can schedule their move in time on housing portal home page | Dollies ONLY at Terraces Center | Resident Services Desk in Terraces Center |
August 23 | All move in | No appointment necessary | Dollies ONLY at Terraces Center | Resident Services Desk in Terraces Center |
Move in for most students will take place 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 17 through Sunday, Aug. 20. Campus housing residents can sign up for their time online at the housing portal (click here to access the portal). Move in appointments are limited per day and per hour to manage congestion during move in. Specific move in times are first-come, first-serve on the portal. Students may change or cancel their move in dates and times directly on the portal if plans change.
Prior to Arrival
CatCard
Your CatCard is your access pass to most housing buildings, the dining hall, and public transit. New students who attended orientation were issued a CatCard at that event. If you did not get your CatCard at orientation, or didn't attend orientation as a new student (or new transfer student), please review the information on how to submit a photo online for your CatCard.
If you lost your issued CatCard, please follow the instructions here: https://catcard.ucmerced.edu/manage-account/report-lostdeactivate-card
Students who submitted photos and received confirmation of photo acceptance, or had their photos taken at orientation, can claim their printed CatCard during check in at the conference center ballroom.
COVID Testing
Covid tests will not be administered at check in. Students who are symptomatic prior to move in should self-test PRIOR to departing for campus. If you test postive for COVID, follow the procedures listed on our web page: https://housing.ucmerced.edu/resident-education-resources/isolation-place
Students and families are encouraged to review UC Merced's COVID protocols for campus residents prior to arrival. Those are found on can be found here.
If you test postive for COVID or are symptomatic, there is no penalty for delaying your arrival to campus housing.
To help ensure that you have what you need in your residence hall and make it feel like home, we have put together a list of what to bring and what to leave at home. LIST OF WHAT TO BRING and LEAVE BEHIND
Of note:
- Face coverings for use indoors. If you or roommate test positive for COVID-19, you will quarantine in place.
- One, 900 watt or less, energy-star rated microwave PER room.
- Single and Double room types can have one 4.2cu/ft or smaller refrigerator
- Triple and Quad room types can have up to two 4.2cu/ft or smaller refrigerators
- Leave all other kitchen appliances at home. They are not permitted in the residence halls.
Be sure to bring your CatCard to to campus! you'll need this to access your residence hall, campus dining, laundry, and other services.
USPS, UPS, Amazon, and many other mail services deliver to campus housing at UC Merced. The shipper delivers mail to UC Merced housing, which then processes and notifies residents that the mail is available. Please add one to two days to the shipper's estimates to account for campus processing. Prior to move in, do not ship items to your fall address until August 10th. Your assignment may change between July and August, pending space.
Follow this link to learn more about mail, our mail locker system, and how to address your mail: CAMPUS MAILING ADDRESS
Your building, room, room type (triple, quad, etc...), and roommates are visible on your application status page in the housing portal
Early arrival describe the process by which any campus housing student move in prior to the August 17-20 campus move in period.
Some students may need to arrive early for student employment, international travel, or other issues. If you are a student employee returning to work, your supervisor must initiate the early arrival request on your behalf to provide payment. Your supervisor will contact housing directly.
Students seeking to move in early for personal reasons, or who are working but paying for housing themselves, request housing on the housing portal, on their application status page. Early arrival housing is billed at $38.02/night between your arrival date and August 17.
Early arrivals are subject to room availability and no request for arrival prior to August 17 is guaranteed. Residents of Half Dome, used for summer housing, will be particularly limited prior to August 16.
August 5-16, 2023
Early arrival for sponsored student employees. Your campus employer must approve and authorize directly with housing services. Students arriving early without employee sponsorship pay the daily rate of $38.02/day.
August 16, 2023
Early arrival for the move-in volunteers. Learn more here. https://housing.ucmerced.edu/move-in-volunteer
August 17-22, 2022
Move-in for all students EXCEPT early arrivals
August 23, 2023
Classes begin!
Directions to Campus
Our most updated directions to campus can be found here: UC MERCED MAPS
Move-In Parking
Date(s) | Unloading Area | Parking | Cost |
July 29-August 4 | Unloading scholars lots only | Parking only available with in permitted lots or with purchase of permit | All vehicles must have paid parking permit or temporary pass. |
August 5-16 |
Unloading/loading parking in designated areas of scholars lot only.
|
Parking only available with in permitted lots or with purchase of permit |
Unloading is free, but short-term. Cars lingering in unloading zones will be ticketed. vehicles parking must have paid parking permit or temporary pass |
August 17-20 | Unloading in designated zones, based on housing assignment (see below) | Long term parking only available in designated lots. Overnight parking requires permits |
Unloading is free, but short-term. Cars lingering in unloading zones will be ticketed. vehicles parking must have paid parking permit or temporary pass |
August 21-Fall Term | Unloading only available with in permitted lots or with purchase of permit | Parking only available with in permitted lots or with purchase of permit | All vehicles must have paid parking permit or temporary pass. |
August 17-August 20: free parking and unloading per map below
For long-term parking and residential overnight permits, please refer to the campus parking details from Transportation and Parking Services.
Campus services during check in
Check in and Carts at the Conference Center
Resident Services Desk
The resident services desk office is open 8:00am to 8:00pm daily. Check-ins after 4:45pm and before 8:00pm should come directly to this desk for keys. Please direct question to the office at 209-228-4663 or the Housing Contact Form.
This is where mail and packages are delivered for residents.
Tips for a Smooth Move-In
· Read your housing assignment email carefully.
· Select and review your move in date and time on the housing portal PRIOR to arrival
· It is expected to be hot. Make sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes and drink plenty of water.
· Talk to your roommates and suitemates regarding big items in the room, such as a TV, microwave and/or refrigerator, so that you are not overpacked.
· Have your student ID ready when you arrive to campus. If you have not yet gotten your student ID, you can submit a photo and have your ID ready when you arrive on campus.
There is no local assistance for transportation on campus, like golf carts, for parents and families. Please plan accordingly.
All students are required to have a meal plan. Your meal plan will be active after you check in to campus housing. You can learn more about the meal plans on the dining website.
Once your spring housing is assigned, your student bill will be updated to include your selected room and meal plan on August 1. The payment deadline for fall payment is August 14, 2023. You can find more details on payment options from Student Business Services.
If you no longer need on-campus housing, please cancel your housing contract. You may submit your cancellation on the Housing Portal under "Housing Cancellation."