Residence Move-In Day is an exciting time when incoming first-year students begin their on-campus journey at Queen’s and experience the vibrant campus culture. This year move-in returns to a single day of excitement with 4,600 students moving into 17 of the university’s residence buildings in Kingston on Saturday, Sept. 3. Each residence will be operating at full occupancy once again, following two years of reduced capacities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, incoming students are coming to Queen’s from all 10 Canadian provinces and two of the territories, as well as 25 US states, and 55 countries around the globe. Over 90 per cent of the incoming class are 18 years old or younger, and they are academic high achievers. The incoming class average is 92 per cent.

“We are looking forward to welcoming our incoming students as they settle into their new living space, meet new friends, and start to explore the university community,” says Ann Tierney, Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs. “Following move-in, students will take part in university and faculty orientation activities that will help transition them to campus life and build community together.” 

To help ensure every student in residence is aware of their responsibilities and contributes to creating a safe and inclusive environment, they have also been required to complete sexual violence prevention education, commit to comply with Residence Community Standards and agree to meet behavioural expectations that come with communal living.

Safe move-in procedures

Students have chosen to arrive during one of four two-hour windows - 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, or 2 p.m. and will ‘Stop, Drop and Park’. This encourages a quick stop in front of their residence building to unload personal belongings before parking in a nearby designated area. 

Housing and Ancillary Services has worked closely with the City of Kingston, Kingston Police and traffic management specialists to help mitigate the impacts of increased traffic around campus through temporary road closures, traffic pattern changes, parking restrictions, and on-site staffing. Each building has been assigned a zone colour with a coded map and instructions to direct cars efficiently. Neighborhoods located around the residences received a letter earlier this month detailing the temporary changes to local routes. 

The following streets will be designated as one-way and closed to through traffic on move-in day:

• Bader Lane – University Avenue to Albert Street – traffic will be one-way westbound
• University Avenue – Union Street to Stuart Street – traffic will be one-way southbound
• Albert Street – Union Street to King Street – traffic will be one-way southbound
• Stuart Street – University Avenue to Albert Street – traffic will be one-way westbound
• Collingwood Street – Queen’s Crescent to King Street – traffic will be one-way southbound

To mark the start of a new academic year, the City of Kingston is lighting City Hall tricolour Friday and Saturday evenings.

Learn more about the Move-In Day on the Queen’s Residences website.