August is always a big month for Residence Life as more than 3,500 students arrive on campus to move into their new home away from home. While move-in may look like a simple weekend on the surface—as Teresa Frederick, Director of Residence Life, details in an interview with KSMU—it takes a department-wide effort to make it all happen. From the moment students pull up to campus, they are greeted by a community ready to help them get settled, find their way around and feel at home. 

One of the biggest parts of that welcome comes from Bear Crew, a volunteer program that brings together current students, faculty and staff to help incoming residents move their belongings into their rooms. 

This year, approximately 560 Bear Crew Volunteers, 23 Bear Crew Leaders and 70 Faculty/Staff Volunteers came together to lend a hand. Collectively, these volunteers contributed more than 1,900 hours over move-in, carrying boxes, hauling carts and helping students navigate those first moments on campus. For many students, these interactions are among their very first experiences at MSU—and a friendly face and helping hand can make a big difference. 

Another important part of keeping move-in running smoothly was the work of our University Safety team. Throughout the weekend, team members put in long hours directing traffic, providing directions and helping families and students navigate campus safely and efficiently. Stationed at residence halls and key points around campus, they helped keep traffic moving and made sure residents could get where they needed to go. Working through the heat and the busy pace of move-in, the team was there to answer questions, offer assistance and help make the arrival process as seamless as possible. Their presence was another important piece of the campus-wide effort to welcome our Bears home.

Of course, moving is hard work, and all that unpacking requires plenty of fuel! Our Dining Services team was busy throughout the weekend, serving 6,464 meals in the dining centers from Friday through Sunday. When retail dining locations are included, that number jumps to an impressive 8,518 meals served during move-in weekend. 

There was also a new addition to campus dining this year. Located on the first floor of Heitz House, Coffee Ethic made its debut during opening weekend, bringing the familiar blends of its downtown homebase to campus. For students, families and volunteers looking for a quick coffee break amid the hustle and bustle, it was a welcome new stop. 

Getting moved into a residence hall is only the beginning. Once the boxes are inside and the door closes, students still have plenty of questions—and occasionally, a few things that need fixing. Our Residential Technical Services team completed 68 tickets during move-in, assisting with internet connections, technology questions and other technical needs. At the same time, our custodial and maintenance teams worked behind the scenes to keep the halls running smoothly, completing 58 TMA work orders in just two days. These may seem like small details, but they are the things that help transform a residence hall room into a comfortable home. 

The move-in experience doesn’t end once the last box is carried upstairs. Throughout the weekend and the days that followed, students had opportunities to meet their neighbors, explore campus and begin building the connections that make residence life special. RHA helped add some fun to the weekend with a room decor bingo activity and handed out more than 240 pounds of snow cones.  

Another important part of the welcome was House Calls, our annual program that brings faculty and staff volunteers into the residence halls to connect with students. Volunteers visit residents’ rooms, answer questions, share information about campus resources and, most importantly, let students know that they have a community here at MSU. This year, 112 faculty and staff volunteers participated in House Calls, helping extend the welcome well beyond move-in weekend. 

Behind every statistic from move-in is a story: a student arriving on campus for the first time, a family unloading a car, a volunteer carrying one more box, a dining team member serving another meal, or a staff member answering a question that helps a student feel a little more at ease. 

More than 3,500 students moved into their new homes this August, supported by hundreds of volunteers and staff members who gave their time, energy and expertise to make the transition a success. Move-in is a lot of boxes, carts, meals, work orders and busy schedules—but at its heart, it is about one thing: welcoming our Bears home.