First Street Move-In Guide
Your complete guide to a smooth move-in day at First Street Residence Hall, including what to do before you arrive, what to bring, and what to expect on campus.
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Welcome Home Move-In Fall 2026
Move-in for the fall semester is on Thursday, August 20, 2026
We hope you are excited to begin exploring your new home at the University of Michigan-Flint! We look forward to welcoming you to campus and want to remind you that move-in for the fall semester is on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
Please plan your arrival using the schedule outlined below to manage the impact of traffic on campus, elevators, and move-in resources (rolling carts, staff volunteers, etc.) and to keep public health concerns at the forefront.
On this page:
Schedule Your Move-In Appointment
Welcome to campus! Move-in day is Thursday, August 20, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Appointments are required. Scheduling opens August 3, 2026, at 9 a.m. When booking, select only the times designated for First Street. If you do not schedule an appointment, you will be assigned a move-in time. If you do not plan to move in on move-in day, choose that option on the events page.
Early Arrival
Early arrival requests are available for students with special circumstances but are not guaranteed, and a daily fee applies. The early arrival form will be available in your housing portal on July 6.
Accommodations
If you need special accommodations on move-in day due to a mobility or medical limitation, call 810-237-6571 to make arrangements.
What to Expect on Move-In Day
When you arrive at the unloading zone, our volunteer “Cart Crew” will help unload your items into rolling carts and escort you to your residence hall room. One person must stay with the vehicle at all times. No vehicles may be left unattended in the unloading zone.
Be sure to review the rest of this page for details on preparing for move-in day, what to expect when you arrive, and welcome activities.
Before You Arrive on Campus
Steps to take before move-in
Verify you are “cleared” for move-in day: It’s very important that you take the time to review your student account/financial aid. A student is cleared for housing if they can check all the boxes below:
- I am registered for classes.
- My student account balance (housing, tuition, fees, etc.) is in good standing, which means:
- I have provided all required documentation to Financial Aid and accepted funds to cover the cost of tuition, fees, housing, and dining (if applicable).
- I have no previous outstanding student account balance
- I have no current account balance OR I have enrolled in a payment plan AND made my first full payment towards my payment plan by the first tuition deadline.
Please contact the Office of Cashiers and Student Accounts for directions on how to sign up for a payment plan. For residential students, the first payment must be made by first tuition deadline:
- Fall- August 15
- Winter- December 15
- Summer- April 15
Residential students are encouraged to enroll in the four-month payment plan. If you sign up for the three-month payment plan, your first initial payment is still due before moving in.
You will not be permitted to move into the residence halls unless all steps are completed.
Get your Mcard
This is the university ID given to all students and will serve as your access “key” to the residence hall. If you do not already have an Mcard, please visit the Mcard Portal before move-in day. DPS will be on site to print Mcards on move-in day. Make sure you upload your photo for your Mcard online so they can be printed.
You will not be able to access the residence hall without your Mcard.
What to Bring to Campus
Deciding what to bring to college can be overwhelming. Housing and Residential Life has provided with a list of things you should remember to bring. Even if you forget something, don’t panic! There are several retail and grocery stores you can visit once you arrive.
Review the Community Living Standards and the UM-Flint Code of Conduct
In our Residence Hall, you will have the opportunity to be part of a diverse, student-centered community. We seek to provide a safe space for our residents to enjoy a culture of inclusiveness and positive relationships. With this in mind, there are Housing and Residential Life policies that serve as guidelines to our residents.
Make sure to contact your suitemate(s) and roommate(s) before arriving.
Questions to ask:
- Who will bring what items?
- What can we share?
- What is your class schedule like?
- What are your study habits?
- What do you like to do for fun?
Plan which opening weekend events you will attend together!
Arriving on Campus
Our goal is for move-in day to run smoothly, so please arrive at your scheduled appointment time. The Department of Public Safety will reroute traffic that day to ensure efficient and available traffic and parking.
If you use Interstate 75, 69 or 475 to travel
- Take I-475
- Exit at 8A on Robert T. Longway to arrive on campus
- Vehicles can take Chavez to Kearsley to access Lot A.
Before you arrive at First Street, all vehicles will be directed to park in Lot A. If students and their guests arrive in multiple vehicles, ALL vehicles must start at Lot A.
On move-in day, residents and their guests will be directed by the Department of Public Safety to unload on the Kearsley St. side of the building. There will be no unloading vehicles on the First Street side of the building.
Below is the workflow for proper check-in once you arrive at the building:
- Park in Lot A until DPS directs you to Kearsley Street to unload.
- Once you arrive at the unloading zone and park, the student should proceed to the check-in table to receive their room key.
- While the student is being checked in, guests and move-in volunteers will help unload items from the vehicle into a moving cart. A volunteer will escort students to their rooms.
- After the vehicle has been unloaded, it should be immediately moved to the designated parking area in the Mill Street Ramp. Someone must remain with the vehicle at all times until it is completely unloaded.
- The move-in cart should be immediately unloaded in the suite so our volunteers can help the next student/family. Carts may not be left in suites.
Your Resident Advisors are Excited to Meet You
The Resident Advisor position is essential to the success of Housing and Residential Life. The RA staff is committed to an educational approach to provide residents with the most meaningful experience. The RA staff is devoted to getting to know residents, individually and collectively, by investing time and energy in activities and events that help develop positive, meaningful relationships.
First Floor Meeting
There will be a floor meeting with your Resident Advisor on:
Thursday, August 20 at 4 p.m.
These meetings are mandatory for all residents. Look for signage of the exact location on move-in day.
Dining On Campus
Meal plans are active starting August 20. As a First Street Resident, there is no additional step to get your meal plan. It will be added directly to your account.
Desk Services
Our front desk is staffed 24/7, 365 days a year. If you ever have any questions, feel free to utilize this resource! Our student staff are always happy to help or point you in the right direction.
Lost Room Keys
Each room is accessed by a room key that is programmed by the front desk. If you lock yourself out of your room, a new key may be made at the front desk.
Equipment Checkout
Our residence halls have many amenities for their students. All of the resources for these amenities can be checked out at the front desk.
Mail Services
Mail can be picked up at the front desk at any time. When a package is received at the desk, an email will be sent out. Make sure to check your mail regularly, as students are not notified when paper mail is received.
Mailing Address
(Name)
301 East First Street
(Room no.__)
Flint, MI 48502
Stay Safe and Secure
Safety is very important to us at the University of Michigan-Flint. First Street is accessible only with M-Cards. We have security cameras outside and inside the building. Resident Advisors conduct community walks each night to meet with residents and address concerns. Along with the RAs, there is a live-in professional staff member who responds to incidents 24/7.
Another essential safety resource is the Department of Public Safety. The Department provides law enforcement services to the campus. Public Safety Officers are well-trained in services unique to an academic institution. They are committed to making the campus safe and getting involved in many ways.
Department of Public Safety phone number: 810-762-3333
Resources
Get ready for a successful start to the semester! Use the links below to explore important resources and next steps, including move-in appointment sign-up, community living standards, and what to bring. You’ll also find helpful information about dining, financial aid, MCards, early move-in requests and opening weekend programs. Be sure to review the UM-Flint Student Code of Conduct and reach out to HRL with any questions.