A detailed guide for your Fall 2025 move-in!
Not all incoming transfer students will live on campus. For those who do, refer to the guide below as you prepare for on-campus living. Transfer students living off campus: please refer to the Living Off Campus webpage where you'll find some helpful resources in your housing search.
Residential Education and Housing Services (REHS) is excited for you to move in! Residence hall move-in will take place on:
Your first stop on campus is the Welcome Center & Check-In, located on the Johnson Student Center Walkway (Quad). View the location on our campus map. Check-in closes at 2:30 p.m., so it is important that you arrive before this time. We recommend entering campus at the intersection of Campus and Bird Roads. Orientation Leaders, Campus Safety, and signage will be present to assist you in getting to our parking lots and structures around campus.
At the Check-In, you will meet the Orientation Team (O-Team) and REHS. Next, you’ll retrieve your ID Card from Card Services (this ID card also serves as your electronic room key for your residence hall).
After completing these initial steps, you will then proceed to your assigned residence hall. You will receive a map and instructions on how to get to your residence hall when you arrive. REHS staff and O-Team leaders will be stationed around campus to guide you and to answer any questions you may have.
Your RA and REHS staff members will greet you when you arrive at your residence hall. There will be a drop off location in front of your hall where you can unload, and then move your vehicle to a designated parking lot.
Considerations During Move-In
Our goal is for a smooth and safe move-in experience for all students and families. Please adhere to the following guidelines:
August in L.A.
Please note that August in Los Angeles is often hot. Bring a water bottle so you can stay hydrated as you move around.
REHS is unable to honor any early housing requests, so you will need to seek alternative housing accommodations if you arrive in the area prior to your designated move-in time. If you are involved in a College program or fall sport that requires early arrival, you will receive specific arrival information from the leaders of the program. The following is specific information regarding international students and fall athletes:
International Students
International student move-in day for new students participating in International Student Orientation (ISO) is scheduled for August 14 to allow time to settle in and participate in international student orientation. You will receive more instructions about the move-in process directly from the International Programs Office via email (ipo@oxy.edu).
International students who are not participating in ISO or L.A. Engage should move in on August 18.
Fall Athletes
Please be in direct contact with your coach or the Athletics Office for more information on your early arrival.
During the summer, we work hard to match you with your roommate(s) and your residence hall community. Your housing assignments will be finalized during the first week of August, and once ready, new students will receive an email from REHS. We greatly appreciate your patience as you await this email. After receiving this information, we encourage you to get in touch with your roommate(s) to get to know each other and discuss the what-to-bring list.
To make the move-in process as easy and efficient as possible, here are some helpful instructions and tips:
PLEASE NOTE: At no time may you leave your car unattended in an unloading zone due to fire code.
Getting excited to start packing for your first-year at Oxy? Check out what the College provides, what you should bring, what not to bring, and sustainable packing tips.
What does the College provide in each room?
What should I bring?
What could I bring?
What shouldn't I bring?
Do not bring any of the following items into the residence halls. Keeping these items out of the residence halls enhances the safety and comfort of both yourself and other residents.
Go GREEN! Sustainable Packing Tips
Postal Operations has limited ability to store your items prior to your arrival. Students who wish to ship belongings in trunks, suitcases or boxes to the College before they arrive for the fall semester should address them in care of themselves to:
Your First and Last Name
Occidental College, #____ (you can find your box number in myOxy; do NOT use “P.O. Box” or “Box #” as those designations are exclusive use of internal mailboxes at post office stations)
1600 Campus Rd
Los Angeles, CA 90041-3314
Be sure to address your packages properly. Do not use nicknames or pen names. Improperly addressed mail/packages may be refused and “Returned to Sender." Please notify your friends, family and vendors the proper way to address your mail and packages.
Students may pick up these packages after they have checked into their residence hall; smaller packages will be available at the Postal Center, while larger items will be available for pick-up at the Facilities Stockroom. For more information, please visit the Postal Operations Center.
The Campus Postal Operations Center (located in lower level Johnson Student Center below the Marketplace) and the Facilities Stockroom (next to Campus Safety) will host weekend hours of operation to aid in students receiving their shipped items. While most items are shipped to the Postal Operations Center, large packages can be retrieved from the Facilities Stockroom.
The College will not be liable, directly or indirectly, for theft or loss of personal property by fire, water, or any other cause, whether the items are placed in your room, in storage, or other areas of the residence hall.
The College will not be responsible for any loss or damage occurring to your belongings during the move-in process regardless of whether or not they were moved in by a College volunteer. You are expected to clearly label your luggage, boxes, bags and other belongings with your first and last name. You are responsible for moving valuable items into the residence hall yourself.
Do not allow College volunteers to handle items such as laptops, computers, cell phones, tablets, electronics, video game systems, musical instruments, jewelry, textbooks, cash, gift cards and/or items of particular sentimental or monetary value. You will not be compensated for items that are lost, misplaced, damaged, or broken (by any means) during the move-in process.
You are strongly advised to carry insurance protection against loss or damage of your personal property. Your existing homeowner’s policy may confirm that the definition of "dwelling" can be extended to include your room in your residence hall. It may be possible to add a rider to the existing policy where no coverage is provided for possessions housed at an off-site location. The best protection may be achieved through a standard tenant's policy—commonly known as “Renter’s Insurance.” For more information on the College’s partner GradGuard’s Renter’s Insurance plans, please visit their website.
You may leave personal property in your room during holidays and over the spring/winter break periods unless the College indicates in advance a need to have the room vacated. You should always take valuable items (e.g., jewelry, computers, TVs, etc.) with you when you leave, as the College cannot guarantee the security of personal belongings in your room. It is your responsibility to ensure that your doors and windows are locked whenever you are not in your room.
Decorating your room is an exciting part of moving into your new home! This list will help you better understand the do’s and don’ts of decorating.
What may I put on my walls?
Can I use common-area furniture in my room?
All furniture in the residences is assigned to a specific room and may not be moved from one room to another. You will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and billed for the labor cost of relocating any common-area furniture found in your room.
What furniture may I use in my room?
Only College-issued furniture is permitted in student rooms (including desk chairs). This ensures that it is properly assembled and meets safety standards. Personal mattresses, tables, and chairs, and other types of furniture are not allowed because they may create a safety hazard and/or increase the risk of fire.
May I customize College furniture or fixtures?
For safety reasons, furniture (including closet doors and bed boards) should not be disassembled or reassembled in a manner for which it was not originally designed. Any furniture that is disassembled or otherwise augmented will be reassembled by a College-employed professional at your cost.
May I decorate my window?
Window dressings are provided in all of our residences. Flags, banners, bed sheets, posters, and/or signs are not to be hung in or out of windows or around residence hall property.
May I bring a small refrigerator?
All rooms come equipped with a microfridge and microwave; therefore, we do not allow additional refrigerators in dorm rooms.
May I bring my own air conditioner?
Students are not permitted to bring a personal air conditioner with them, as the electrical capacity of the residence halls cannot support their use. Even though the residence halls have central A/C, we still recommend that students bring a fan with them, as August and September are hot here in LA. Please visit the Residence Hall Cooling website for more information on the college’s efforts to keep students cool during the warmer months.