1. Housing and Residential Services
  2. Moving In and Out
  3. Move In

Moving In


Residence hall move-in day is an experience you'll always remember! We're very excited to welcome you to the NIU campus.

Here's everything you need to know about where to go and what to bring on your NIU move-in day.

You can move in on Friday, Aug. 14 or any day afterwards.

For the fall 2020 semester, Northern View Community residents can check in starting Friday, Aug. 14 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. As a courtesy to other families, please avoid moving in large furniture after 10 p.m.

What if I can't move in on Friday, Aug. 14?

You can still arrive after Friday, Aug. 14. Please arrive between these times so we can best assist you in getting checked in:

  • Saturdays and Sundays: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

What's my room number? What to Bring Other Items Driving Directions

  • 1

    Be admitted into the CHANCE program and sign up for housing and a meal plan Sign up for housing and a meal plan

    If you're reading this, you've probably already done this. Great! You can log into MyHousing at https://housingsignup.niu.edu to see the room and meal plan you signed up for this fall.

    If not, you still have time to sign your housing contract and choose a room online. You can do this right up to move-in day.

    Sign Up for Housing

  • 2

    Pack your things

    Look at your room's measurements to see how much space you have under your bed, in your closet and in your drawers, and then check out our "what to bring" list of move-in day must-haves.

    What to Bring

  • 3

    Park, unload and move your vehicle car

    After you park by your building, go to the community center to get your key. Once you've moved your things into your apartment, move your vehicle to the back of the parking lot.

    CHANCE staff will greet you at your residence hall while you park and move your items into your room. We'll provide you a schedule of events for the Leadership Conference held on Thursday.

    You'll be directed to park, go inside for your room key and unload onto the curb. Team NIU volunteers will assist as available. If you have a family member coming with, you can have them stay by your things while they're on the curb. Team NIU volunteers can also help with this while available.

    Once you have your room key and your car is in the temporary move-in day parking, you can begin moving your things into your room.

    How to get into your room in Gilbert

    At your door, hold your OneCard flat against the number pad. After it beeps, enter the OneCard PIN that we give you at check-in. When you hear it unlock, push the door open. The key we'll give you at check-in you will open your closet and also your mailbox on the main floor.

    How to get into your room in Grant

    In the elevator, hold your OneCard flat against the card reader and then press your floor number. At your door, hold your OneCard flat against the number pad. After it beeps, enter the OneCard PIN that we give you at check-in. When you hear it unlock, push the door open. The key we'll give you at check-in you will open your closet and also your mailbox by the front desk.

    How to get into your room in Neptune

    The key we'll give you at check in will get you into your floor, room, and also open your mailbox in the lobby on the main floor.

    How to get into your room in New Hall

    At your cluster's door, hold your OneCard flat against the number pad. After it beeps, enter your OneCard PIN that we give you at check-in. After you hear it unlock, pull the door open. Then you can use the key we'll give you at check in to get into your minisuite.

    How to get into your room in Stevenson

    In the elevator, use the key we'll give you at check-in to get onto your floor. Your key will let you into your room and also open your mailbox on the main floor.

    How to get into your room in Northern View

    The key we'll give you at check-in will get you into your building, your apartment and your own bedroom in your apartment. You will get a separate key that opens your mailbox outside of the Northern View Community Center.

  • 4

    Have your building meeting Wednesday and Thursday CHANCE Program Events Have your floor meeting

    We will have building meetings on the Sunday before classes start. Stay tuned for information about that meeting when you arrive.

    On move-in day, you'll have your first of several floor meetings to get to know your new community and meet your hall's complex coordinator. After the meeting, you're invited to the Huskie Fall Kick Off at Huskie Stadium, where you'll get to learn about what it means to be an NIU Huskie fan, explore different NIU traditions, and head to the field for a giant "NIU" class photo!

  • 5

    Complete your apartmentroom condition form

    Within the first couple weeks after moving in, complete your apartmentroom condition form so that we have a record of the condition of your apartmentroom at the beginning of the year.

    ApartmentRoom Condition Form

  • 6

    Get to know NIU and DeKalb

    Nearby grocery and shopping centers
    These places are just a few minutes away from the NIU campus:

Contact Us

Housing and Residential Services
Neptune East 101
housing@niu.edu
815-753-1525
Additional Contact Info
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