July 23, 2021
To all students living on campus this fall:
With move-in approaching next month, I am writing with information to help you with your planning. Please keep in mind that pandemic precautions are still in effect, and plans might change if necessary. If they do, you will receive revised instructions. You can always find the most current information Yale College’s FAQ page, which is updated often.
In-person enrollment
Yale College is returning to fully in-person enrollment; all students are expected to return for classes in campus classrooms. President Salovey and Provost Strobel announced this plan in March, and I want to emphasize it now in order clarify that all enrolled students must return for in-person learning in the fall. Private arrangements for remote instruction with individual instructors are not permitted.
August 1 deadline for filing COVID-19 vaccination or exemption documentation
Before you start planning your arrival, be sure to meet the August 1 deadline for filing your COVID-19 vaccination status, keeping in mind that you must be fully vaccinated or have an approved COVID-19 exemption before you arrive. To check your status, go to the vaccine portal. If you are not yet in compliance with this requirement, you will have received additional instructions. If you have remaining questions, please write to ycdo.healthandsafety@yale.edu.
Move-in dates and times
Although many pandemic restrictions have eased since last semester, some still apply, including during move-in. This year, in order to reduce crowding and make the best use of move-in resources, move-in dates and times are staged by class year, and they will use a flexible reservation system described in more detail below.
Move in dates and times, by class year, are
| Date/Time | Class Year |
|---|---|
| August 23 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
First-year students (students beginning their first semester) who are fully vaccinated and participating in pre-orientation. |
| August 27 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. |
First-year students (students beginning their first semester) who are fully vaccinated and not already on campus for a pre-orientation program. First-year orientation begins at 8:00 p.m. |
| August 30 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
Sophomores (students who have completed one or two semesters) who are fully vaccinated. Community meeting for sophomores begins at 5:00 p.m. |
| August 30 or 31 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
Juniors and seniors (students who have completed three or more semesters) who are fully vaccinated. |
If you are in a group scheduled to be on campus early, your supervisor or coach will communicate move-in dates and times with you directly. If you are scheduled to be on campus early in order to meet vaccination requirements, you will receive separate instructions.
Reserving move-in times
Before you come to campus, you will need to schedule a move-in date and time using the housing portal. (Even if you belong to a group scheduled for early arrival, please check the portal for your assigned date and time.) If you need to make changes to your reserved date and time, you can do that through the portal. After-hours and weekend arrivals require special approval, and you can request it through the portal. The portal is now available.
Move-in help
Although professional movers will not be available during move-in as they were last fall, family members and friends may help you move into campus housing if they are fully vaccinated, and so may your classmates. Proof of vaccination is not required, but all helpers are asked to abide by this request. Children under twelve may not enter the colleges or other campus residences, including courtyards.
Belongings
Starting August 16, you may ship items to yourself following the instructions on the Student Mail and Shipping page.
Early drop-offs of belongings are not permitted.
If you have items in off-site storage provided by Yale, they will be returned to your room through the month of August. (Special requests for early delivery are not possible.)
If you have items stored in your residential college, your college will provide you with information about when, how, and where you may pick them up. Please note that those items may not be available the day you arrive.
Arrival testing and quarantine
If you are fully vaccinated, you may have to test upon arrival, but you are unlikely to be asked to quarantine. Please keep in mind that these instructions, which are based on evolving health conditions, may change; changes will be posted on the FAQ page.
If you have an approved vaccination exemption, you will need to arrive a week early to quarantine; you will need to test upon arrival and again five days after arrival. Quarantine lasts for seven full days. Please follow the instructions you will receive when your exemption is approved.
I am so pleased to know that you will soon be coming to campus, and I look forward to greeting you when you arrive.
With best wishes from New Haven,
Melanie Boyd
Dean of Student Affairs
Senior Associate Dean in Yale College
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