When You Arrive

  • Checking In
    • Lincoln and Founders Residence Halls will be open for Move In Tuesday, August 22, 2023 for new students only. Check-in timeslots will be offered between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Please watch your email for a link to sign up for a timeslot.
    • East Campus Apartments and West Campus Townhouses will be open for Move In Tuesday, August 22, 2023 for new students only. 
    • ALL NEW students arriving on Tuesday, August 22 will receive their room key and other essential move-in resources at a one-stop-shop check-in experience, which will be located indoors at The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC).
  • Parking & Staging (Fall Semester ONLY)
    • All new students arriving on Tuesday, August 22 will be asked to report to the TRAC parking lot (Lot I) during their designated timeslot.
    • Students and their helpers will be asked to park their vehicle and enter the south side (main entrance) of TRAC to proceed to our check-in station (staff will be on hand to provide direction).
    • After checking in, students can return to their cars and move them to the staging area in the TRAC (Lot I) parking lot to await an available parking space.
  • Residence Hall Parking
    • For students living in one of our Residence Halls (Lincoln or Founders), parking in front of the halls is very limited and only 6 cars will be allowed to park and unload at a time. For students wanting to take advantage of our curbside unloading zones, they will need to get in a holding line, which will be located in the north section of the TRAC parking lot (Lot I). Staff will be on hand to direct traffic.
      • Students who do not wish to wait for an opening in the curbside unloading zones are welcome to proceed to a long-term residential parking lot and walk their belongings into the building over multiple trips.
    • Apartment and Townhouse parking
      • Students living in one of our Apartments or Townhouses can proceed directly to the long-term residential parking lot nearest their building and unload from there. There is no need for them to wait in an additional line after completing the check in process.
  • Inventories & Keys – At check-in, students will receive their keys and instructions on how to complete a Room Inventory.
    • The Room Inventory is a standardized form that denotes the current state of the room. All students are required to complete an inventory of their space within 24 hours after checking in. Students will receive instructions on how to complete the form at check in and should complete it within 24 hours after checking in. After the 24 hours period residents may be held responsible for any discrepancies during check-out.
    • In the Residence Halls, students will typically receive a room key and a mailbox key.  In the Apartments and Townhouses, residents receive a third key that opens the front door of their unit.
    • Residents are responsible for their keys at all times, and may be asked to produce these keys by Residence Life Staff at any time.

Loft Kits

What is a Loft Kit? Loft Kits are extra bed parts which allow you to raise your bed several feet for additional floor space underneath. Once a Loft Kit is placed in your room, it must stay there for the remainder of the year. A loft kit can be adjusted with the lowest point at 43 inches above the floor to the highest at 70 inches above the floor.

If you are interested in having a Loft Kit placed in your room (Lincoln or Founders Residence Halls ONLY), please fill out this form.  Once you fill out the form, our staff will deliver the Loft Kit to your room so that it will be there prior to Move In Day. YOU will be responsible for assembling the bed parts and putting the Loft Kit in place. To have your Loft Kit in place before Move In Day (8/22/23), you will need to complete this form by Friday, August 16, 2023. While you can still complete the form after that date (while supplies last), we cannot guarantee that you will have it prior to Move In Day.

Please Note: Loft Kits are available while supplies last, so this will be on a first-come, first-serve basis and we cannot guarantee the availability of a Loft Kit. We encourage you to sign up early. In addition, Loft Kits will be placed prior to Move In Day, August 22, 2023; however, if you have been approved as an Early Arrival, we cannot guarantee that the Loft Kit will be in place before you arrive on campus.


People You’ll Meet – Residence Life Staff

  • Desk Assistants – student staff members who serve as security monitors, customer service assistants, and reception staff at each Residence Hall and Homer Butler Commons Reception Desks.
  • Resident Assistants – full-time students who serve as community builders, first responders, role models, mediators, and so much more! These staff members reside in the same area/floor that you do, and work to foster a safe and secure living & learning environment.
  • Resident Directors – full-time professional, live-in Academic Professional staff members that provide day-to-day administration, management, and staff supervision of the RA staff and Desk Assistant

Reassignment Requests (Room Changes)

  • In order to adequately prepare for the semester, a freeze is in effect for all reassignment/room change requests until the third Monday after the first day of classes.  No room reassignment requests will be honored until this freeze ends.
  • Reassignment requests are based on occupancy and spaces that are available at the time of request, and are subject to approval.  Reassignment requests based on conflict typically will not be approved until the formal mediation process has been followed.
    • This process requires drafting of a Roommate Agreement, and reviewing of this agreement at subsequent mediation meetings if necessary.
    • All parties are expected to be engaged and active participants in this conflict mediation process.
  • Reassignment Request Form – this is a Google Form, so please be logged into your UIS Google Account

Meal Plan

  • First Year Students who live in the Residence Halls AND Second Year (Sophomore) returning students are required to purchase a full meal plan (Signature, Gold, or Silver Plan) regardless of housing assignment (including townhouses and/or apartments) as offered through Dining Services.
  • Non-Second Year Students who live in the townhouses and apartments may choose any plan including the smallest option designed with your needs in mind.
    • “Bronze Plan” is the most popular for our Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate Students and is designed for students who have a kitchen.

Submit a Work Order:

Use the “Room Work Orders” button if you're having issues with keys, electrical, plumbing, need a repair, or other maintenance performed that DOES NOT involve The Internet. The PDF contains instructions for submitting a request.

Use the “Technology Only” button if you're having issues with internet related problems. Just fill out the form and submit your order. These will be reviewed and submitted to UIS IT for work.