First-Year Student Move-In:
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Transfer Move-In:
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early check-in:
- An early check-in is for any student who is flying in and arriving on Friday, August 29.
- Please fill out the Early Arrival Application in your housing portal to apply.
- For more information about Early Arrival, please see our Early Arrival Page below:
Drop-off day – THURSDAY, SEP 3 – 2:00 – 4:30 pm:
“Drop-off Day” allows students to drop their items off in their room the day prior to Move-in Day. Student may not set the room up or stay over night. Please fill out the Drop-Off Day application in SIS.
*The arrival and departure dates for semester are standard for all students in the housing portal. All students should follow the dates on the website for their arrival and departure. Arrivals and departures outside of those dates on the website are approved through formal requests. The requests are made through applications within each student’s housing portal. If you have questions about your arrival and/or departure contact Residence Life (housing@stolaf.edu).
Sign-up for your Move-In Time!
Let’s get you scheduled for your move-in time!
All first-year students who will be arriving to campus on Move-In Day are required to sign-up for and adhere to their time. Upon arrival to campus, you will be able to unload your vehicle at your residence hall with assistance from our volunteers. Additional instructions will be provided to students and drivers when you arrive. We request that you bring no more than two vehicles to campus for your move-in.
Move-in time sign-ups will open after August 1
Sign-up Steps are below:
- Login to your Housing Portal
- Click “Residence Life” (on the left hand side)
- Scroll down to your Fall 2026 assignment
- Click on a move-in time located underneath your Fall 2026 assignment.
- You will be able to change your time slot until August 15 by following the steps outlined above.
*Please note: students who are currently abroad or outside of the United States may need a VPN to access your housing portal
Packing for St. Olaf
Not sure what to pack? We’ve got you covered!
Residence hall rooms are equipped with twin beds, mattresses, dressers, study desks and chairs, & a mini-refrigerator/freezer/microwave unit. Keep in mind that all college-owned furniture present in your room upon check-in must remain in the room throughout the entire year. There are also printers available in public computer labs, so you do not need to bring your own printer.
Traveling internationally?
For international students, please make sure you are keeping an eye on our international student portal. Also learn more about our International Student Support staff here. Reach out with any questions.
- Bed linens (mattresses are twin extra-long, 36”x80”)
- Pillow, Blankets/Bedspread/ Comforter
- Bathroom bucket or “shower caddy” (to transport things to and from the bathroom)
- Shower shoes/flip-flops
- Towels
- Bathrobe
- Backpack
- Laptop or Chromebook (for access to assignments, Gmail, and Moodle — there is no required software to download ahead of time)
- Clothing appropriate for the changing seasons
- Plate, bowl, cup, silverware, etc. (for preparing snacks in your room.)
- Power strip (with surge protection)
- Waste basket
- Desk or room lamp (no halogen lamps, only incandescent or fluorescent lamps are permitted; CFL light bulbs are recommended to conserve energy.)
- Alarm clock
- Laundry bag/basket and iron if necessary (ironing boards are available in laundry rooms)
- Laundry detergent (using a high-efficiency and/or cold water detergent saves money and energy)
- Reusable water bottle (consider buying stainless steel or glass for a sustainable plastic alternative.)
- Fan (it often gets hot in August)
- Personal health insurance information and documentation of high-value property (we suggest recording serial numbers of electronics or computers you may bring.)
- Photos/items from home, family, and friends
RESIDENCE HALL INFORMATION
Each St. Olaf residence hall has a distinct character!
- All have been designed to encourage close-knit communities.
- Each hall is co-ed and is equipped with a variety of spaces and facilities to make living on campus an important part of the St. Olaf experience.
When you check-in to your residence hall, you will receive a key for your room with your student ID granting you access into your assigned hall. Additional information on your St. Olaf ID Card can be found here.
- Residence Halls are locked 24-hours a day.
- For your personal safety, lock your room door when you are not present and at night
- If your key is lost, report it to your Area Coordinator immediately.
Every building includes:
- Computer Facilities
- Kitchens
- Laundry Facilities
- Main Floor Lounge
- Piano
- Recreation
- Vending Machines
Every Room Includes:
- Freezer
- Microwave Unit
- Refrigerator
Students may not bring their own refrigerator and/or microwave.
For health and safety reasons, all student owned cooking appliances are prohibited in residence hall rooms (e.g., toasters, toaster ovens, hot plates, tea kettles, etc.). If you bring these items you will need to use them in the residence hall kitchen.
The entire St. Olaf campus is served by a robust wi-fi network. Wired connections are available in student rooms upon request. For technical information about connectivity or general information about the college networks, please view the Information Technology (IT) website or call the IT Helpdesk at 507-786-3830.
View the first-year student residence halls:
Room Sizes:
Each hall has slight variations in the sizes and shapes of its rooms, but in general, most residence hall rooms are approximately 200 square feet. Regardless of size, rooms take on the character of the people living there, so bring your best creative ideas to the decoration of your room. It is, after all, home. We do not have the measurements of dresser/desk drawers or closets. You will need to find that out when you arrive.
Beds and Lofts:
All of our beds are twin, extra-long size. The mattress is 36″ x 78″. Beds may be lofted, bunked, or stay on the floor. A bed rail is available if the bed is lofted or bunked. Lofting and bunking kits are available (at no charge) during check-in. You do not need to reserve a kit in advance. Please note, here are not enough loft kits for every student. St. Olaf does not loft beds; lofting is the responsibility of the resident.
The only animals allowed to live on campus are fish and ADA/Emotional Support Animals. To find out more information about if you would qualify to have an animal (other than fish) on campus contact the Disability and Access Office.
Northfield offers a respectable range of stores that supply ordinary household goods. In addition to the locally owned Just Food Co-op you will find standard chain grocery stores, pharmacies, and general merchants (e.g., Target and Menards). If you’ve forgotten something, you can most likely purchase the item(s) here in town.
The quality and nature of residential living at St. Olaf is recognized as an intrinsic part of the college experience. Community living that is conducive to healthy social interaction, recreation, and educational/cultural opportunities will greatly enhance the unique college experience St. Olaf offers.
YOUR ROOM
Checking In:
The residence halls will open for first-year students on Saturday, August 30. When you reach the Hill, you will find staff and students ready to welcome and assist you. Check in at the lobby of your residence hall at your scheduled time.
Room Inventory Forms:
The first night, after checking into your room, you will be completing the online Room Inventory Form. Document any pre-existing defects by recording the current conditions of the room on your arrival as you will not be held responsible for these damages at the end of the year.
Early Inspection of Rooms:
Each year the Residence Life Office receives requests from students who would like to visit their rooms prior to the beginning of the fall semester. We are preparing the halls for students arrivals and cannot open rooms early for students to view.
Room Changes:
If you and your roommate have adjustment problems, we encourage you to work with hall staff to resolve the matter. If the situation remains unresolved after a reasonable period of time (ordinarily, several weeks), your Area Coordinator will help you request a room change. Please note that room changes will not be made before the first day of classes.
YOUR ROOMMATE(S)
During the 2026-27 academic year, all first-year students will live in Ellingson, Kildahl, Thorson, and Mohn Halls.
Your roommate and the other students in your corridor and in your residence hall will play a significant role in your daily life, and will often remain your best friends for life.
To protect privacy, we do not release student phone numbers, but your roommate’s email address is provided. Make sure to connect with your roommate(s) prior to arrival to plan out who is bringing which items.
As you get to know your roommate(s), make the effort to talk about concerns such as personal needs for sleep and study, decorating preferences, and sharing personal property. St. Olaf students come from a wide range of backgrounds. The strongest roommate relationships form when people can talk about their differences.
area coordinators (ac):
ACs are professional staff members who oversee the different buildings on campus. They are responsible for ensuring safety of each hall and ensuring all things generally run smoothly. The ACs are here to help and support you however you need.
Resident Assistants (RA):
Students who have decided to broaden their collegiate experience by serving as a paraprofessional within Residence Life. Resident Assistants receive training and guidance on supporting students through their residential experience.
Student Hall Coordinators (SHC):
Are student leaders with residence life experience who serve as resources in the halls. SHCs assist in the coordination of programming, staff development, and advise hall councils. SHC’s that are placed in first year residence halls focus on the first-year transition and creating pathways that shape how students want to impact their community and personal growth.
community building assistants (cba):
CBAs are student staff who provide support through being present at the front desk of the residence halls. They also are able to provide information on campus resources. CBAs all serve various auxiliary functions which strengthen the residence hall offerings such as storage room hours.
community building managers (cbm):
CBMs are student staff that supervise the CBAs for 2-3 different residence halls. CBMs manage the operational functions of the halls such as event postings, key audits and storage management. They serve as another touch point for residents.