Campus Housing

Winter Move-In 2026

Winter Move-in 2026 is scheduled to be on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at noon. Incoming students will go to their assigned residence hall, and a Resident Assistant (RA) will meet you there to give you your keys and check you into your room. If you need assistance or do not see a staff member, just call the on-call phone number posted on the main entry doors to your residence hall.

Spring Move-In 2026

Spring Quarter Move-In is scheduled to be on Sunday, March 29,2026 at noon. New incoming students should go to the main entrance of their assigned residence hall. Call the on-call phone number posted on the front door, and a staff member will come meet you to check you into your room. They will assign you a room key, mailbox key, and check you into our system so that your Connection Card (student ID) will let you into your hall. 

Fall Move-In 2026 - Residence Halls

First Year Student Fall 2026 Move-In days will be September 17 and 18, 2026. Specific information, including our move-in guide and routing map through campus to your hall, will be mailed to students in mid-August, as well as updated right here on our opening page. Students move-in appointment day and time will be available to them in the MyHousing portal in mid-August and an email will be sent to students' CWU email account when the times are available to view.

Any student arriving to campus early due to employment, Jump Start participation, athletics, or other reasons should contact the department representative for their experience that requires early move-in. Those department representatives can provide you with the most up-to-date information about your move-in day and time for participating in their experience. The move-in day and time that they provide you will supercede any move-in appointments from Housing Services.

Transfer & Returning Students - Residence Halls

Fall 2026 Move-In day for transfer and returning students will be Sunday, September 20, 2026. More specific information, including your move-in time, the routing map through campus to your hall, and our move-in process, will be mailed to students in August 2026 as well as updated right here on our opening page.

Fall 2026 Move-in Day appointment times will be posted in August 2026. To check your move-in day appointment time, please visit the MyHousing portal. If you need to reschedule your move-in time, you can do so in MyHousing, or you may email us with special circumstances.

Apartment Move-In Days

Fall 2026 Move-In for our on-campus apartments begins on the following days:

• Brooklane Village and Getz-Short - TBD 
• Student Village and Wahle - TBD
• Anderson and Carmody-Munro - TBD

Students moving into on-campus apartments will select a move-in day and appointment time in their MyHousing portal beginning in August. At the same time, students will be able to select an apartment meal plan, if they wish to have one. Please check your CWU email for reminders and instructions for appointment times!

What to Bring

Here is a list of recommended items to bring to campus. This is not a required list, just suggestions to consider depending on your lifestyle and needs. For a printable copy, check out the What to Bring list.

Don't forget to check out the SwakU College Room Outfitting Shop! Proceeds support the Residence Hall Association.

• Day-to-day clothing
• Slippers

• Computer and accessories
• School supplies: notebooks, folders, etc.
• Pens, pencils, highlighters

• Dishware, silverware, cups
• Water bottle
• Snack food

• Game console
• Plants
• Surge protector
• Desk lamp (no halogen)
• Area rug and other decorations

• Comb, brush, tweezers
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
• Deodorant, shampoo, conditioner
• Soap, lotion
• Shaving cream, razor
• Bath and hand towels, wash cloth
• Shower caddy
• Shower shoes and bathrobe

• Pillow and pillow case
• Sheets (twin XL) and blankets
• Mattress cover

• Facial coverings
• Hand sanitizer
• Thermometer
• First aid materials and medications
• Kleenex
• Money, credit/bank card
• Sunglasses
• Hangers
• Backpack
• Reading material
• Flashlight
• Laundry basket, detergent
• Extra set of keys for home or car

• Refrigerator/microwave
• Pets
• Weapons
• Hot plates
• Candles
• Alcohol/drug and or paraphernalia

Don’t Forget Your CWU Connection Card!

Housing and Residence Life and Dining Services welcome you to Central Washington University! While the items listed are appropriate, all are not necessary, and the priority of these items is left up to the individual. Keep in mind that your personal style and tastes are probably the most important considerations when you are packing for college.

Students are encouraged to consult their parents, friends, and the above list for advice, but you are the one who is going to have to live with what you bring or don’t bring. It would also be a good idea to talk with your roommate, and coordinate with them so that you don’t end up with two of everything. Plan ahead and choose wisely, but don’t panic. You can find almost anything you need on campus or in Ellensburg if you do happen to forget something. We also encourage you to create a list of serial numbers for your valuable items, and keep that list at home in the event something is lost or stolen. Remember, all halls have wireless internet, so you do not need to bring a router.