First-year students will move into residence Labour Day weekend, kicking off McMaster’s Welcome Week activities.

The move will take place September 1 to 3.

More than 1,850 students will move into Brandon, Edwards, Les Prince, McKay, Bates and Matthews halls September 1, while more than 1,200 students will descend on Hedden, Woodstock, Whidden, Mary E. Keyes, Moulton and Wallingford September 2.

Upper-year students will move in September 3.

“We are gearing up to welcome the class of 2016 as well as returning students who will move into University residences over the Labour Day weekend,” says Cathie Miller, director of Housing and Conference Services.  “Extensive planning has been dedicated to co-ordinate the student move-in and make it as efficient as possible for the students and their families.”

Parking and Security Services has assisted in the preparation of plans to move traffic from neighbourhood streets onto and through campus as quickly and efficiently as possible.

All residents moving into the north quad will be directed north on Forsyth Avenue and will enter campus at Stearn Drive, south of the Ivor Wynne Centre or the entrance off Mayfair, north of the Ivor Wynne Centre. Vehicles will then be directed to the marshalling and unloading areas for their residence.

After unloading, all cars will be directed to long-term parking opposite the Michael G. DeGroote building and Lot I. All routes will be well signed and staff will be assigned to key locations to facilitate efficient traffic flow.

Move-in cars will not be directed on campus through the Sterling Street entrance. Only employees, emergency vehicles, delivery trucks and HSR buses will use the Sterling Street gate. Employees will be directed to Lot B, closest to Wentworth House.

On the west side of campus, all cars will enter off Cootes Drive and be directed to holding areas for their specific residence and then proceed to unload in front of Bates and Matthews on Saturday, Sept. 1, and Mary E. Keyes, Moulton and Matthews on Sunday, Sept. 2.  All cars will then be directed to long-term parking in Lots M, N and I.

University employees who must attend campus using the Sterling Street entrance should try to avoid the large volume of traffic moving north to south through campus and move-in parking in Lots C, D, E, F, G and H.  These employees are encouraged to park in Lot B opposite Wentworth House, Lots I and K.

View these parking lots on Parking’s web site http://parking.mcmaster.ca/map2.htm

Employees are asked not to park in the following areas:

• Lot H.  All areas and along the roadway between Alumni Field and the 10-acre field. All parking spaces plus the roadways will be used for move-in traffic.
• Lots F, G and along Stearn Drive opposite the main entrance to the Commons Building/McKay Hall, Lot E south of TB28 & 29 as well as Lots C and D opposite the David Braley Athletic Centre/Ivor Wynne Centre, MUSC and the Michael G. DeGroote Building.

Parking places along Stearn Drive opposite the main entrance to the Commons Building/McKay Hall must be vacated by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 31 so the area may be roped off for the weekend.

“Residence move-in is always a big operation.  We are committed to minimizing the impact of this operation on the University’s closest neighbours and to making the experience a positive one for our students and their families,” says Miller. “Everyone’s patience and co-operation is greatly appreciated.