Parents/Guests

Before you arrive

• Make hotel reservations in Seattle. Learn more about lodging and accommodations.
• Be aware of your student’s check-in time:
  • If your student will live on campus (in a residence hall or in a campus apartment), your student will be able to check in and begin moving in between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday, September 24.  Move-in times are coordinated based on the first letter of students’ last names.
    
    • Students living on campus with last names A–L are invited to check in and move in from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
    • Students living on campus with last names M–Z are invited to check in and move in from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
    • If you arrive late, your student can still check in! Head to the Orientation Central tent in Martin Square between 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Thursday to complete a late check-in.

  Plan on arriving at this time to go through the check-in process in Upper Gwinn, then your student will be able to access their living area after check-in. Students won’t be able to enter their residential space until their designated move-in block.

  • If your student will not live on campus, you’re invited to check in at Orientation Check-In (Upper Gwinn) from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

  Arriving on campus

  Parking

  • When you arrive to check in on Thursday, please park in the top three tiers of the Dravus Visitor Lot, located at the intersection of W. Dravus St. and 4th Ave. W., or in the Ross Lot, accessible on 3rd Ave. W.
  • After you check in, students living on campus should head to their residence halls to move in. You may park temporarily in one of three locations, where our Orientation team will help your student unload their belongings int
    • Ashton Hall: Those living in Ashton Hall should head to the Ashton Lot, located near 502 W Etruria St. After our team greets you and helps move your student's belongings in, you can park in the lot for 30 minutes before we’ll ask you to move your vehicle to make room for other new students and families, with parking available in the Ross Parking Lot located on 3rd Ave W. Ashton residents with registered vehicles will be able to return to the Ashton Lot on Thursday evening.
    • Emerson Hall: Those living in Emerson Hall should head to the front of Emerson Hall, at the intersection of W Emerson St. and W Bertona St. After our team greets you and helps your student move in their belongings, you’ll be asked to move your vehicle to the McKenna Parking Lot, located just behind Emerson Hall, accessible from 6th Ave W.
    • Moyer Hall: Those living in Moyer Hall should head to the lowest tier of the Dravus Visitor Lot, located at the intersection of W. Dravus Street and 4th Ave W. After our team greets you and helps move in your student's belongings, you’ll be asked to move your car to the second tier of that same lot.
    • Students not living on campus may opt to remain parked on the top three tiers of the Dravus Visitor Lot, located at the intersection of W. Dravus Street and 4th Ave W.

  Parents, guests, and commuter students returning throughout Orientation weekend may opt for street parking or park in any of the final parking locations which they accessed the day before:

  • Ashton Hall: Ross Lot
  • Emerson Hall: McKenna Parking Lot
  • Moyer Hall: Second Tier of Dravus Visitor Lot
  • Non-residential students and guests: Top three tiers of the Dravus Visitor Lot

  Please check out the campus map to see our various parking lots available to you during your time on campus.

  Checking In

  • Once you arrive, proceed first to Upper Gwinn Commons, our Orientation Check-In:
    • Students, parents, and guests should all plan to check-in at Upper Gwinn.
    • If your student is living on campus, your student must first check-in at Upper Gwinn before going to their residence hall. If they do not, they will be turned away and redirected to the check-in area.
  • After check-in, you and your student will have the opportunity to visit the Student Services Fair in Martin Square followed by a dinner and the Opening Welcome Ceremony beginning at 5 p.m. in Tiffany Loop.
    • If your student received a move-in time between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., you will be released for dinner at 5 p.m.
    • If your student received a move-in time between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., you will be released for dinner at 5:15 p.m.

  Note: On-campus restroom access will be available in our Student Union Building and Upper Gwinn Commons.

What Else do Parents and Guests do during New Student Orientation?

We have a robust Parent and Guest Orientation program for you on Thursday and Friday. Check out the Parent and Guest Schedule here for more details on our Parent and Guest experience during New Student Orientation.

Parents and guests returning throughout Orientation weekend may opt for street parking or park in any of the final parking locations that they accessed the day before:

• Parents of students living in Ashton Hall: Ross Lot
• Parents of students living in Emerson Hall: McKenna Parking Lot
• Parents of students living in Moyer Hall: Top Three tiers of the Dravus Visitor Lot
• Parents and guests of non-residential students: Top three tiers of the Dravus Visitor Lot