Welcome to EIU!!!

For all of you who are returning to campus, we are excited you're back and ready to reconnect with your friends and the community. For our new students who are about to begin one of the most exciting and memorable experiences of your life, welcome!

All of us at EIU realize that a great many of you have never lived away from home or shared a room with someone before, and you might be a little anxious about the whole situation, but I want to assure you there's nothing quite like the journey you're about to begin. Your residence hall provides a home away from home and with that comes fond memories that will last a lifetime.

Living in Eastern's on-campus community will provide you opportunities you won't find elsewhere. Throughout all our residence halls there are resident assistants and professional staff whose main priority is YOU. They are dedicated to emphasizing academic achievement while creating a community that fosters a safe and supportive interactive living environment, while also promoting diversity and leadership opportunities.

As you finalize your plans for coming to EIU, I invite you to better prepare yourself for the move to campus through the contents of this Move-In Guide. This guide will cover the following information:

• Things to do once you get to campus
• Travel and parking information 
• Required meetings and recommended events
• Reminders and updates

Please take some time to read through it and feel free to contact the Housing & Dining Services Office if you have any questions.

It's going to be an exciting year! I look forward to having you on-campus.

Sincerely,
Mark Hudson
Director, University Housing & Dining Services

1. Check into your New Residence
Freshmen and transfer students are required to come on August 17. Returning students may check in from Aug. 17 to Aug. 20. If you are part of a program that arrives early, please follow the provided instructions for your program. 

• Residence Halls: Report to the main lobby of your residence hall, 9am to 9pm. For more information, please review this link.
• Greek Court: Report to Greek Court Front Desk (NPHC Building), 9am to 5pm. For more information about Greek Court, please review this link.
• University Court: Report to the University Court Office, 9am-4pm on Aug. 17 and 18, and 12-3pm on Aug. 19. For more information about move in at University Court, please review this link.
• University Apartments: Report to the maintenance office (i.e., round building on the south side of complex), 7am-noon and 12:30-2:30pm Aug. 17 and 18, and 7am to 12pm on Aug. 19. For more information about University Apartments, please review this link.

2. Download the EIU Panther Life App
Stay up to date with campus events and activities through the Panther Life App. You can download the app through Google Play store or Apple App Store on your mobile device. Learn about campus organizations, events, and much more through this one stop shop for campus information. 

3. Connect your computer to the University Network
Your computer must meet the minimum required specifications available in the ITS Student Tech Guide. Your username and password are available at password.eiu.edu.

• Wireless: Double click on the WiFi icon on your desktop (top right corner for MAC). Choose "eiuwifi" as your local default access point. Not available in University Apartments.
• Ethernet (Recommended for streaming movies and gaming): Plug one end of a Category-6 Cable (CAT-6) into the orange (or red) data port in the 4” X 4” box on the wall of your residence and the other into the Ethernet port on your computer.

Ethernet cables can be purchased at the University Court Office and Greek Court or residence hall front desks. Residents of University Apartments are asked to purchase cables at the Lawson Hall front desk. Call 217-581-HELP (4357) for more information. ResNet Technicians will be on hand to provide assistance as needed.

4. Attend the First Floor Meeting
Your first floor meeting of the year will be held on Aug. 17. Items to be discussed include: leadership opportunities, upcoming campus events, and life in the residence halls. You’ll also get a chance to meet your neighbors and help create the standards of your new on-campus community.

5. Prepare for PROWL Events
Make sure you follow the PROWL schedule in the Panther Life App. There are lots of activities and events for you to do your first weekend on campus. All freshmen and transfer students must attend PROWL. If you're not registered for PROWL, you may register at Lantz Arena from 8:30-9:15am on Aug. 18. For more information call 217-581-6435.

6. Pick up your Textbooks
Textbooks can be picked up at the Textbook Rental Service Building. During Move-In Weekend, there will be extended hours.

7. Purchase a Parking Permit
Parking passes for students (upperclassman and underclassmen) are available online at eiu.edu/paws . More information can be found on the Parking Services website. Have the pass mailed to your permanent address, or pick it up at the University Police Department located across the street from the MLK Jr. University Union. 

8. Sign up for Alert EIU
Students are encouraged to sign up for Alert EIU, a text messaging system that notifies subscribers via their cell phones of emergency situations that require immediate action such as possible threats on EIU’s main campus. For more information, including how to sign up for this service go on-line to eiu.edu/alerteiu.

9. Apply for an On-Campus Job
There are many great job opportunities just steps from your new home. We hire students in our dining centers and residence halls, just to name a few. More information about student employment can be found here.

10. Learn More about Getting Involved
Getting involved is one of the best ways to successfully transition to life on campus. Every hall has a Hall Council that you can join! Hall Council advocates for students in the hall, plans programs and events, and helps establish a community within the building. Talk to a staff member for more information.

In order to take advantage of the on-campus cable service, residents must provide a digital HD TV that supports a QAM tuner and a 10’ coaxial cable. Most devices will include the appropriate tuner, but a quick review of the TV’s specifications in the device’s user’s manual or on the manufacturer’s website is suggested.

Visit this link for more information.

At 7pm on August 17 in the Grand Ballroom, join the Residence Hall Association as they welcome back one of our favorite Move-In Weekend events.

Frederick Winters is a renowned comedic hypnotist and the perfect event to attend with your floor. He's done more than 2,000 campus performances, so prepare to laugh your way to a great time at this campus tradition.

Electronic bill sent in early August
Students will receive an electronic copy of their bill in their Panthermail email accounts. This message notifies students that their most recent University billing statement is available online via their PAWS account at eiu.edu/paws.

• Once the notification has been sent, it is the responsibility of the student to provide any third party (i.e., parent, guardian, etc.) copies of the billing statement. Please note the due date on the statement, as this is the payment due date to avoid a finance charge.
• Go on-line to eiu.edu/busofc/bursar/index.php for more information on how to make payments.

Moving in Late?
If you’re planning on moving into a residence hall, University Apartments, or Greek Court after Aug. 20, please contact University Housing & Dining Services at 217-581-5111. For those moving into University Court, please contact the University Court Office at 217-581-8000.

Panther Pals Provide Move-In Assistance
Volunteer “Panther Pals” will be on hand Aug. 17 to direct traffic, answer questions and help with the overall move in process.

Welcome to the Neighborhood Picnic
Join us at the Welcome to the Neighborhood Picnic in the South Quad on Aug. 17, 3:30-6pm. Both parents and students are invited to attend.

Traveling to Campus
Take a look at our driving directions to help minimize traffic congestion. Look for Move-In Day information and photos under the #eiumovein hashtag on Aug. 17 via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

This is the perfect excuse to post your photos from Move-In Weekend!

• Alumni: Share your old campus pictures, or, better yet, have your student recreate your old photos and post both of them along with #forevereiu.
• Legacy Students: After you help your parents recreate their memories, take a few photos with mom and dad and post them online with #eiulegacy.
• New or Returning Student: Share your move-in photos with #eiumovein.

We want your feedback!

Please direct your comments to:
Megan Corder, Marketing Team
University Housing & Dining Services
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920-3099
mjcorder@eiu.edu