Three students carrying boxes of belongings, excited to be moving in

Early Arrival Students

Early Arrival Housing and Meals

All students planning on arriving early, except for those earning academic credit (Global Learning, Course Embedded Travel, student athletes, etc), must apply and be approved for early arrival housing and meals if they intend to live on campus. Students arriving before Aug. 24, the official opening of Grinnell’s residence halls, apply for on campus housing and meals via the Housing Portal. This includes all students returning to work on campus, including those employed with the Grinnell Science Project (GSP), International Pre-orientation Program (IPOP), Peer Connections Pre-Orientation Program (PCPOP) and New Student Orientation (NSO).

Applying for early arrival does not guarantee approval. Approval criteria for early arrival are based upon whether a student’s work or presence is essential for orientation or opening. Students should confirm they have received approval via an email from Residence Life prior to returning to campus. Students will not receive a room key or be allowed to move in without pre-approval. Early Arrival housing opens Monday, Aug. 11 for the 2025–26 academic year. Students approved for early arrival housing will receive a confirmation email with further instructions on key pickup. Meal swipes will be added to student P-cards Monday Aug. 11 and must be used by the early arrival closing date, Saturday, Aug. 23.

Early arrival charges (see details below) will be added to your student account after approval.

Students approved for early arrival may cancel up to one week before their arrival date by emailing Residence Life. A $50 cancellation fee will apply.

2025–26 Important Dates

Early Arrival Application Opens: March 13, 2025

Priority Placement Application Deadline: Aug. 1, 2025

Final Application Deadline: Aug. 14, 2025 (Applications received and approved after Aug. 14 will be subject to a $175 daily rate for housing and meals. See rate information below for further details. Meal plans may be purchased at any time without penalty.)

Early Arrival Residence Hall/Meal Plan Opening Date: Aug. 11

Early Arrival Residence Hall/Meal Plan Closing Date: Aug. 23

Returning Student residence halls and meal plans for the 2025–26 academic year begin Aug. 24 at 8 a.m.

Housing and Meal Plan Options

To apply for Early Arrival Housing, log into the Housing Portal and navigate to “Housing Request Forms.”

Using the drop-down menu, select “Early Arrival Application.”
Indicate your arrival and departure date and the most advantageous pricing plan (weekly or daily) will be charged to your student account based upon the dates indicated in your application.

Housing and Meals Combination Plan

Students requiring on campus housing for the early arrival period must purchase a housing and meal combination plan. Housing only-plans are not available.

Daily Housing and Meals Rate: $35 per day, includes housing and two meals per day.

Weekly (7 day) Housing and Meals Rate: $200 per week, includes housing and 10 meals to be used anytime during the week.

(On campus students wishing to purchase 10 additional meals to supplement their meal plan may do so in the Housing Portal.)

Meals Only (10 Meals – must be used between Aug. 11–23, 2025)

A 10-meal plan (no housing) is available only to early arrival students living off campus and to community advisors. Students planning to live on campus must purchase the combination plan and are not eligible for the meal only plan. Meals on the 10-meal plan may be used anytime between Aug. 11–23, 2025.

Rate: $140 per 10 Meals

Multiple 10-meal plans can be purchased but must be used between Aug. 11–23, 2025. Meal plan purchases are optional and not required for off-campus/CA students.

To apply for a 10-meal plan, log into the Housing Portal and navigate to “Housing Request Forms.” Using the drop-down menu, select “Early Arrival Application.”

Summer Housing

Students who are living in campus-owned housing for the summer will be transitioned to their fall room assignment during the weekend of Aug. 2-5. Students that are not living in on-campus housing will move in on their move-in dates designated on the 5-year calendar.

Move-In Crew

Students who are approved to return early (prior to new student move-in on Aug. 23) and who are not sponsored to return early will be part of Housing and Residence Life’s move-in crew. The move-in crew is a group of about 60 returning students who have agreed to assist first-year students with moving in on Aug. 22. Move-in crew students will be stationed at various residence halls on campus awaiting students’ arrival. The move-in crew students arrive two days before first-year students move in and need to be prepared to meet the following criteria:

Arrive on Aug. 21
Attend a mandatory move-in crew meeting
Work at least four hours
Sign in and out before and after shift

Members of the move-in crew will receive a t-shirt that they are expected to wear during their shift. If you are interested in this great opportunity to meet our incoming first-year students and their families, please apply to be part of the move-in crew.

Dropping Items Off

Grinnell will consider requests to move possessions into a room without the student staying in the room if there are extenuating circumstances. Students must make requests for “drop-and-gos” by calling or emailing the Residence Life office two weeks prior to arrival. Students will be assessed a $100 drop-and-go fee and will be given access to their rooms during regular work hours only (8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday). The drop-and-go period begins the Monday that precedes the official College first-year student move-in date.

Accountability

Students who are approved to be on campus are expected to uphold Grinnell College policies and regulations. Any student found to be residing on campus who has not received approval will be asked to leave campus and could face disciplinary actions. Any student found to have provided access to a student who is not approved for early arrival may also face disciplinary action.