Students Returning to UConn Campuses This Week

Drivers and pedestrians are urged to exercise caution and allow extra time, as thousands of students begin arriving at Storrs and other UConn campuses for the start of the academic year.

Derek Tata '16 (ENG), a resident assistant, directs cars at the North Campus Residence Halls on Aug. 23, 2013. (Ariel Dowski '14 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)

Derek Tata '16 (ENG), a resident assistant, directs cars at the North Campus Residence Halls on Aug. 23, 2013. (Ariel Dowski '14 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)

Derek Tata '16 (ENG), a resident assistant, directs cars at the North Campus Residence Halls on Aug. 23, 2013. (Ariel Dowski '14 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
A resident assistant directs cars at the North Campus Residence Halls on a previous Move-in Day. (UConn File Photo)

Thousands of students will soon start moving into residence halls at Storrs and exploring UConn’s campuses elsewhere in the state, as the University prepares for the start of its new academic year.

About 12,700 students will live in Storrs residence halls this year, with freshmen moving in starting Friday, and others arriving over the weekend.

All told, about 23,000 undergraduate students will start classes Monday at Storrs and the regional campuses. Many thousands of additional students also are enrolled at other locations in UConn’s schools of law, social work, medicine, and dental medicine.

At Storrs, the campus population is expected to jump significantly starting Friday, prompting a reminder for drivers and pedestrians to exercise caution and extend consideration for each other. Drivers must always yield to pedestrians, and pedestrians should always use crosswalks where available.

Drivers are being encouraged to use alternate routes on and around the Storrs campus during daylight hours on Friday and over the weekend to avoid delays from the heavier-than-usual traffic as students move into their residence halls.

Also, all traffic will be one-way on Alumni Drive between Hillside Road and Hilltop Apartments for the duration of Move-In Weekend, due to its proximity to the STEM residence hall construction site. University officials suggest avoiding the area if possible.

UConn buses resume their regular schedule early Monday morning. Some routes have changed, so check the Transportation Services web page for updated lines and stops.

Off-campus construction that is not under UConn’s control could also affect the drive to Storrs and other campuses. Drivers can check the state Department of Transportation’s interactive travel map to learn about active construction projects and jams near the University’s campuses and statewide.

Near Storrs, a project to rebuild the Exit 68 off-ramp from Interstate 84 to Route 195 – a primary route to campus – has caused delays because of lane closures, but the DOT says it won’t be closing lanes there during the next few weeks.

Also, Connecticut Water Co., which is extending a water line along Route 195 to UConn, has directed its contractor to avoid working on the road Friday due to the higher-than-anticipated traffic volumes; and again on Monday, the first day of classes.

Although students will not be moving into residence halls at UConn’s regional campuses, drivers are urged to watch for them on nearby roads and to remember that many people will be new to the campuses and unfamiliar with the traffic patterns nearby.

The Department of Residential Life at the Storrs campus has posted helpful information on its website, including the move-in schedule for each of the residence halls.

The University’s Parking Services office provides information on its site (www.park.uconn.edu/) about parking options and passes, rules and regulations, and the policy for the proper use of motor bikes, mopeds, and scooters on campus.