Sun Devil Nation came back to campus in force as first-year students began moving into residence halls on all four Arizona State University campuses.
The fall 2021 semester is seeing the highest number ever of Sun Devil students in residence halls — approximately 16,000 students. The move-in for 2021 began Aug. 11 and continued through Aug. 15 for first-year students; upper-division students' move-in takes place Aug. 16–18.
Building on an efficient model created last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ASU greeted students and their families with drive-thru move-in processes. In the past, families visited an indoor location, such as Desert Financial Arena in Tempe or the Verde Dining Pavilion on the West campus, to pick up room keys and other paperwork. Now, wherever possible those moving in stay in their cars for that process, getting their keys and materials and then proceeding to their assigned residence hall without ever leaving the comfort and air-conditioning of their vehicles.
And once they're at those residence halls, an army of ASU staff and volunteers help make the process as smooth as possible, unloading cars and moving belongings to rooms, keeping spirits up with cheers and applause, and helping families through what can often be an emotional day. Both students and families have reacted favorably to how effective this move-in process works, especially when it comes to beating the heat.
Movers unload vehicles on the west side of Tooker House during the fall 2021 move-in at the Tempe campus on Aug. 11. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
Biomedical engineering first-year student Celia Martinsen-Burke unlocks her new residential hall room during the fall 2021 move-in at Tooker House. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
Janene Martinsen helps her daughter, Celia Martinsen-Burke, organize her residential hall room during move-in at Tooker House. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
Computer science first-year student Brenya Nelson (left) and biomedical engineering first-year student Celia Martinsen-Burke take a look at a cookbook as they get settled in their new residential hall room during move-in Aug. 11. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
Family members take photos and help first-year mechanical engineering students Craig Daley and Jack Kelly settle into their new residential hall room at Tooker House on Aug. 11. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
From left: Craig Daley, mechanical engineering first-year student Troy Daley, Tonya Kelly and mechanical engineering first-year student Jack Kelly organize their new room at Tooker House. Troy and Jack have known each since Little League and chose to room together. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
Volunteer and sustainability sophomore Samantha Esparza (center) and Zero Waste student worker and marketing sophomore Sara Sroka (left) separate landfill-bound styrofoam and plastics from recyclable cardboard during move-in at Hassayampa on the Tempe campus on Aug. 14. About 60 tons of waste is generated during move-in, made up of predominately cardboard, soft plastics, styrofoam and other materials. ASU Zero Waste partners with ASU Housing try to divert 90% of the waste. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
Not only was the experience accelerated by the drive-up execution, the university staggered move-in schedules over several days, with appointments to provide not only a more public-health-conscious environment, but also to reduce congestion and maximize efficiency.
In addition, students were reminded about other public health considerations being managed by the university. Free vaccinations and COVID-19 testing through convenient Devils' Drop-off sites continue to be provided by the university, free of charge.
In a more recent development, on Aug. 11 the university provided more detail to its July 30, 2021, announcement regarding face coverings. Consistent with CDC guidelines for colleges and universities, the university announced that masks will be required in settings such as classrooms and labs. In addition, ASU strongly recommends that everyone wears a face cover when inside any university building., The university will continue to monitor conditions and make any adjustments necessary for the health of the community.
RELATED: Find answers to frequently asked questions about campus life this fall
Housing assistant Ahzae Heard, a second-year student in kinesiology, hands keys to a new resident during the move-in process Aug. 12 at Taylor Place residential hall on the downtown Phoenix campus. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
First-year sports journalism student Aden Roddick navigates to his new room on Aug. 12 at Taylor Place on the Downtown Phoenix campus. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
Aden Roddick and his mother, Gretchen, start setting up his new room at Taylor Place. The Roddicks are from Paso Robles, California. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
First-year medical studies student Kareen Ibanez and her mother, Monica Ibanez, from Phoenix, unpack during move-in on Aug. 12 at Taylor Place. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
First-year journalism student Tallulah Board and her family cross First Street in downtown Phoenix during move-in on Aug. 12, as she brings her things to Taylor Place residential hall. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
Tallulah Board gets her new keys at Taylor Place during move-in. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
The 2021 fall semester also marks the return to normal operations for the first time in three semesters due to the pandemic. The upcoming semester will be begin in Learning Mode 1, which calls for instruction to be delivered to students by faculty in person.
Students moving in to residence halls on campus will also experience a return to more normal experiences in ASU dining halls. ASU will be offering indoor dining in all of its facilities for the fall 2021 semester, providing standard dining utensils and plates for dine-in experiences. The university, however, encourages students to take advantage of outdoor dining options as weather permits. Indoor seating also will be available at fast-casual dining venues such as Starbucks and Chick-fil-A at the Memorial Union. ASU Dining will continue to have Plexiglas at all cashiering stations, and all Sun Devil dining employees will wear face coverings.
Professor Duane Roen (right), former ASU Polytechnic campus vice provost and College of Integrative Sciences and Arts dean, helps Michelle Olson and her son Dylan Olson during fall 2021 move-in at Century Hall on the Polytechnic campus on Aug. 13. Roen is known for helping students and their families move in every year. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
Volunteer Teddy Mora (right) and software engineering sophomore Gabrielle Meacham (center) assist students checking in, along with other volunteers, during move-in at the Polytechnic campus. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
From left: Professional flight senior Kayla Kanemori, Community Director Elias Antelman, graphics information technology junior Cameron Tompkins and applied biological sciences Samirah Robinson were part of the Century Hall move-in team. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
Applied biological sciences junior Samirah Robinson looks for students to welcome to Century Hall during fall 2021 move-in on the Polytechnic campus. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
During move-in at the Polytechnic campus, Clarisa Baltazar shows off the book she got for her son, first-year electrical engineering student Bradley Baltazar, as he moves out on his own for the first time. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
Information technology first-year student Dylan Olson and his mother, Michelle, move his items into his new residence hall room at Century Hall on the Polytechnic campus. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
As students in residence halls and those in living in the surrounding community settle into their new living environments, ASU Welcome Week events are on the horizon.
There are events on all of ASU’s campuses that will allow new and returning students to get settled and meet new people. One such iconic event is Echo From the Buttes, when first-year students (and this year, sophomores as well) are invited to hike "A" Mountain and paint the A white to symbolize a fresh start to the new school year.
Another event aimed at getting students connected to campus life is Passport to ASU, where many of ASU's hundreds of student clubs and organizations offer information and giveaways for those who'd like to get involved. It's a way for students to find people with similar interests and career goals. This year's Passport to ASU, broken into three separate times, takes place Aug. 18 at the Student Pavilion on the Tempe campus. Find more information on the welcome website.
Other welcome events include the Takeover at the Memorial Union — when the Tempe building is turned into a hangout with live music, games and more — as well as a number of SophoMORE experiences aimed at those students who missed the traditional first-year events last year.
As students being to repopulate ASU residence halls, they, as well as faculty and staff, are reminded to continue to look for and be aware of social and operational protocol adjustments as the university continues to monitor and be responsive to public health guidelines to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Todd Sandrin, vice provost of ASU's West campus and dean of the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, talks with one of the new students as her family begins unloading their vehicle during move-in at the Casa de Oro residential hall on the West campus on Aug. 13. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
Psychology first-year student Juliette Gigoux gets some help from her father, Jeff Gigoux, as they unload her belongings at the West campus. The Gigoux family is from Denver. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
First-year criminology and criminal justice student Sterling Currie, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and his father, Brandon, start to unload the family vehicle during move-in at the West campus. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
Some of the housing assistants pose with pitchforks during move-in at the Casa de Oro residential hall on the West campus. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
Forensic psychology first-year student Nehaa Ram, from San Jose, California, walks down the hall looking for her room at Casa de Oro. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
The first item of business for Nehaa Ram is to hang a poster of the Hindu guru Shri Sai Baba in her room at Casa de Oro on the West campus. Her mother, Priya Ram, watches. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
Third-year social work student Sammy Sahagun helps unload her belongings from her friend's truck during move-in at the new multipurpose Fusion on First residential hall, on the Downtown Phoenix campus on Aug. 16. Sahagun says that she is "so excited" to be among the building's first residents. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
Third-year journalism student Alexis Watkins gets her keys and directions to her new room during move-in at Fusion on First on the Downtown Phoenix campus. Watkins is a transfer student from Virginia. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
Alexis Watkins (right) unpacks her belonging with her sister, Megan (left), and mother Dawn at the new Fusion on First residential hall. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
The first floor of the new multipurpose Fusion on First residential hall will offer student amenities as well a makerspace. The second and third floors will feature academic space, with fashion classes on the second floor and music programming on third. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
Top photo: First-year journalism student Tallulah Board and her parents unload their vehicle during move-in on Aug. 12, at Taylor Place on the Downtown Phoenix campus. The family is from Tucson. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU
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