Move-In Planning Guide There is a lot to consider when moving to a new place. We offer support and resources to help plan for your arrival to campus. Whether you have questions about what to pack, when to arrive, or where to park, we can help make your move-in process a success. Packing for the Big Day Getting excited to start packing for the year? Check out what you should bring to residence, what residence provides, what not to bring, and sustainable packing tips. If you're planning to shop for some residence essentials, like linens or shower caddies, check out this selection offered by Western Bookstore, and have your items shipped to your residence for when you move in. What Should I Bring? Alarm clock Backpack Clothes hangers Computer, network cable and power bar Headphones Health Card Laptop anti-theft device/lock Laundry bag/basket and detergent Linens, pillows, and mattress cover (shop linens from the Bookstore website and have them delivered to your residence building for move-in day.) Personal identification Shower shoes/flip-flops Toiletries and towels (you may wish to bring a container/"caddy" to transport your toiletries to and from the washrooms) University documents (consider keeping all of your University publications and correspondence in one file folder) Additional supplies for hybrid and suite-style residents: Dishes and cutlery (all suite-style units and Bayfield Hall) Toilet paper Cleaning supplies Hand soap Toilet brush and cleaner What Not To Bring Do not bring any of the following items into residence. Keeping these items out of residences enhances the safety, comfort, and convenience of both yourself and other residents. Substances (alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs) during Orientation Week , regardless of your age Beer bottles Large-volume alcohol containers (kegs, mini-kegs, or liquor bottles greater than 40 fluid ounces) Funnels, beer-pong tables, and any other high-risk drinking paraphernalia Candles and incense, as the burning of these items is strictly prohibited (contact your Residence Manager if you require candles for religious or ceremonial purposes) Diffusers Heaters and heat lamps LED stick-on lights Pets (any type of animal or fish) Appliances of all kinds, including but not limited to: dishwashers, microwaves, freezer, washers, dryers, hot plates, sandwich makers, and indoor grills. Furniture of any kind (including but not limited to desks, chairs, mattresses, beds, waterbeds, tables, office chairs, headboards and bed risers) Water coolers Personal wireless router, as it will interfere with the wireless internet provided to your fellow residents Halogen lamps, lava lamps, etc. Exercise machines (for example: step machines, treadmills, and stationary bikes) Drum sets and acoustic pianos (electronic keyboards with headphones are permitted) Speaker systems Smart home products such as the Google Home or Amazon Alexa, as they are not compatible with our secure wireless network and will subsequently be blocked Curtains or draperies Flammable liquids and gasses Gas-powered equipment Barbeques Weapons and simulated weapons (for example, firearms, knives, bow and arrows, pellet guns, paintball guns, firecrackers, and capguns) High-wattage electrical equipment (such as computers and some musical instruments) may only be powered using a CSA-approved power bar and circuit breaker. All extension cords must be CSA approved. Use only CSA-approved power bars with surge protectors and built-in circuit breakers in residence. Do not use multiple outlet plugs or extension cords simultaneously. Check your electronics to ensure that their cords are not frayed or damaged. Overloading power outlets is a violation of our building safety code and you may face disciplinary sanctions for doing so. You will be asked to remove equipment that causes overloading and are reminded that you will be held responsible for damage or threat to safety resulting from non-compliance with these regulations. Go Green: Sustainable Packing for Residence Pack fragile items with clothes, towels, or old newspapers that can be recycled or reused after you've unpacked. Styrofoam packing peanuts are dangerous to the environment and a pain to throw away! Pack items in bags you will need during the year, like your backpack or suitcases. This stops unnecessary waste from being produced during the moving process. For heavier items, use large plastic containers that can be reused later for storage. Some residence beds have storage room underneath. Check local businesses for used cardboard boxes—many will offer them for free! Recycle any cardboard boxes or packaging waste that you may have after you have moved in. Move-in Day Routes Routes will be available at a later date. Stay tuned for more information. Move-in Day Schedule Domestic student move-in will occur from August 31 to September 2, depending on the building you are assigned. Please ensure you log in to the myHousing Portal and book your move-in time slot after you complete your Residence Onboarding Process (ROP). International student move-in will occur on August 29–30, to allow you some extra time to adjust to jet lag, get settled in, and prepare for the new school year. All international students will receive further communications via email. Move-in Day Instructions & Tips To make the move-in process as efficient and easy as possible, here are some instructions and tips: Orientation Week is substance free (alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs). This means that you can neither possess nor consume these substances during Orientation Week. Do NOT bring alcohol, cannabis, or drugs of any kind with you to campus, even if you are of age. Ensure that your items are packed securely in boxes or containers that are easy to carry. Well-packed items allow you to move all your items quickly and efficiently to your room. Do not pack your belongings in garbage bags. Do not pack things in alcohol or liquor boxes (even if there's no alcohol in them) because Orientation Week is substance-free. Clearly mark all of your items with your first and last name, as well as your room number which will be communicated via email a few days before your move-in. Do not bring family pets with you. Please check out the animal policy in the Residence Contract . Please respect our limit of one vehicle per resident. Parking is extremely limited during the move-in weekend. Your car will be directed to the nearest parking space as soon as it has been unloaded. Our unloading spaces cannot accommodate hitched trailers due to limited maneuverability. If you live within a few hours driving distance of London, you can make your move-in day easier by bringing only the essentials (such as toiletries and clothes) to last a few weeks. You can bring the rest of your belongings on a trip home or have them brought to you. You will know what you actually need and what you can fit in your room by then! Follow the instructions of the Residence Staff and Sophs (Orientation Leaders) directing traffic throughout the day. They will direct you to the appropriate vehicle marshalling area for your residence when you arrive at your building. This is where you will wait for your vehicle's turn to be unloaded. Carts will be provided for you to move personal belongs to your room. The University will not be responsible for any loss or damage occurring to your belongings during the move-in process. Please note Medway-Sydenham Hall is a 3-floor building with NO elevator Residents: Follow signs and instructions to check in and receive your room key. PLEASE NOTE: Residence traffic circles are designated emergency/fire routes. While they can be used for unloading on move-in days, please do NOT leave your vehicle unattended for any length of time. Unattended vehicles will be ticketed or towed by Parking Services. Please consult with Residence Staff and Sophs about parking and vehicle loading at that time. Planning Ahead for Move-in Day Please ensure you log in to the myHousing Portal and book your September move-in time slot when it becomes available. Contact the Housing Office in advance of your move-in day if you are a student with accessibility concerns who requires assistance with move-in. Make arrangements in advance at local hotels for family members staying overnight in London. You're free to have belongings shipped to your residence. However, they will only be received if they arrive after you have already moved into residence. You can claim shipped luggage from the front desk. Check here for the detailed mailing address information of your building. Orientation Week Western's orientation program is designed to smooth the transition to university and residence life, help you meet people, and welcome you to the Western community. Orientation Week (OWeek) is planned and overseen by Western's administration, University Students' Council, Faculty, Student Leaders, students, and volunteers. Residence Programming will be from August 31–September 2 and OWeek will run September 2–7. OWeek will feature a wide selection of activities, with a range of high and low intensity activities focused on creating peer connections and preparing students for their new academic journey. The complete OWeek schedule will be released on www.oweek.ca in August. Substance Policy Western's OWeek has been dry for more than a decade. With the legalization of cannabis, Western’s Orientation Week is now substance free. This means that substances (alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs) are not permitted to be possessed or consumed during Orientation events or in residence. Substances are not permitted from the day you move-in until September 9, 2024, regardless of your age. We have the right to inform your parents and/or suspend you from residence for the remainder of Orientation Week should you come to our attention during Orientation Week for substance-related behaviour. Guest Policy To prioritize building the residence community as we begin the 2024–25 academic year, external guests (anyone not living in a Western main campus residence) are not permitted in residence. Please refer to our Residence Building Health and Safety Protocols page for updated information. Get Insured The University will not be liable, directly or indirectly, for theft or loss of personal property by fire, water, or any other cause, whether the items are placed in your room, in storage, or other areas of the residence. The University will not be responsible for any loss or damage to your belongings during the move-in process regardless of who moved them in. You are expected to clearly label all your belongings with your first and last name. You are responsible for moving valuable items into residence yourself. Do not allow anyone but yourself to handle any items of particular sentimental or monetary value. You will not be compensated for any items that are lost, misplaced, damaged, or broken (by any means) during the move-in process. You may leave personal property in your room during statutory holidays, the winter break, and Reading Weeks, unless the University indicates in advance a need to have the room vacated. You should always take valuable items with you when you leave as the University cannot guarantee the security of personal belongings in your room. It is your responsibility to ensure that your doors and windows are locked whenever you are not in your room. Decorating Your Room Decorating is an exciting part of making Residence your new home! Read below to see how you can decorate your room. What may I put on my walls? Use discretion and respect when decorating your room. Don't post anything on either side of your hallway door, interior doors, or walls that may be offensive or upsetting to others. You will be required to remove any material that is deemed to contribute to a negative environment, promotes unwanted comments, and/or contributes to a negative community atmosphere. This includes public displays of discipline letters. Ensure that decorations are not hung from and do not obstruct smoke detectors, fire alarms, or sprinklers to avoid violating safety codes. We take fire prevention seriously and residents whose decorations have interfered with heat, smoke, or fire detection equipment will receive severe disciplinary sanctions. Use tacks to hang things from the poster rails that line your room's walls. All types of tape can damage paint and drywall when they've been left in place for several months. You may not paint any part of your room, place stickers and/or use nails, screws, or brackets on the walls, furniture, or fixtures. All materials must be removed from your room when you check out at the end of the year and you will be charged to repair any damages that have been incurred to the walls, furniture, or fixtures in your room. Can I use common-area furniture in my room? All furniture in the residences is assigned to a specific room and may not be moved from one room to another. You will be billed for the labour cost of relocating any common-area furniture found in your room. What furniture may I use in my room? Only University-issued furniture is permitted in student rooms (including desk chairs). This ensures that it's properly assembled and meets safety standards. Personal mattresses, tables, and chairs, and other types of furniture are not allowed because they may create a safety hazard and/or increase the risk of fire. May I customize university furniture or fixtures? For safety reasons, furniture (including closet doors and bed boards) is not to be disassembled or reassembled in a manner for which it was not originally designed. Any furniture that is disassembled or otherwise augmented will be reassembled by a University-employed professional at your cost. May I decorate my window? Window dressings are provided in all of our residences. Flags, banners, bed sheets, posters, and/or signs are not to be hung in or out of windows or around residence property except with permission of the Residence Life Coordinator upon special request. Alcohol containers cannot be displayed in windows for any reason. May I bring a small refrigerator? Refrigerators brought into residence must be in excellent working condition and conform to all safety, health, and size regulations. The maximum size allowed for personal refrigerators is 53 cm x 55 cm x 84 cm (21" x 21.5" x 33"). Note: Clare Hall rooms have a fridge included. May I make snacks? Students living in suite-style residences are welcome to prepare meals in the kitchens of their suites. Cooking or preparing meals in traditional- and hybrid-style buildings is strictly prohibited due to problems of sanitation and the increased danger of fire. However, there will be microwaves available in the dining halls that students can use to warm up meals or make snacks, as well as a variety of grab-and-go snack options to choose from.