(Aug. 17, 2018) — Thousands of Roadrunners are preparing to start a new academic year at UTSA by moving into on-campus housing. A majority of the students gathering up their belongings to move into their new home will be freshmen, experiencing their first time living away from family.
Beginning at 9 a.m. today and continuing through tomorrow, the parking lots adjacent to Chaparral Village, Laurel Village and Carlos and Malú Alvarez Hall will be bustling with UTSA students, their family members and their friends as they cart clothes, furniture and other personal belongings into their residences. The UTSA community will come together to welcome these incoming students and make the transition as easy as possible. UTSA students, staff and faculty will be on hand to help the new students find their way and move in.
About 2,300 of the students living on campus will reside in Chaparral Village, Laurel Village and Carlos and Malú Alvarez Hall, the three residential communities operated by the UTSA Office of Housing and Residence Life. The other on-campus residents will be moving into Chisholm Hall and University Oaks, which are managed by Campus Living Villages.
Since students will be moving onto campus during a time of year where average high temperatures for San Antonio are in the upper 90s, individuals who are moving in or volunteering are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids and be prepared for the heat. Housing and Residence Life will provide water stations, where people can bring in refillable containers to stay hydrated in an environmentally friendly manner.
Another way that the UTSA community will be looking out for the environment during move-in weekend is through cardboard recycling. The UTSA Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management will be setting up cardboard collection stations around all housing units on campus. The cardboard collected will be transported to a local recycling plant. In past years, four tons of cardboard were generated during move-in weekend.
Residence Hall Move-In is the kickoff to Roadrunner Days, a series of fun events designed to welcome new and returning Roadrunners to UTSA, running through the first week of classes. These events will give incoming students the opportunity to learn about UTSA while making connections with other students, faculty and staff.
Following a day of moving, students and their families can unwind at the Welcome Back Party from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Student Union Paseo. They will enjoy food, music and socializing with fellow Roadrunners before the highlight – the premiere performance from the Spirit of San Antonio, UTSA’s marching band at 7 p.m.
The fun continues on Saturday, with multiple Roadrunner Days events for students to enjoy. Quest @ the John Peace Library takes place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and gives students the opportunity to learn about the library and enjoy some ice cream. Fast Action Trivia, at the Student Union Retama Auditorium (SU 2.02.02) from 6:30 to 8 p.m., allows students to earn cash prizes while learning interesting facts about UTSA. The day concludes with a Roadrunner tradition, Late Night at the Rec, from 9:00 p.m. to midnight at the Recreation and Wellness Center. Roadrunners will learn about the Campus Rec facilities, programs and club sports while enjoying a game of basketball, rock climbing, inflatables and dancing.
Students will need to check into all Roadrunner Days events using Event Pass on their mobile device. To do so, simply log in to RowdyLink, click on profile and download event pass using Apple Wallet, Google Play or screenshot. Saving the event pass makes checking into campus events quick and easy. In many cases, students will need their event pass or abc123 to get free swag, food and shirts at events.
Students are encouraged to share photos of their move-in experiences with the UTSA community by tagging @UTSA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #UTSA and #UTSARRDays.
