Arriving early? We are excited to welcome you to campus for the fall semester!
Early Arrival check-in is designed to support individuals and faculty/staff groups who need to be on campus ahead of the move-in date.
On this page, you’ll find everything you need to know regarding early arrival check-in details and expectations.
Residence Halls Openings
- Incoming students (first-year and transfers) on Thursday, August 13, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Students will pick up their keys at the residence halls to which they are assigned. Those assigned to Glassell will pick up their key from the West Village social room.
- Incoming students who miss the designated move-in date/time may contact the Office of Residence Life at reslifestaff@rhodes.edu.
- Returning students can start moving in on Monday, August 17, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They will pick up their keys in the lobby of the Mallory gym.
PLEASE NOTE: Students with financial or student health center holds will be permitted to pick up their keys while these holds are in place.
Early Arrival (Individual Students)
- Individual students (those not associated with an approved college group) requesting early arrival must submit their request in eRezLife at least 14 days before the requested arrival date.
- Individual students must receive written approval from the Office of Residence Life.
- Submitting a request form does not guarantee that your request will be approved.
- Students sponsored by a group (faculty or staff) are not required to submit their request through eRezLife.
- Students approved for early arrival will be charged the following:
- $250/night for requests submitted 14 days or more before the requested arrival date.
- $350/night for requests submitted less than 14 days before the requested arrival date.
- All early arrival fees are charged to the student’s account.
- The early arrival fee does not include meals.
- Approved students must provide a valid ID (e.g., Rhodes ID, State ID, State Driver’s License, or Passport) to pick up their room keys in the Office of Residence Life located in Trezevant Hall during business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Early Arrivals (Groups)
- Faculty and Staff who plan to bring students back to campus before the Residence Hall opening dates must complete the Fall 2026 Early Arrival Group Template excel spreadsheet. The deadline for Early Arrival Group submissions is Friday, July 10, 2026.
- Submit completed spreadsheets to ResEA@rhodes.edu. Please save/label the spreadsheets with the following information:
- Semester, EAGroup or Office Name, Date of Submission
- Example: Fall2026_ResidenceLife_08012026
- Emails with student/participant names to reslifestaff@rhodes.edu or individual staff members in the Office of Residence Life will not be accepted.
- No requests will be accepted after Friday, July 10, 2026.
- Early Arrival Group key pick-up and check-ins will be available Monday–Friday during business hours only (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.). Residence Life staff will not be available on weekends for early arrival check-in/key pick-up. Approved students must provide a valid ID (e.g., Rhodes ID, State ID, State Driver’s License, or Passport) to pick up their room keys.
- Residence Life will not coordinate early arrival meals. Group coordinators should contact the Bon Appétit staff below to arrange meals for the group. Chris Caldero (chris.caldaro@cafebonappetit.com) and Kathy Groves (Kathy.Groves@cafebonappetit.com)
- Each coach, advisor, or program coordinator must communicate all early arrival details to their students or team members, including arrival day and time, key pick-up information, and meal arrangements.
The Express Check-In Process
- This process is for students who have been approved to arrive early (individual or group) and miss their assigned check-in time.
- If students arrive after 5 p.m., they must go to Campus Safety to complete the Express Check-in form at their office. Campus Safety will let the students into their assigned rooms. However, the student will not receive their key. Students must pick up their room key from the Office of Residence Life Staff on the next business day.
Parameters
- Approved early arrival is limited to the individual student who has received authorization.
- Early arrival access is only permitted for the approved dates and assigned space.
- Storing belongings for other students who are not approved for early arrival is prohibited.
- Allowing another student or guest to stay in your room/unit is prohibited.
- Students must be actively participating in their approved campus activity during their early stay.
- Students must adhere to all college policies, including the Housing Contract and community standards.
- Failure to follow established parameters may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to cancellation of the housing contract and referral to the Office of Community Standards.
Meals
- Residence Life will not coordinate early arrival meals for individual students and groups.
- Group coordinators should contact the Bon Appétit staff below to arrange meals for the group.
- Points of contact for Early Arrival meals for groups are Chris Caldero (chris.caldaro@cafebonappetit.com) and Kathy Groves (Kathy.Groves@cafebonappetit.com)
Questions and Information
Please direct any inquiries regarding Early Arrivals to ResLife Early Arrivals at ResEA@rhodes.edu.