Lessons Learned from Two College Drop-offs and Move-In Experiences

This past month I did two college drop-offs and move-ins for my two kids.  This now makes me an official empty nester – but that’s what this month’s post is about.

They were at two well-resourced institutions, who also apparently enroll two of the nation’s happiest students by some other random college ranking, but we underwent very different experiences. 

At one institution, given the medium size and out of region student population, a dedicated parking garage was allocated for personal items to be shipped where you could pick them up versus traveling in a U-Haul halfway across the country.  While busy and crowded, I found the planning and organization well executed.  Communication and staffing were also clearly a priority as we knew where to go and when prior to moving in.  People were friendly and willing to answer questions.   Once directed to the appropriate residence hall, the next step became a little free for all Lord of the Flies-ish trying to find and secure moving bins.

This was opposed to my daughter’s first-year move-in three years earlier where, upon arriving, the members of institution’s football team appeared, unloaded our car, and carried everything to her room.  When I worked at Saint Joseph’s University, our Director of Admission would have our team assist with move-in.  It was an amazing idea and experience.  While exhausting, upon move-in, many new students saw a familiar and welcoming face helping them unload that eased the transition while also helping form an immediate sense of belonging. 

At one institution that I served, I remember walking around campus during move-in while parents and guardians pushed bins and carried items across campus in humid 90+ degree weather.  I remember seeing parents and guardians dripping with perspiration looking miserable.  I also recall saying something to myself, and later to a member of the residential staff, that, at our price point, we need to be better.  Fortunately, the institution later made the decision and investment to improve this process.

For my daughter’s move-in this year, as a senior, we were largely left to our own devices.  No move-in bins were available, but I commandeered one from a nearby cafeteria (not my first rodeo).  No staff were available or on hand to direct or guide us in any way.  Not sure if this is an upper-class phenomenon or just a real lack of care or support.

As I reflect on my earlier experiences with student transitions, one of my favorite events involved meeting with incoming students at orientation.  During lunch on their first day, we were invited to join the attendees.  Orientation was scheduled over a staggered series of two-day events in June that kept students engaged in the institution throughout the summer that reduced melt.  Interacting with the students we got to know during the admission process helped foster a sense of belonging as the incoming students saw a familiar face who cared about and knew them. 

Given the competitive enrollment environment in the current higher education landscape, institutions need to put their best foot forward during summer melt season to successfully transition and onboard their newly deposited students.  Experiencing increased melt results in a need to admit additional less likely academically prepared applicants from the wait list.  This not only impacts selectivity but depending on the ability to enroll students from the wait list can put institutional net tuition revenue objectives at risk. 

Looking ahead, deliberate and intentional new student onboarding and transitions processes and practices are critical to ensuring student persistence after launch.  By ensuring an engaging orientation, that is a process not an event, where students are able to reconnect with those who they know while forging new relationships helps cultivate student affinity for the institution.  This also comes from a move-in process that is thoughtfully planned, staffed, and resourced such that it is frictionless, so students have a smooth transition to their new home.