TTU Great Move-In Week Off To A Great Start

Sunday kicked off Tennessee Tech’s Great Move-In Week, and Residential Life Director Josh Edmonds said it is off to a great start.

Over 300 students checked into their dorms. Edmonds said extending Great Move-In has been less stressful for Tech staff and less overwhelming for families.

“The traffic levels are down, parking levels are down,” Edmonds said. “It allows students to be able to unload and get parked and get their things moved in. To be honest going forward, this may be a thing of the future.”

Edmonds said Great Move-In is traditionally a one day event with some 1,800 students moving in. He said volunteers were prohibited this year, but they could return next year if the pandemic ends.

Incoming students must make a move-in appointment, and can bring two guests for a four hour block. Edmonds said social distancing, required face masks, and multiple hand sanitizing stations are some of the safety precautions Residential Life is implementing.

Edmonds said there is a certain level of anxiety for freshmen, not only because they are moving away but additionally COVID-19.

“From the questions and things that we got at student orientation I think there is a little bit of that [anxiety],” Edmonds said. “The returning students kinda know what to expect from being here and having to check out in March when we let everybody go. Our goal is to help students and families with that and answer any questions they have.”

Programming efforts are in the plans to help the students not feel isolated, Edmonds said.

Approximately 2,200 students are expected to live in the dorms Fall 2020.