Residence Move-In FAQs

Please take a moment to review the important information below related to Move-In 2025.

Approximately 4850 students will occupy 18 campus residence buildings this fall. Approximately 350 students will move-in between August 25 and 29 as part of early move-in programs. 650 students will move in on Friday, August 29th after 5pm, and 3850 students will arrive on Saturday, August 30th, between 8:00am – 4:00pm - a busy time around campus! Please keep the following in mind:

Welcome Home!

Everyone has an important role to play in welcoming our students and their families to campus. Please keep an eye out for any safety or cleanliness issues and be prepared to help out when needed. Move-in is an important part of the transition to university life – let’s make it a positive experience!

Main Campus Parking - There will be no staff parking available in parking garages and lots (even for permit holders) on Friday, August 29 after 4:30 pm and all day Saturday, August 30.

• The following parking lots are in use for vehicles associated with move-in only: Tindall Underground and Surface Lot, Miller Lot, Dupuis Lot, Union/Division Lot, 355 King St. W. lot, KCVI lot, Queen's Centre Lot.
• Streets near residences will have parking restrictions/and or be closed as per below. Please keep this in mind if you are working an evening or night shift.
  • Bader Lane – traffic will be one-way westbound only, no street parking
  • University Avenue – Union St – Stuart St. traffic will be one-way southbound
  • Albert Street – Union St. to King St. – traffic will be one-way southbound, no street parking
  • Stuart Street – University Ave. to Albert St.– traffic will be one-way westbound, no streetparking
  • Collingwood Street – Queen’s Crescent to King Street – traffic will be one- way southbound
  • Queen’s Crescent, Earl St, St. Lawrence Ave, King St – parking restrictions from Friday, August 29, at 4:00 PM until Saturday, August 30, at 5:00 PM.

DO NOT PARK IN THESE LOTS OR ON THE CAMPUS SURFACE STREETS OUTLINED AS YOUR VEHICLE MAY BE TOWED!

Courtesy towing arrangements will relocate any cars parked on the designated streets during the restricted time to the parking lot at 355 King St. W.

If You Do Drive

• There will be no parking available at any of Queen’s parking lots or KCVI. You can park at the following locations:
  • King St. Upper lot (in front of the Isabel Bader Centre), access off King between Ellerbeck and Centre St.
  • Any street north of Union (although these streets are also likely to be full or busy).

Water

• A water bottle filling station is available in front of Chernoff Hall, and inside; Watts, Victoria, Adelaide, Jean Royce, Stirling and Leggett Halls, Smith House, and Gordon Brockington.

 Meals

• Your supervisor will provide you with a meal voucher for an all you care to eat lunch from  or Jean Royce Dining Hall, available between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. If you have any dietary requirements, please speak to a Hospitality Services manager and be sure to Ask Before You Eat to ensure you are accommodated.

What you will you need

• Please make sure to wear your staff ID, or a nametag, and your move-in shirt, so that our incoming students and families know who you are!  Please speak to your manager/supervisor to receive your move in t-shirt – otherwise, please visit the Residence Volunteer tent, located on the front lawn of Chernoff Hall. Don’t forget to dress comfortably and for the weather! (ie. Raincoat, sunscreen, hat, running shoes) 

Move-In Weekend is a truly special time at the University and it wouldn’t be possible without the incredible coordination and dedication of so many people across Queen’s and beyond. Thank you for the time, energy, and care you’ve put into preparing for this event!

Thank you again for your commitment to our incoming students. This is a big day as they transition to university life, and your support will help us ensure that it’s a positive welcome for everyone!

Residence and Move-In FAQs

Here are answers to questions you may be asked before or during move-in. If you are unsure of the correct answer or don't know how to answer, please direct the question to a manager. We want to be sure that everyone - students, families and campus partners – all have the same, correct information.

When do students move in?

Students were able to select their own move in time. The time slots are Friday night after 5 pm, Saturday: 8 am – 10 am, 10 am – noon, noon – 2 pm, 2 pm – 4 pm

Residence zones:

Students will follow color-coded zone routes to help direct traffic to each residence building. Students and their families received instructions via email to print their zone cards and will be required to only travel on assigned routes and are NOT to use GPS or online maps as there are road closures and streets have been redirected.

Unloading zones

Students, families, and supporters will briefly stop in front of residence buildings to unload personal belongings. A driver must remain with the vehicle during this time. Once unloading is complete, vehicles must be moved to designated parking areas before returning to help students move into their rooms.

None of the move-in times available work for me – what should I do?

Our move-in process is designed to reduce the congestion within our residence buildings. Students selected the most appropriate time and date for them. We hope that most families can arrange to move their student in during their chosen move-in date and time. If a student plans to arrive after 4 pm on Saturday, they must contact reshouse@queensu.ca.

My key doesn’t work. What do I do?

Head to the Victoria Hall or Jean Royce Hall front desk (as appropriate) and the staff there will help you.

Can I bring a trailer or extra vehicles?

We ask that students and families bring a single vehicle on move-in day. Rooms are furnished, and there isn't additional space for large items (all existing furniture must remain in your room).

How do students request a room change?

The room change process will open on September 9. Students can log in and make a room change request through the Student Residence and Dining Portal.

Hospitality FAQ’s for Move-In

How does the meal plan work?

The Residence meal plan is included in residence fees and allows students to eat in the dining halls AND retail locations across campus! The meal plan includes:

• 19 meals per week provides you access to eat in your choice of three All-You-Care-To-Eat dining halls (Leonard dining hall and Ban Righ dining hall on main campus or Jean Royce dining hall on West Campus). Weekly meals reset to 19 every Monday at 12:01 a.m. Any unused meals from the meal plan (including TAMs) do not carry over and are non-refundable. The plan includes five guest passes, which allows for a friend or guest to join you in the dining hall for All-You-Care-To-Eat for just $5.
• 175 Trade-a-Meals (TAM) – Redeemed TAMs are deducted from the Weekly 19 Meal Plan and can be used up to twice a day, to a maximum of 175 times for the academic year. For optimal value and variety, we encourage meals to be redeemed from the dining hall for All-You-Care-To-Eat menus using swipes from the weekly 19 meal plan. “Trade A Meal” offerings from retail may be limited in selection and/or fixed portion sizes. Available TAM combos may be subject to change at any time.  .
• 145 Flex $ - Flex $ works like cash and is loaded onto your student card to provide additional flexibility for retail purchasing of snack items or single menu items between meals. Flex $ carryover and do not expire until graduation. Top up your Flex at any time and in any denomination through the Student Residence & Dining Portal 
• Parents, family supporters, and friends can also send Flex $ as a gift through Campus Gifts.
• Auto enrollment into the GOOD TO GO Reusable Container Initiative - Students on the residence meal plan are automatically enrolled in the GOOD TO GO Reusable Container Initiative, which helps divert single-use packaging waste when dining in retail food locations – where takeout packaging is most prevalent. A green carabiner clip is supplied at the time of move-in. Bring your carabiner to a food counter at participating retail food locations on campus and join in on the sustainable swap and exchange of carabiners to help reduce single-use packaging from retail locations and save the $0.75 single-use fee on select takeout containers. LEARN MORE

How much does the meal plan cost?

The cost of your residence meal plan is combined and included in your total residence fee and is valid from September to April. As part of the residence experience, the meal plan provides you with a ‘kitchen table’ where you can gather together for fresh-made meals without worrying about budgeting meal balances. Hospitality Services supports our community and environment by prioritizing purchasing local, and using fresh whole foods in globally inspired recipes as part of a 5-week residence dining hall menu cycle. 

How do I use my Meal Card on campus?

Your student ID card is your Meal Card and payment method for your food purchases on campus. Without it, you can use credit or debit. Cash purchases are only accepted at Jean Royce Dining Hall, Duncan McArthur Student Street Café, the Common Ground, The Tea Room, Grad Club, and Clark Hall.

When is the first meal for students moving in on Saturday?

The first meal is dinner on Saturday, August 30 for meal plan holders only. Students will be eating with their Residence Dons. Time and location will be posted on floors.

Can families join students for their first meal?

Families are encouraged to dine off campus as parking in designated areas is time restricted. Alternatively, retail options include Tim’s (QC) 7:30- 3pm, Location 21 7:30am-11:00pm, The Lazy Scholar 7:30am-4:30pm, Clove & Spice 11am-3pm Jean Royce Barista 8:30pm- 11pm.

What if my class schedule means I can’t get to the dining hall?

If a student is unable to get to the dining hall before closing, they can “Trade a Meal” from their weekly meal by using a TAM or Flex $ in our retail locations. The Lazy Scholar and Location 21 will be open until 1am, and Jean Royce Barista until 12am during the academic year to accommodate later classes. Students are encouraged to review the Meal Plan Hacks found on the Hospitality website created to help optimize their meal plans.

What is the Transact Mobile App? The app allows students, staff, and faculty to place a meal, snack or beverage order in retail food locations and schedule a pickup time aligned with their

busy schedules. The app is compatible with meal plans and accepts payments of TAMS, Flex $, debit and credit card.

My student has a nut and/or other food allergy, what should they do?

If your student has a food allergy or intolerance, food-related medical condition, follows a diet related to religious or cultural observance (ex. kosher or halal), a vegetarian or vegan diet, or other dietary needs there are supports available to them on the meal plan.

Our Registered Dietitian (Theresa) helps students with dietary needs to safely navigate campus food options. Your student can book a virtual or in-person meeting today or a future day using the QR code below. Theresa is located in the Hospitality Main Office in Victoria Hall Room E022 (613-533-2953). Students with food allergies are advised to visit dining halls over retail food locations. All students with dietary needs must Ask Before You Eat when dining on campus to confirm ingredient information and/or cooking processes. Students with an anaphylactic allergy should always carry an epinephrine device. Visit the ‘Allergy & Dietary Needs’ page on our website https://www.queensu.ca/food/nutrition/allergy-dietary-needs for important information.

How does the weekly 19 work?

The Residence Meal Plan is loaded onto your student card. Students receive 19 meals per week for meals in dining halls and retail food locations that reset every week on Monday 12:01am.

Students can use up to 4 meal swipes, and they can choose to trade-in up to 2 dining hall swipes for TAMs per day, up to 175 times in the year (TAMS are not additional weekly meals). When students visit the dining halls or retail locations, they will use their student card to gain access to pay for their meals.

What is a TAM?

Trade a Meal (TAM): “Trade-in” up to two dining hall meal swipes for TAM swipes per day to build your own combo meal in participating retail locations. TAMs are not additional weekly meals but provide flexibility for you to eat across campus aligned with your busy schedule.

*All meal plans and/or any portion of unused plans expire at the end of the academic year, are non-refundable, and cannot be carried over into a new term. With increasing food costs, TAM inclusions are subject to change at any time.

How do I top up Flex $

Flex $ are loaded onto your student card and work like cash. When you purchase an item from a retail location, the amount of that item will be deducted from the Flex $ balance on your student card. Flex $ can be topped up at any time throughout the term to your account through the Student Residence & Dining Portal, by stopping into the Hospitality Services office, or by purchasing them through the Campus Market grocery website.

What is the GOOD TO GO reusable container initiative?

All first-year students in residence are automatically enrolled in the GOOD TO GO reusable container initiative to help reduce the volume of single-use containers on campus. A $0.75 fee will apply to take out food served in 6x9 single-use containers in select retail locations. Students can save the fee when they choose to reuse through a Swap. Eat. Repeat model. The green carabiner received at residence key pick up can be swapped throughout the year for all retail meals provided in a reusable container, and after a meal the used container can be exchanged for a new carabiner. This process is repeated all year. Learn more about the GOOD TO GO initiative.

How does the GOOD TO GO container work with mobile ordering?

In the mobile app, if a GTG container applies to the item you are ordering, there will be a prompt asking if you will be swapping you container or carabiner.

Is the Hospitality Office open on the long weekend?

• Saturday 9-5
• Sunday 10-2
• Monday 10-2