More than 3,100 students are moving into the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s residence halls starting at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28.

The move-in will be staggered to help allow for social distancing and a smooth transition into the residence halls, according to Arcetta Knautz, director of University Housing. Move-in appointment times for the students start at 7:30 a.m. and go through 5:30 p.m. from Aug. 28 to Aug. 31 at the Sandburg Residence Halls, 3400 N. Maryland Ave. The number of students moving in is a substantial increase over last year.

Note: University Housing staff and the dean of students will be available for media interviews from 8 to 9 a.m. in the main lobby of Sandburg. Photographers and videographers will be able to take photos and shoot footage in the lobby and other common spaces at Sandburg during that same time period. Photographs or video can be shot in student rooms only by invitation from students occupying those rooms.

Move-in at other residence halls – Cambridge Commons, Purin Hall and Kenilworth Square Apartments, will take place from Aug. 28 through Sept. 1.

Move-in times are spread out to avoid overcrowding of parking garages and elevators.

A number of extra precautions are planned for this year’s move-in because of COVID-19 concerns. Students, families and helpers will be required to wear masks inside the buildings and parking garages. Students are encouraged to limit the number of helpers to two people. Staff will regularly clean high-touch common areas, and hand sanitizer will be available. Common areas like the cafeterias will have floors marked to encourage social distancing.

The residence halls have added some new amenities for this year. A big change from last year is a new guest policy that allows students to bring two guests at a time into the halls, Knautz said. Sandburg Hall will re-open its resource/study/social space, which was closed last year, for students to do group work or to hang out.

The remodeled Sandburg North Tower will feature newly renovated suite bathrooms and new kitchenettes in the lounges. A new, larger kitchen with gathering space will be available on the third floor, similar to the one in the South Tower. This area will also have two new elevators that will stop at all floors, with a third one available for the second semester.