WASHINGTON – Howard University students moved into their residences for the Fall 2021 semester, representing the largest influx of students on campus since the University transitioned to online learning at the start of the pandemic. This year, the University prioritized bringing students to campus safely by implementing COVID-19 safety protocols that included staggering student move in over the course of 10 days and more.

“We have been pleased that move-in is going smoothly,” said Anthony Wutoh, Ph.D., Howard University provost and chief academic officer. “Because of the pandemic, this is the first time in recent memory that we have broken up the move-in process over the course of many days. But I think it’s really helped to have smaller groups of students move in over a longer period of time. Everyone understands the circumstances we’re in and are glad to be on campus.”

The 10-day timeline was just one of the health and safety measures the University implemented for move-in this year as cases of COVID-19 continue to rise nationally. In addition to requiring that students be fully vaccinated and confirming their vaccination status prior to move-in, the University also enforced mask wearing, three-foot social distancing rules, and set up sanitizing stations throughout campus buildings. Student leaders conducted temperature checks at the entrance of the residence halls and a number of the dorms were sealed signaling to students that their spaces had been cleaned and sanitized. Each student was limited to two guests to accompany their move-in and the number of people in elevators at any one time was restricted.

“I feel like they’ve been doing a good job with the safety measures,” said Tamia Stott, a political science freshman from Indianapolis, Indiana. “Especially with wearing the masks and making sure they’re pulled up and cleaning the rooms. I’m glad they’re taking the precautions.”

For many of the sophomores, this move-in process was taking place after having already spent a year at Howard – without ever stepping foot on campus.

“It’s kind of surreal,” said Lalah Allen, a sophomore nursing major from Chicago, Illinois. “I feel like a freshman because this is my first time on campus, but really I’m a sophomore.”

“This has been a long time coming,” said Langston Locke, a sophomore chemical engineering major from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Students and their families endured early morning wakeups to get on the road and travel in from out of town in order to make it to campus for their designated move-in time. Despite long journeys and hot temperatures, many expressed joy and excitement to arrive on campus.

“We’ve been up since 1 o’clock driving in from Connecticut,” said Carolyn Wright, who was accompanying her daughter, Mikayla Chalmers, a freshman biology major. “I wanted to come to Howard myself, so I’m excited for her. This is the first step in a hopefully amazing future for her.”

Prior to arriving on campus, Wright had conversations with Howard staff about the University’s efforts to keep the students safe amidst the ongoing pandemic and she expressed satisfaction and appreciation for all the efforts to ensure students’ health. “I do feel like she will be safe.”

“I’m so excited to be a Bison because this has been my dream school,” said Kaila Anderson, a freshman business major from St. Louis, Missouri. “I think the safety measures are actually great because we don’t want other people to get sick, and we don’t want to spread the coronavirus. By taking these precautions now, we’re one step closer to not having to do this anymore.”

Much of the move-in process was facilitated by juniors and seniors, including dormitory residential advisers, who helped check students and coordinated the flow of individuals into and out of the building.

“As an RA, you’re basically a liaison between the residents and the hall managers and the staff, so we’re confidants, mentors, and we oversee all the residents in the building,” said Taimera Johnson, a junior marketing major from Miami, Florida, who was responsible for taking people’s temperatures as they entered College Hall South. “I know that so many students were robbed of their experience because of COVID and the pandemic, so I’m really happy that they’re actually able to come back on campus in a safe way, and they’re able to actually get their full Howard experience.”

Many of the upper-class students expressed their excitement to reconnect in person with their “Howard families” and their enthusiasm for helping students who are arriving to campus for the first time to establish those relationships.

“Move-in is going really well. Everybody’s excited, and you can really feel the positive energy,” said Cynthia Evers, Ed.D., vice president of student affairs. “We want to make our students and parents feel safe and welcome, especially as so many of them are arriving on campus for the first time. We’re striking a balance by taking measures to ensure everyone’s health and safety while also coordinating an effective and efficient move-in process. But everyone I’ve encountered understands the complexity of the environment we’re in, and they appreciate the mechanisms we’ve put in place. With this effective, efficient and positive move-in, we anticipate that the academic year will be an exciting and safe academic experience for our students.”

After 18 months of having a limited footprint on campus, where only a small number of staff, faculty and students were working and studying at Howard at any given time, the move-in process ahead of the Fall 2021 semester represents a long-awaited moment for the University since the onset of the pandemic.

“The pandemic proved that Howard University is more than just bricks and mortar. Even without the full utilization of our campus, we continued to provide an elite education and generate a tremendous service to our community. But there is still a significant component of a Howard education that takes place when students are in-person on our campus,” said Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA, president of Howard University. “I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to talk to students and their families during move-in, to hear about their passions and their excitement for their Howard journey. Watching students move into their dormitories was a most welcome and long anticipated sight. Their presence on our campus reenergizes and reinvigorates our institutional mission.”

To further welcome incoming and returning students, the Office of Student Life and Activities will host Bison Week, a series of student events. For more information, follow @howard_sla on Twitter and Instagram.

About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 14 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.