Northwest students played yard games near the Memorial Bell Tower during Advantage activities last year. First-year students will begin moving into residence halls Aug. 14 as the University kicks off its 2020 Advantage schedule. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)

Northwest is preparing to welcome first-time freshmen and transfer students to its campus as the 2020-21 academic year begins.

Friday, Aug. 14, marks the kickoff of Advantage at Northwest, an annual orientation program designed to help first-year students get acquainted with other Northwest students, learn about the campus and enjoy some entertainment before fall classes begin, Wednesday, Aug. 19.

Students will move into campus residence halls Friday, Aug. 14, through Sunday, Aug. 16. Students moving onto campus were provided additional information in their Northwest email accounts and instruction to sign up for a move-in time to help Northwest regulate the number of students moving into a floor or building at one time.

Move-in Day parking

Northwest closes some parking lots and reroutes traffic during move-in times to allow students and their guests to better navigate the campus while fostering a safe move-in process. Community members also should expect an increase in traffic volume.

The following lot closures and traffic restrictions apply during move-in times:

• Friday, Aug. 14: Parking lots 10, 39, 42 (from Phillips Hall east to College Park Drive) and 57 will be closed at 9 p.m. and remain closed until 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. Lot 57 will allow parking in the row north of the sidewalk as well as ADA parking with a valid permit. All vehicles within these lots after 9 p.m. will be towed.
• Saturday, Aug. 15: The front row of parking lots 10, 39, 41, and 42 will be blocked off at 9 p.m. All vehicles within the lots after 9 p.m. will be towed.
• Lot 44 between Franken and Dieterich halls will be blocked off during move-in hours.

All vehicles must be cleared from these areas during designated closures and remaining vehicles will be subject to towing. The clearing of these spaces helps Northwest provide services to students and parents as they are moving in.

Additionally, University Police will direct traffic as follows:

• Traffic on College Park Drive will be restricted between Dietrich Hall and Memorial Drive.
• Eastbound traffic on Northwest Drive will be restricted from Millikan Hall.
• All traffic on University Drive will be stopped to engage with new arrivals and reduce confusion.
• Be cautious of UPD members directing traffic. Traffic direction will begin at approximately 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, and 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, and Sunday, Aug. 16.

For a campus map with additional move-in day instructions, click here.

As a reminder to Northwest employees and students, parking permits for the 2020-2021 academic year should be placed on vehicles by Saturday, Aug. 31. Vehicles may be registered by logging onto CatPAWS. Click the Personal Information tab, click the Parking Permit Registration box, click “Proceed to register your vehicle” and follow the remaining steps. After completing the registration, registrants may pick up parking passes in the cashiering office on the first floor of the Administration Building.

For more information about on-campus traffic and parking, contact University Police at 660.562.1254 or follow the department for real-time updates on Twitter @NW_UPD or Facebook at Northwest Missouri State University Police Department.

In case of severe weather during move-in

When lightning strikes within 8 miles of the Northwest campus:

• All move-in day activities will be suspended for a minimum of 30 minutes.
• Northwest will communicate the suspension of move-in day activities through Bearcat Alert, Northwest social media and Residential Life social media.
• Students and parents on the campus will shelter in their assigned buildings or the nearest accessible University building.
• All incoming students and parents will be instructed to delay their arrival in accordance with procedure and best practices for safety.
• Move-in day activities will resume at the direction of University Police or the University’s emergency management coordinator.

Advantage activities

Advantage includes a variety of activities designed to connect students with the University, its resources its community.

The schedule concludes with Northwest’s annual convocation for new students at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, at Bearcat Stadium. Then, the University’s annual back-to-school fireworks display, sponsored by the Student Activities Council, begins at 8:30 p.m. at the campus’ practice fields; the fireworks display is open to the public.    

A complete Advantage schedule is available by clicking here or on Northwest’s online calendar at http://calendar.nwmissouri.edu/.

For more information about, contact the Student Success Center by calling 660.562.1726, texting 660.570.8508 or emailing studentsuccess@nwmissouri.edu.