UMKC’s Move-In Day 2014 introduces Hospital Hill Apartments

Move-In Day at the University of Missouri-Kansas City is always about new. New living space. New faces and friends. New opportunities for learning.

But UMKC Move-In Day 2014 proved newer than ever.

The new UMKC Hospital Hill Apartments opened up a new way of life on the health-professions campus where the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Health Studies and Pharmacy are located.

The $30.33 million project is the first university housing on Hospital Hill. For the 250 health professions students there, they were treated to new fitness equipment, new views of downtown Kansas City and a new convenient walking path to campus. And then there are the new apartments themselves with new kitchens, new stackable washers and dryers in each unit and new furniture throughout.

“Students were very excited and they were very impressed with the design of the building with its sleek, modern interior,” said Sean Grube, UMKC Director of Residential Life, who oversaw move-ins there and on the Volker Campus.

At Oak Street Hall, the students looked a little drowsy – probably having given in to their family’s wishes to get going early. Otherwise, Move-In Day 2014 was all good.

The morning began with a gathering of UMKC volunteers, the Roo Haul team. They functioned like a well-oiled machine, quickly unloading cars and vans and trailers. Incoming freshman Katy carried some of her own bags – the ones containing her most valued possessions – but remained closemouthed about the contents. Even local freshmen pitched in to help other first-years get settled.

Expectations of life in a residence hall were positive: to make friends, have fun and enjoy a broader social life. Harder to put into words was the desire to have “a sense of belonging,” as Emily put it.

Plans for the remainder of the day varied from taking naps to attending orientation meetings, getting acquainted and walking around campus to locate classrooms.

Forget anything? No. Don’t know. Probably.

From one practical dad: “It doesn’t matter. We’re here.”