Campus will be jolted from its summer slumber Thursday, Aug. 15, as new students arrive to begin their careers as Yellow Jackets.

Thursday marks the first official open day of fall campus housing for freshmen, meaning new students will converge on campus with parents, futons and mini-fridges in tow. Heavier traffic and congested paths and roadways, as well as parking in East campus areas, will likely result and continue into Friday.

Beginning at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15, vehicular traffic on Techwood Drive between Fourth Street and North Avenue will be restricted only to those who are actively moving into campus housing. Those traveling southbound on Techwood will be redirected down Fourth Street toward Peters Parking Deck if they are not involved in move-in; cars on North Avenue will be sent further west on North and can access campus from Cherry Street or Tech Parkway. Access along Techwood will resume as usual at 6 p.m.

As you traverse campus, both in vehicles and on foot, leave yourself a few extra minutes of travel time and watch for new students and their families. If you see folks looking lost, take a moment to see if they need help getting somewhere and welcome them to Georgia Tech.

Some students who need to be on campus for activities or want to beat the crowds may begin moving in starting Monday, Aug. 12. Move-in activities will progress throughout the weekend, with most upperclassmen and graduate students arriving Saturday and Sunday.