GET READY FOR OPENING DAY
GSA 2026 is rapidly approaching, and we are so excited to welcome students to the program on Opening Day!
Opening Day for GSA 2026 is Sunday, June 7th.
Below, you will find information regarding move-in times, parking, a schedule of the day's events, and more. Please carefully review all of the information as well as the accepted student packet you received in the postal mail.
If you'd like to start familiarizing yourself with the Northern Kentucky University campus before arrive, you can view an interactive map here.
If you have any questions, or did not receive your accepted student packet, please reach out to us via email at [email protected] or call the GSA Helpline at (502) 566-5192.
Registration/Move-In Schedule and Map
Please view the GSA 2026 Move In Map.
If you would like to navigate to campus (via Google Maps, Apple Maps, etc.), please use 30 Campbell Drive, Highland Heights, KY 41076 as the address. Please do NOT use this address for mailing items or letters to a student. The mailing address can be found in the pre-program packet and will also be provided on Opening Day.
When students and their guests arrive on campus, they should follow signs to Kenton Drive, then to Campbell Drive (off of Three Mile Road). Vehicles will proceed into the circle in front of University Suites to unload their vehicle BEFORE parking (following the red arrows on the map linked above). Once they have unloaded their belongings, they will move their vehicle out of the unloading zone and proceed to park in the University Suites lower lot (following the blue arrows on the map linked above).
There will be signs directing students and their guests to the unloading zone, as well as GSA and NKU staff and volunteers to help direct traffic. Please follow all instructions given by a GSA or NKU staff member or volunteer - they're here to help things go as smoothly as possible!
After unloading their vehicle, students will enter University Suites, where they will check in to their dorm. Once they have checked in, students will be free to load their belongings into the dorm and start settling into their room.
| Time (ALL TIMES EASTERN) | Activity | Location |
9:00 - 9:45 am | Registration for GSA Students who live 30 minutes or less from NKU | University Suites, Parking Area |
9:45 - 10:15 am | Registration for GSA Students who live less than 1 hour from NKU | University Suites, Parking Area |
10:15 - 11:15 am | Registration for GSA Students who live 1.5 hours from NKU | University Suites, Parking Area |
11:15 – 11:45 am | Registration for GSA Students who live 2 hours from NKU | University Suites, Parking Area |
11:45 am - 12:45 pm | Registration for GSA Students who live over 2 hours from NKU | University Suites, Parking Area |
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC- LARGE INSTRUMENT LOAD IN
If you are an Instrumental Music student who is bringing a large instrument (including all percussion, double basses, cellos, guitars, banjo, tubas, euphoniums, bass trombones, tenor trombones, french horns, baritone saxophones, tenor saxophones, and bassoons, or anyone who is bringing multiple instruments), you must load your instrument(s) in on Opening Day between 12:00 and 1:00pm ET. Please do not arrive later than 1:00pm ET, as no GSA faculty or staff will be available to accommodate you.
Large instruments should be dropped off in the Band Room of the Fine Arts Building (SOTA). You will be provided with a map that shows the route from the University Suites parking lot to the Fine Arts Building (SOTA) when you check in at dorm registration.
Instrumental Music students with small instruments (piccolos, flutes, clarinets, oboes, alto saxophones, trumpets, violins, violas) may also bring their instruments to the Band Room during the timeframe above, but if they choose not to, they must bring their instrument with them to the first day of class.
OPENING CEREMONY INFO
The GSA 2026 Opening Ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. in Regents Hall. Because Regents Hall is located on the opposite side of campus from University Suites, where GSA students will be staying, we encourage supporters to consider moving their vehicles closer to Regents Hall before the ceremony.
Moving your vehicle is entirely optional; however, the walk from University Suites to Regents Hall is longer than our typical campus walking route and may be difficult for those with small children or mobility concerns.
View a map of suggested parking lots, each marked with colored stars.
- The larger lots around the SOTA building (marked by YELLOW stars on the map below) are significantly closer to Regents Hall and will be right outside the building parents and supporters will be leaving campus from after the Parent/Guardian Orientation.
- The smaller lots around Regents Hall (marked by BLUE stars on the map below) are the closest option to the Opening Ceremony, but may fill up quickly and will be a short walk from the building parents and supporters will be departing campus from after the Parent/Guardian Orientation.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
- When packing for the program, please refer to the general packing list found in your pre-program packet, as well as your artform's discipline letter. You find both of those documents linked on the Summer Program Resource page here. Discipline letters are written by GSA faculty and contain important information including discipline supply lists and any pre-program prep work students should complete prior to their arrival.
- If you take any medications, prescription or over-the counter, please pack enough to last through all three weeks of the program.
- GSA is not currently planning to require masks for any faculty, staff, students, or their guests. However, anyone who would like to wear a mask may do so at any time. We do ask that you bring your own masks, and be sure to pack enough to last all three weeks.
