While some college students choose to move themselves in on move-in days, others hire services to do the moving for them.
A new such service will begin operation in Happy Valley when Campus Bellhops starts offering its services on April 1. This company will hire Penn State students to help move other students in and out of dormitories, apartments and houses.
“We were intrigued by the community that Penn State has and we felt that our business could prosper here because Penn State students are going to want to help other students,” Cameron Doody, director of business development, said.
The company started in 2011 at Auburn University, Doody’s alma mater. It is now operating at 53 universities across the country, Doody said.
But some students said they don’t plan on using the service.
Samantha Haig said she wouldn’t because her parents have always helped her with moving. But, if her parents didn’t help her, she said she would consider hiring the service.
“I can understand if students use this service for moving out, if they are living in a dorm and bring their car to school, and their parents do not want to come and pick up all of their stuff,” Haig (sophomore-broadcast journalism) said.
University spokeswoman Lisa Powers said the university already provides a similar service.
“We have welcome week crews who are current students organized with residence life to help out new students and parents in a variety of ways, including moving their belongings on move in day. As soon as you get on campus, there is a lot of help. And it’s free,” she said.
The price of a Campus Bellhops move can start at about $90, if it is a simple dorm room move, but it increases in price when moving in or out of apartments or houses, Doody said.
Campus Bellhops also offers a more expensive, double move service where the company sends a truck to students’ homes, picks up belongings and drives them to school, Doody said.
Though the PSU Welcome Crew provides move-in help, it does not take care of move-out , Stan Latta, assistant vice president for housing, food services and residence life, said via email. Campus Bellhops does provide assistance for moving out.
And Doody said the company is looking to hire about 75 students, adding that it often finds its employees on campus through student organizations, such as fraternities and ROTC, Doody said.
But Powers said she hopes the university adequately fulfills the need for movers.
“If [Campus Bellhops is] adding value, that’s great, but I don’t know if they are. We already provide this service for students,” Powers said.
