UTEP Move-In Day starts rocky as freshmen face heat and dorm card glitches

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — With the first day of the fall semester coming up, freshmen going to the University of Texas at El Paso said it was a rocky start as they moved into the dorms on Thursday.

KFOX14/CBS4 spoke with incoming students as UTEP held its Move-In Day, who said they were nervous and bothered by the heat and technical issues.

“I’m very excited, but today has been a little hectic and tiring. It’s like 100 degrees out here, and the Gold Miner card you use for everywhere in the dorm, like it’s not working, so it’s hard if you leave and then come back; it’s hard to get in, but it’s pretty exciting to start this trip,” said Anna Adkins.

Despite those issues, Adkins said she is looking forward to the dorm life.

“Meeting new people, having fun, like, you know, I’ve seen things like in your dorm, like the hallway, I guess you could say, like people just get together and you just have like hangouts and it just seems super cool,” Adkins said.

First-year students Dominique Perez and Anna Adkins. Aug. 20, 2026. Credit: KFOX14/CBS4

Meanwhile, Homero Ramos Hernandez, who is moving into the dorms from Chihuahua, said he feels the time crunch is making him nervous.

“I have a lot of stuff from my car that I have to pull out. Classes start this Monday, so I’m a little bit nervous,” Hernandez said. “But I think everything will be all right.”

KFOX14/CBS4 also spoke with a Resident Assistant who explained that part of his duties are also appeasing parents dropping off their kids at college.

“We reassured them that we, are resident assistants, we keep an eye on them. We respond to calls if they need someone to talk to or if they have to report something wrong with their apartment, Yerik Torres said.

UTEP Resident Assistant Yerik Torres. Aug. 20, 2026. Credit: KFOX14/CBS4

UTEP said benefits of living on campus include being close to classes, getting involved with campus life, and connecting with the college community.

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