Move Out | Fall 2026

All residence halls close on the last day of final exams at 6:00pm.

Fall 2026 Winter Break Closing: Friday, December 11th at 6:00pm

All students are expected to be ready for winter break and to check out with their hall staff before the halls close, unless they are approved for an extension. 

Extensions and break housing are requested through the Winter Break Housing Application. For information on extensions and break housing, please visit our Winter Break Housing website.

Students are expected to be ready for and check out for Winter Break with a staff member within 24 hours of their last final exam, or by Friday, December 11th at 6:00pm, whichever occurs first. 

Final exams week is December 7th - 11th. Please review the Fall 2026 Final Exam Schedule to know when a student's last final exam is. 

Each residence hall will provide dates and times that staff will be available to check students out for Winter Break. Students are responsible for scheduling a time to check out and to keep that appointment. 

It is appreciated when a student is ready for and keeps their check out appointment. If a student is not ready for check out by their check out time, staff will not complete the process and the student will need to reschedule. 

Checking out with a staff member before leaving for winter break is required. This is to ensure that the student's space is ready for break, and that all necessary paperwork is completed. Failing to check out with a staff member will result in a $25 Improper Check Out Fee. 

Before leaving for Winter Break, the following is expected of every room, suite, and apartment. Staff will check that these items are completed while checking out students, however it is ultimately the responsibility of the student that these expectations are met. 

All rooms will be inspected after the halls close for break. if staff discover that a student missed any of these expectations, there may be damage billing, billing for staff to resolve the issue, or conduct related documentation.

1. The entire room, suite or apartment is cleaned before leaving for break.
   In traditional halls, this is the room you live in. In suites and apartments, this includes the bedrooms, common areas, in-unit hall ways, kitchens, commodes, vanities, showers etc.
   
   All students sharing a room, suite, or apartment are responsible for the condition of the space regardless of when they leave for break. It is recommended that roommates work together to make sure the entire space is clean before anyone leaves for break. Then, as students check out, the space is maintained and kept clean. This avoids leaving all of the cleaning to the last student to leave for break. 
   
   
2. All trash and recycling is removed from the space and taken to the dumpsters outside.
   Do not leave trash in residence hall stairwells, lobbies, common areas, public bathrooms or any space except the dumpsters. Community damage billing will result otherwise.
   
   Any trash or recycling left behind will be removed by staff and the students assigned to the space will be billed $25 per bag.
   
   
3. Refrigerators
   1. Personal Refrigerators
      1. Are unplugged, emptied, defrosted, cleaned, and left open.
      2. Pro-Tip: It typically takes about 24 hours to fully defrost a personal refrigerator and clean out the water melted from the freezer coils. Take this into account while preparing to leave. Housing staff will be opening all personal refrigerators left on campus to ensure that they are cleaned out, cleaned, and defrosted. Any food items left in any refrigerator will be discarded by staff and the student will be charged at least $25.
         
         
   2. University Provided Refrigerators
      1. DO NOT UNPLUG UNIVERSITY PROVIDED REFRIGERATORS.
      2. All refrigerators will be opened and inspected by Housing Staff after closing. Only condiments and frozen goods may stay in University provided refrigerators. All other food left in the refrigerator will be removed and thrown away by staff and the student(s) will be charged at least $25.
         
         
4. Remove all open and perishables foods.
   
5. All electronics left behind are unplugged
   
   
6. Windows are closed and locked. Blinds left all the way open.
   
   
7. Thermostats are turned all the way down.
   1. Low Rise: Leave your thermostats at 55 degrees.

The only students expected to completely move out of their fall housing assignments are those who:

• Request a Spring 2026 room change.
• Graduate in December
• Withdraw from the University

Otherwise, if you plan to return to the same housing assignment in the spring, you are welcome to leave some belongings behind, however it's recommended that you bring home:

• Everyday items you'll need while away from campus (clothing, toiletries, etc.)
• Valuables (electronics, jewelry, etc.)
• Important Documents (birth certificates, passports etc.)
• Medications
• Any campus-approved animals
  • Do not leave your fish (or any pet) behind. It will not survive the Winter Break on its own. It will be removed by staff and the student will be charged at least $25. All fish tanks are required to be cleaned, and associated electronics turned off before leaving for break.
• Academic materials needed for Winter Break
• Dirty laundry and linens

Prohibited and Confiscated Items:
Bring home any prohibited items in your room and do not bring them back to campus. If an item was confiscated by staff, it can be picked up from the residence hall office before leaving for break. Items confiscated over the fall semester that are not picked up before winter break will be disposed/discarded. 

The University is not responsible for the loss or damage to any personal belongings or property.

If a student needs to access the residence halls because something was left behind, they will need to schedule an appointment to do so with the Office of Housing and Residential Life.

The Office of Housing and Residential Life is open Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm, and will be CLOSED on Christmas Day, New Years Day, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

After a student schedules their check out time with staff, they pack their belongings, clean their space and remove all trash:

• Meet the residence hall staff member at the residence hall front desk.
• The staff member will ask:
  • If your room, suite, or apartment is completely cleaned.
  • If all trash and recycling has been removed.
  • If your belongings are all packed and ready to go.

• Remember: It is not the responsibility of the student staff member (Resident Assistant or Office Assistant) to remind students of possible missed expectations that may be caught during after-closing inspections nor are they able to determine if a student will receive damage billing or not. Damage billing and closing-related documentation is determined after the halls close and during final inspections.