Winter break is the period of time between Christmas and New Years Day that campus closes for the annual holiday break. Housing breaks a few days prior so staff can prepare for the campus closure. Winter intersession begins January 2.
Residents who plan to be on campus during winter break must register to stay via the Intent to Stay form. There is no extra cost to stay on campus over winter shutdown; however, residents must register their intent as a safety precaution so we know who is here in the event of an emergency.
The deadline to register to stay for winter break is Thursday, December 4 at 5 p.m. Failure to register by the designated deadline may result in an improper check out fee.
Submit Intent to Stay in the Housing Portal
Residents who do not register to stay must vacate their unit by 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 18. Fall key cards will deactivate at this time.
Staying for Break
Residents who plan to stay on campus during break must do the following:
- Submit Intent to Stay before the deadline
- Have fall keycard recoded during the assigned timeframe
Housing staff is available 24/7, even during the break, to assist residents with questions, lockouts, or emergencies.
Leaving for Break
Residents who do not need to stay on campus for the break must vacate their unit by Thursday, December 18 at 12:00 p.m. Personal belongings can stay in your room/unit.
- Complete the Winter Break Checklist prior to departure
- Room/gate keys will deactivate at 12:00 p.m. on the date listed above. When you return to campus after January 1, your first stop should be the Housing Office to have your card reactivated.
- Housing staff will conduct room checks shortly after closure to make sure the shutdown tasks were completed. A fee of $25 per bag will be charged to all roommates or the appropriate person if housing staff removes garbage or recyclables left in a suite, apartment, or bedroom.
Residents not registered to stay can return to campus during front office business hours beginning January 2. See below for more details.
Winter Break FAQs
Still have questions? Contact the Housing Office for more information about planning for winter break.
Winter Break refers to the time when the entire campus closes for the annual holiday break, typically between Christmas and New Year's Day. Housing operations cease a few days earlier to give staff time to prepare for the closure.
After the shutdown, at the start of January, Winter Intersession begins and some students take winter courses. This period of time leads up to the start of the spring semester.
Yes. Housing has on-call 24-7 support in the event of an emergency, but the Housing Office and community spaces, as well as all campus dining venues, will be closed.
The university mailroom is also closed during this time, meaning that mail and package pickup is unavailable until limited campus operations resume for winter intersession at the start of January.
Residents will be emailed the Intent to Stay form the week following fall break. The form can be accessed inside the Housing Portal.
Residents who have not submitted an Intent to Stay must vacate their unit by December 18 at 12PM. Fall keycards will deactivate at this time.
Residents who did not register to stay can return as early as January 2.
However, due to a large key replacement project occurring the first three weeks of January, we strongly encourage students to wait until mid-late January to return to campus.
This checklist includes tasks that will help prepare your space for sitting dormant while you are away.
Winter Break Checklist tasks include:
- Cleaning out your refrigerator and properly storing any perishables
- Discard all garbage*
- Remove all recyclables*
- Close window blinds and notify the Housing Office immediately if missing a window screen
- Close and lock all windows
- Turn the heater to a low setting
- Make sure all lights are turned off, unplug any electrical appliances (computers, chargers, lamps, clocks, televisions, game consoles, coffee makers, etc)
- Do NOT unplug mini-fridge or kitchen fridge!
- Move your bike into your suite or apartment, leaving a safe path in the room or hallway
A fee of $25 per bag will be charged to all roommates or the appropriate person if housing staff removes garbage or recyclables from a bedroom, suite, or apartment.
Winter Break information will be posted to unit doors and emailed to residents the week following fall break. If you have specific questions about break or intersession, please contact the Housing Office.
Updated: December 01, 2025