Residence halls close during university breaks throughout the academic year. Students may apply to stay in their residence hall during breaks without an additional cost, as long as they are approved to stay by Residence Life. During these breaks, meal swipes are not available. Official dates for all breaks are available in the academic calendar.
All residence halls close for Fall Break at 5 p.m. on the Friday of Fall Break until 12 p.m. the following Tuesday. Official dates for Fall Break are available in the academic calendar.
If you need to request to stay past closing for any reason, you will need to fill out the Request to Stay Form which will be available on your Housing Portal.
In partnership with the Department of Campus Safety, shuttle services are offered for Fall Break to assist students with transportation to and from Dulles International Airport. The shuttle will leave campus the Friday of Fall Break and return the following Tuesday. Shuttles will always leave campus at noon and 4 p.m.and return to campus from Dulles at 5 p.m. Resdence Life will email students prior to each break with a registration link. The cost of the shuttle ($25 one-way or $50 roundtrip) will be billed to the student’s account.
All residence halls close for Thanksgiving Break at 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving until noon the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Official dates for Thanksgiving Break are available in the academic calendar.
If you need to request to stay past closing for any reason, you will need to fill out the Request to Stay Form which will be available on your Housing Portal.
In partnership with the Department of Campus Safety, shuttle services are offered for Thanksgiving Break to assist students with transportation to and from Dulles International Airport. The shuttle will leave campus the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and return the following Sunday. Shuttles will always leave campus at noon and 4 p.m. and return to campus from Dulles at 5 p.m.. Life will email students prior to each break with a registration link. The cost of the shuttle ($25 one-way or $50 roundtrip) will be billed to the student’s account.
All residence halls close for Winter Break at 5 p.m. on the Friday of final exam week in December until noon the Sunday before the start of classes for Spring Term in January. Official dates for Winter Break are available in the academic calendar.
If you need to request to stay past closing for any reason, you will need to fill out the Request to Stay Form which will be available on your Housing Portal. If you are approved to stay, and depending on your residence hall, it is possible that you will only be approved to a certain date and time, and not for the full time you originally requested.
In partnership with the Department of Campus Safety, shuttle services are offered for Spring Break to assist students with transportation to and from Dulles International Airport. The shuttle will leave campus the Friday of final exam week and return the Sunday before Spring Term classes begin. The shuttle will leave campus the Friday of final exam week and return the Sunday before Spring term classes begin. Shuttles will always leave campus at noon and 4 p.m. and return to campus from Dulles at 5 p.m. Life will email students prior to each break with a registration link. The cost of the shuttle ($25 one-way or $50 roundtrip) will be billed to the student’s account.
Move Out Instructions
Students who are leaving campus housing after Fall Term should refer to the move out and check out instructions listed under Move Out Instructions further down this page. Students returning to campus housing for Spring term, should follow the instructions below.
Prior to leaving for winter break, complete the following:
- Close and lock your windows
- Leave blinds and curtains/shades open (except first floor residents)
- Unplug all appliances except refrigerators & fish tanks
- Empty/remove all trash from your room and bathroom (if trash is not removed prior to your departure, you may be fined)
- Pack any medicines, books, etc you will need during break, as you will not be able to access your room
- Remove all perishable foods from your fridge and room (if perishables are not removed prior to your departure, you may be fined)
- Clean your room (excessively dirty rooms may be fined)
- Submit maintenance requests for any items that need to be addressed
- Set your room thermostat to heat mode at 65 degrees
- Clear off your toilets, tubs, and showers completely before you leave for maintenance/custodial cleaning
- Turn off all lights
- Shut your door
- If you are in a double room without a roommate, be sure you are roommate-ready which means the second bed, desk, dresser, and other furniture need to remain vacant and clean (if you are not roommate ready prior to your departure, you may be fined)
All residence halls close for Spring Break at 5 p.m. on the Friday before Spring Break until 12 p.m. the Sunday after Spring Break in March. Official dates for Spring Break are available in the academic calendar
If you need to request to stay past closing for any reason, you will need to fill out the Request to Stay Form which will be available on your Housing Portal
In partnership with the Department of Campus Safety, shuttle services are offered for Spring Break to assist students with transportation to and from Dulles International Airport. The shuttle will leave campus the Friday before Spring Break and return the Sunday after Spring Break. Shuttles will always leave campus at noon and 4 p.m. and return to campus from Dulles at 5 p.m. Life will email students prior to each break with a registration link. The cost of the shuttle ($25 one-way or $50 roundtrip) will be billed to the student’s account.
All residence halls close for the semester at 5 p.m. on the Friday of final exam week in May. Official dates for finals and end of term are available in the academic calendar. Any students found in the residence halls after 5 p.m. on that day who have not been approved may be fined, in addition to other disciplinary action.
If you need to request to stay past closing for any reason, you will need to fill out the Request to Stay Form which will be available on your Housing Portal.
If you are approved to stay and depending on your residence hall, it is possible that you will only be approved to a certain date and time, and not for the full time you originally requested. It is also possible that you will need to completely move out of your current room and stay in a temporary space until your approved move out date.
There is no shuttle service offered for Summer Break.
Students may also apply for summer housing for an additional fee. Students who apply for summer housing should expect to move out of their academic year housing and into their summer housing shortly after spring term ends.
Move Out Instructions
Students who are leaving campus housing after Fall Term, or moving from one room into another for Summer Term, should refer to the move out and check out instructions listed under the end of term Move Out Instructions.
Upon move out, complete the following:
- Begin defrosting your refrigerator 3 days prior to your move-out date.
- Clean your room and bathroom thoroughly and remove all trash to the dumpster nearest your residence hall. Ask your RA if you do not know where the dumpster is.
- Return all university furniture assigned to your room to its original setup
- Remove all stickers, sticky tape, posters, nails, tape, graffiti, etc. from all surfaces.
- Remove all your belongings from the room
- Put screens back in the windows, close all windows, and turn the air conditioner to 65 degrees Failure to do any of the above will result in a fine for each separate infraction. You are responsible for any damages found in the room and will be fined accordingly.
Express Check Out
- When you have completely moved out of your room and are ready to checkout, you will need to fill out the Express Check Out Form which will be available on your Housing Portal.
- Place your room key in the key dropbox located in your residence hall. The express checkout form lists where each residence hall dropbox can be found. You can also ask your RA where the key dropbox can be found. Additionally, there is a key dropbox outside of Cooley Hall that you can also leave your key in.
- If you have already left campus, you may also mail your key back to us at: Residence Life, 1460 University Drive, Winchester, VA 22601
- There is a $100 charge for keys that are not returned upon checkout.
- If you are taking responsibility for damage in the room, mark this on the checkout form. Otherwise, you and your roommate will be fined for damage in the room.
- Once the check-out form is received, staff will enter the room to verify that the student has moved out. Items left behind will be discarded.
Regular Check Out
- Make an appointment with your RA to check out of the room
- Meet with your RA, give them your room key, and have them inspect your room in your presence.
If you fail to attend your agreed-upon appointment time to check out, staff will still enter the room at the date and time agreed upon to verify the student has moved out. There is a $100 for keys that are not returned upon checkout.
Fill out a mail forwarding address card at the campus mailroom. Failure to fill out the mail-forwarding card will result in your mail being returned to sender.
Solenberger residents – Fill out a mail forwarding address card with USPS. Empty your mailbox and return your mailbox key along with your room key, to the Solenberger key dropbox, or the Residence Life dropbox outside of Cooley Hall.