Semester Breaks & Closings
Fall Break
October 12-15, 2023 - All Residence Halls remain open during Fall Break. Duty Offices and Residence Administrative offices will remain remain on their normal schedules.
Thanksgiving Week
Students are welcome to access their residence hall over Thanksgiving break. Please be aware that there will be additional Facilities work being performed in the residence halls over break as well.
- If you do not plan to stay in your room during break, be sure to turn off alarm clocks, close and lock your windows/doors, turn off lights, appliances, and set your heater fan coil unit to low.
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- Administrative offices will be closed beginning Monday, November 20, although remote classes will be held on Monday and Tuesday.
- The University will be completely closed for the holiday beginning 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 21 and will reopen at 8:00 a.m. Monday, November 27. Other than residence halls, WMPD and Facilities Management - no other buildings or services will be open or available on campus, including dining operations, Campus Postal Services, Swem Library, Campus Recreation, Sadler or Campus Center, etc.
- The Lock-out Line (757-221-5685) will be available for lock out assistance from November 18 until the duty offices reopen at 6pm on November 26.
- Be sure that your windows and doors are closed and locked at all times.
- Do not prop doors.
- Always carry your residence halls keys AND Tribe Card ID with you.
- Custodial Services will service the residence hall bathrooms periodically throughout the break.
- Emergencies and facilities issues:
- Report emergencies or suspicious incidents to WMPD immediately 757-221-4596 or for emergencies 911.
- Facilities Management and Building Services will have staff on-call to respond to emergencies and their number is staffed 24 hours a day - 757-221-2270.
Winter Break Information
Undergraduate Halls
All undergraduate halls except the Evans Graduate Complex, Ludwell Apartments, Nicholas Apartments & Tribe Square close at 10:00am on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 and reopen on January 19, 2024.
Evans Graduate Complex, Ludwell Apartments, Nicholas Apartments & Tribe Square
Evans Graduate Complex, Ludwell Apartments, Nicholas Apartments & Tribe Square will remain open during the break. International students can contact the Reves Center regarding Winter Break options.
If you are returning to your same room assignment in the spring, you do not have to remove your belongings or turn in your key(s). Keep in mind, you will not have access to your belongings until we reopen in January - so take everything you need! If you are doing a mid-semester room change, follow the instructions given.
Leaving Your Room for Break:
- Complete a light cleaning; sweep/dust room
- Empty and clean your refrigerator if there is one in your room. Do not leave any food in refrigerators.
- Take out all garbage & recyclables outside to designated building dumpsters
- Turn off lights
- Close & lock the window(s) & door(s)
- Set thermostat to 68 degrees
- If you have a vacancy in your room be sure that the other side of the room ready (including a clean floor) for a potential roommate
- Take home all academic and personal items you will need in the event the return to campus might be delayed. We cannot permit access to the halls once we close for break. We want everyone to be prepared for any situation. You should take laptops, electronics, chargers, books, notes, instruments, equipment, medications, passport, legal documents, clothes and other personal care items with you.
- Express Check Out in the Housing Portal upon your departure so we know you have vacated your room and that we are able to check your room before we close for winter break.
- Students who do no leave the residence halls by the 10am on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 deadline will be billed a $150 improper check out fee.
If You Are Moving Out of Your Room or Are Not Returning to W&M for Spring:
- Be sure to submit your Contract Release request and any additional information required for your request on the Contract Release page of your 2023-24 Housing Application by November 28, 2023.
- It is strongly suggested that you have all your items packed and ready to move out before your move out helpers arrive. Plan with your roommate so that you are not moving out at the same time to avoid having too many people in the room.
- Remove all personal belongings, including all posters, tape, stickers and nails from furniture, walls, ceilings, closets and doors
- Complete a light cleaning; sweep/dust room
- Take out all garbage & recyclables outside to designated building dumpsters
- Empty and clean your refrigerator if there is one in your room. Do not leave any food in refrigerators.
- Open all your furniture drawers and cabinet/closet doors
- Turn off lights
- Close & lock the window(s) & door(s)
- Check out with a RA - Schedule an in-person move-out room inspection with you RA to check out. RAs will also be available at your duty office for in-person move-out room inspections December 15-19 between 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm, and during duty office hours.
- If you unable to meet with a RA during the available methods/times listed above, you are required to submit an Express Check out form in the Housing Portal so that we know we can check your room and that you have vacated your room.
- Students not meeting with a RA for an in-person move-out inspection must email myroom@wm.edu to request permission to access the Express Check Out form and must make that request before 48 hours of their anticipated departure or by noon on Friday, December 15, 2023, whichever occurs first.
- A $250 improper check out fee will be billed to those who do not check out with an RA or submit an Express Check Out form by 10am on December 20, 2023.
- A $150+ (minimum) abandoned property fee will be billed for any personal belongings left behind.
- Return your room and/or apartment key(s) to RA staff during your in-person move-out room inspection or by filling out a Check Out envelope, placing your key(s) inside, and leave in the black drop box available at the area/building Duty Office.
- If you need storage and shipping you are able to utilize Dorm Room Movers. When you register with them you will receive a move-out supply kit of 5 boxes and tape. Click here to get started.
- Benefits include:
- Boxes and tape for you to pack
- Pickup and delivery by professional movers
- Climate protected storage
- Domestic shipping via UPS
- $100 per barcoded item coverage
- Benefits include:
Spring Break
Spring Break is March 9-17, residence halls will remain open over Spring Break.
If you do not plan to stay in your room during break, be sure to turn off alarm clocks, close and lock your windows/doors, turn off lights, appliances, and set your heater fan coil unit to low. If you plan to stay in your room during break or any part of Spring Break please remember the following:
- Administrative offices will remain open during the break as scheduled
- There will be RAs on duty during the break. For assistance or if you are locked out of your room, call the duty office phone number in your area after hours or come to the Residence Life office during business hours.
- Duty Office Phone Number
- If you can’t reach the RA on duty, you can also call the Lock-out Line at 757-221-5685.
- Be sure that your windows and doors are closed and locked at all times.
- Do not prop doors.
- Always carry your Tribe Card ID with you.
- Emergencies and facilities issues:
- Report emergencies or suspicious incidents to WMPD immediately: 757-221-4596 or for emergencies 911
- Facilities Management and Building Services will have staff on-call to respond to emergencies and their number is staffed 24 hours a day: 757-221-2270.
May Closing
Students need to move out 48 hours after their last final. Unless approved to remain for graduation commencement. All card access will be turned off Thursday, May 16 unless students are approved to remain for graduation commencement activities. All halls will officially close on May 19, 2024 at 10:00am after graduation. Please review Spring 2024 Check Out information (available mid Spring semester) early so you will be prepared for your move out day
Don't Bring Bedbugs Back from a Break
- Inspect the bed in your motel/hotel. Take the sheet and pull it back and look at the folds and seams of the mattress. Check the mattress pad for signs of blood spots about the size of a pencil point.
- When packing to leave, check your clothing and luggage for signs of the small insects.
- If you get bitten while staying in a motel/hotel, look very carefully around the mattress and bed to try to determine if it is bedbugs. Report the situation to the motel/hotel staff.
- Bedbugs can be killed by heat over 98 degrees. If you discover bedbugs in your clothing or linen, wash them in hot water and dry them in a dryer.
- Carefully inspect anything you buy at a yard sale, garage sale, or thrift store-and wash it in hot water just to be safe.
What to do if you discover bedbugs in your room?
- Signs you might have bedbugs:
- You have white to red bites that itch intensely;
- You discover small, light to dark brown, quarter-centimeter bugs on your sheets or couch; or
- You discover small darkish-brown stains in the seams of your mattress.
- Call Facilities Management at 757-221-2270 during business hours of 7:30am - 4:30pm to arrange inspection and treatment.
