Winter Break Closing Reminders • Housing and Residence Life • UCF (2024)

Everything to know before you leave your residence hall

Posted Friday, December 2, 2022 @ 7:58 PM

The Fall semester is almost over, and it’s time for important information regarding the end of the semester procedures. Additional details regarding these policies can be found in the Community Living Guide and Housing Agreement.

• Residence halls close for winter break at 12:00pm (noon) on Monday, December 12, 2022.
• Residence halls will reopen for residents at 9:00am on Saturday, January 7, 2023

Final Exams and Quiet Hours

• The last day of classes is Friday, December 2, 2022.
• All residence halls and apartments have 24-hour quiet hours beginning Friday, December 2, 2022.
• Final exams will occur Monday, December 5 through Saturday, December 11, 2022.
• You are encouraged to move out or depart for winter break 24 hours after your last exam.

Departing for Winter Break

If you are returning for Spring 2023 to the same room:

• You may leave your belongings in your room during the break.
• You should plan to leave within 24 hours after your last final.
• Your community will close for the semester break at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, December 12, 2022 and will reopen at 9:00am a.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2022.

Upon your return for Spring 2023, you must visit the community office to check-in and re-gain access to your room. You are able to do this beginning on Saturday, January 7, 2023.

You may get new roommates! If you have a vacant bed or bedroom in your room, please ensure your apartment is welcome-ready (you are responsible for returning your space to the condition it was in when you moved in), even after your current roommates leave. New residents may be moving into the suite, and it is your responsibility to ensure the common areas are clean. Common spaces of the suite must remain welcome-ready through January 7, 2023. Please contact your community office should you have any questions. Staff will be inspecting common areas to check that spaces are ready for move-in.

Break Preparation

You will receive information from your RA on how to prepare your room for the semester break. Here are some important reminders for all residents:

• Take home all valuable items including medication, identification, electronic devices or anything you may need during the break.
• Close and lock all windows (if applicable). Leave blind slats closed, tightly close all faucets and turn off all lights.
• Set your thermostat to Auto, 72 degrees.
• Turn off all alarm clocks or devices.
• Clean room/apartment and remove all trash including, common/kitchen area, bedroom, and bathroom to the exterior dumpsters.
• Ensure common spaces are clean and free of any obstructions.
• Refrigerators (including minifridges) should remain plugged in, however, all perishables should be disposed of and refrigerators should be cleaned (as needed).
• Unplug all electronic items with the exception of refrigerators (regardless of size).

Moving Out or Room Change

If you are moving to a different community or room for Spring 2023 or do not have a housing agreement for Spring 2023, you must complete the move-out process by 12:00 p.m. Monday, December 12, 2022. If you are cancelling your Spring agreement, you must submit a cancellation request via our housing contact form.

If you have already been approved to move to a new room for spring semester you must move out before going home for the break. Failure to move out of your Fall 2022 room may result in the room change being revoked.

Please refer to our website for check-out instructions.

All personal belongings including trash, food items, bathroom amenities, equipment and technology need to be removed from personal and/or common spaces prior to check-out. Before departing, your thermostat must be set to 72 degrees on Auto. Failure to do so will result in improper check-out fees and loss of ability to appeal charges for room damages.

If you are leaving and have roommates remaining in the same apartment for the next semester:

You will receive information from your RA during your community meeting on preparing to move out. Here are some important reminders for all residents:?

1. Make your space “Welcome Ready”: You are responsible for returning your space to the condition it was in when you moved in.
2. Communicate with your roommates: Who will be responsible for ensuring each portion of your space is clean? When are each of you leaving?
3. Plan ahead and make a list: Don’t wait to decide when you are checking out. What do you need to accomplish before the end of the semester?
4. Communicate with friends/family: Do you need a ride home? Who is taking which shared items? Does anyone need to help you move out? Can you start to move things home early? Make sure you confirm these details early.
5. Report facility issues (and missing keys) in advance: To simplify your checkout process, report any maintenance issues or lost keys to your community office now.
6. Consider donating: Rather than throwing away unwanted items, consider donating them to the donation boxes located near your community office.
7. Ask for help: If you have any questions about the checkout process or need any assistance before the end of the semester, don’t hesitate to contact your RA or call the community office.
8. Check out properly: When you’re ready to leave, complete the Express Check Out Form online through the housing portal.

If you fail to properly check-out and complete the express checkout process including returning your keys, charges will be incurred and posted to your myUCF account.

Pre-Move-Out Checklist

Below is the checklist to follow when cleaning and moving out of your community. For more information on charges as a result of excessive dirtiness, or leaving behind trash or personal items, you can contact your Community Office. These charges are also listed in your Community Living Guide. It can be very expensive if you leave without cleaning well. Please see the “Cleaning Tips and Tricks” section to help you begin the cleaning process.

• Clean out all personal items from your room, bathroom, kitchen, and common area (s).
• Defrost, clean, and empty minifridges. Empty kitchen refrigerators of all perishables and clean the interior of the unit. Apartment refrigerators should remain plugged in at time of departure.
• Clean out all drawers of personal belongings, wipe down furniture, and windowsills.
• Remove all items posted on your door, windows, and walls including tape, sticky tac, or other adhesive residue.
• Do not remove the closing checklist placed on your exterior door.
• Set thermostat to AUTO 72 degrees.
• Take out all trash to your community dumpsters. Break down and recycle boxes.
• Close and lock all windows (if applicable) and leave blinds open.
• Turn off all lights.
• Return your bedroom hard key (if applicable) to your community office drop box.
• Key envelopes will be available at drop-off locations in each community.
• Be sure to write your first and last name, UCFID, and building (number)/room number.
• Place your bedroom hard key if applicable (hard keys only; not Student ID card) inside the envelope and seal.
• Please visit our website for your community drop-off location.
• If you do not return your key to your community drop-off location during move-out you will be charged a $75.00 fee. Students will not be able to mail in room keys after move-out.
• Check your mailbox and return your mail key (if applicable) to one of the below mail centers during business hours (Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm) or locations with an after-hour drop box indicated by *

If you do not return your mail key, you will be assessed a $50.00 fee.

• Update your forwarding address on the housing portal for any mail you may receive after moving out.

When you are ready to move-out:

• Pack and remove all belongings before asking to be checked out or using the Express Check Out form on the housing portal.
• Your room must be clean prior to checking out.
• Return your keys and complete the express checkout form in the housing portal.
• Check your mailbox at the Mail Center and complete a change of address form before final departure.

Graduating Seniors

Graduating seniors who are moving out at the end of the semester may stay until their commencement ceremony. If you are graduating and need to stay past 12:00pm (noon) on Monday, December 12, 2022, please go to your community office to update your key access. If you do not update your key before Tuesday, December 13, 2022, you will lose access to your space. Graduating students will not be permitted to stay past Sunday, December 18, 2022 at 12pm (noon).

Questions about the semester break or moving out should be directed to your community office. Residence halls reopen for Spring 2023 at 9:00am on Saturday, January 7, 2023.

Good luck on finals and enjoy your semester break!