Break Housing

Academic Year Break Housing

During the academic year, the residence halls close for Winter Break in November and Spring Break in March. This provides many students with a much needed respite from campus to refresh and recharge. It is also an opportunity for high-impact facilities projects to be completed. Given that the breaks vary greatly in length, there is different criteria by which a student is allowed to stay, noted below.

Students who are not approved to stay over break must check out of their rooms by the advertised deadline and following the required procedures. Those who fail to do so are subject to improper checkout fees. It is not permissible to stay in one’s room beyond the closing deadline or to return prior to opening, and students are expected to make their travel arrangements accordingly. Personal belongings may be left behind if the student in question is returning to the same room for the following quarter. However, the College recommends that valuables be taken home, if possible. Those leaving campus housing at the end of any given term must fully vacate their room and return their key(s) prior to departing campus or they will be charged for a lock change and any other necessary measures.

There is no additional charge for housing over break periods. Campus Dining Services is not operational, nor are term meal plans active, so students staying on campus are responsible for their own meals. Athletes and those who are employed are only permitted to be on campus if scheduled practice/competition or work obligations coincide with the break. Employment verification is required for approval of those who are working and may be sent to breakhousing@kzoo.edu.

Break housing is viewed an an opportunity to better serve our students who need extra flexibility. That being said, all College policies remain in effect. If a student’s behavior becomes problematic, then they risk losing this privilege altogether.

Winter Break

Winter Break begins the Wednesday before Thanksgiving on any given year and goes until early January, depending on the calendar. The only students who may request to stay on campus during Winter Break are international students, in-season athletes actively participating in practice or competition, and those who are employed by the College or in the local community and have standing work obligations over break (pending employment verification). Requests must be made via an electronic form, which will be circulated during the mid to latter part of Fall Quarter.

Spring Break

Spring Break lasts 10 days from mid-late March or early April, depending on the calendar. The only students who may request to stay on campus during Spring Break are international students, in-season athletes actively participating in practice or competition, those who are employed by the College or in the local community and have standing work obligations (pending employment verification), and individuals whose permanent address is more than 450 miles away. Requests must be made via an electronic form, which will be circulated during the mid to latter part of Winter Quarter.

Summer Housing

The residence halls close for Summer Break in mid-June and re-open for Fall Term in early September. This is a time when the majority of students leave campus and our Facilities Management team completes deferred or other high-impact facilities projects. We do recognize that some students may have a need to stay in Kalamazoo during the summer months therefore, Summer Housing is viewed as an opportunity to better serve our students who need this extra flexibility.

Eligibility, Cost, and Application

All students who are registered for classes during the spring term immediately preceding and the fall term immediately following the summer are eligible for summer housing. All College and Residential Life policies are in-place and enforced during the summer and violation of these policies may result in immediate removal from summer housing.

Summer housing costs $150 per week for the duration of stay (rounded up to the nearest week).

The summer housing application will be made available below during May and all students requesting summer housing must submit the application by no later than June 1st.

On the summer housing application, students will be asked to indicate a specific period of consecutive days during which they will be on campus for summer housing. Summer housing charges will be applied to their student account according to the College’s billing arrangements. A student may spend some period of time within their indicated block away from the room (a vacation, for example) but must pay for the entire block. Students who check out early will still be charged for the entire block. This block of time may be extended at the student’s written request, but may not exceed the posted summer housing move-out date. Accounts will not be pro-rated once charges have been posted.

Check-In

Students who will have a continuous stay from spring to summer will remain in their assigned spring term space until summer housing spaces have been cleaned and inspected by custodial and facilities management staff. Students will likely move from their spring to summer assignments one to two weeks after commencement.

Students who will be returning to campus later in the summer, but before the fall term, will be expected to fully vacate their assigned spring space during the normal checkout timeline before commencement. Storage lockers are available for rental through the Office of Student Development for $25 for the summer.

All check-ins for summer housing will be in the Office of Student Development during normal business hours or with Campus Safety after hours.

Check-Out

Students who will be moving out of summer housing before the end of August will be required to turn in their room key to the Office of Student Development during normal business hours. If a student’s room key is turned in more than 2 days after their intended move-out date, they will be charged for an additional week of summer housing.

Students without a fall term housing assignment must move out of summer housing by no later than Sunday, August 11 at 12:00pm (noon) and turn in their room key to the summer RA.

Students with a fall housing assignment will be permitted to move to their fall spaces on or before that date.

Prior to all check-outs, students must make sure their spaces are fully emptied and cleaned. Students are responsible and may be charged for extraordinary cleaning, damage, and abandoned personal property upon check-out. Any student who fails to return their room key will face lock and key replacement charges.

Location, Room Types, and Dining

Summer housing locations are determined in partnership with Facilities Management based on planned facilities projects. All summer residents are provided a private bedroom for the duration of their summer stay. Campus Dining Services are not operational during the summer, so students staying on campus are responsible for their own meals. Each residence hall is equipped with at least one full kitchen for students to utilize.

Summer Housing Request Form

  • Summer Housing Criteria

    Summer Housing is available to all students who are registered for classes during the spring term immediately preceding and the fall term immediately following the summer are eligible for summer housing. Students without a Fall 2024 housing assignment must move out of summer housing by no later than Sunday, August 11 at 12:00pm (noon). Students with a Fall 2024 housing assignment will be permitted to move to their fall spaces on or before that date. All College and Residential Life policies are in-place and enforced during the summer and violation of these policies may result in immediate removal from summer housing.
  • Please indicate a specific period of consecutive days during which you will be on campus for summer housing. Summer housing charges will be applied to your student account according to the College’s billing arrangements. A student may spend some period of time within the block away from the room (a vacation, for example) but must pay for the entire block. Students who check out early will still be charged for the entire block. This block of time may be extended at your written request, but may not exceed the posted summer housing move-out date. Accounts will not be pro-rated.
  • Students without a Fall 2024 housing assignment must move out of summer housing by no later than Sunday, August 11 at 12:00pm (noon). Students with a Fall 2024 housing assignment will be permitted to move to their fall spaces on or before that date.

  • Housing Preferences

    All summer housing is in the Grove Houses and all summer residents are provided a private bedroom for the duration of the summer.
  • Requests must be mutual in order to honored.
  • Residential Life will work with students who have special needs when completing housing assignments. The College will provide accessible housing to students with disabilities. Students seeking formal accommodations must visit https://disabilities.kzoo.edu and submit the Request for Accommodations Form.

  • Terms of the Housing Contract

    1. The College reserves the right to assign space, change assignments, or remove students from the residential system when deemed necessary. 2. The student agrees to observe and abide by all federal, state, and local laws, as well as Kalamazoo College policies. 3. At the time of sign up, students will indicate a specific period of consecutive weeks for summer residence and will pay for that block according to the College’s billing arrangements. A student may spend some period of time within the block away from the room (a vacation, for example) but must pay for the entire block. Students who check out early will still be charged for the entire block. Accounts will not be pro-rated. 4. Residential, key card, and dining privileges may not be used by anyone but the assigned student. 5. The student is fully responsible for the assigned living area and any excessive damage or cleaning charges necessary upon move-out. 6. The College assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to the personal property or residents. This includes, but is not limited to, theft and facilities emergencies. Students are encouraged to make sure their possessions are covered under their family homeowners insurance policy or to obtain renters insurance. 7. For students without a fall housing assignments, summer housing is available through Sunday, August 11 at noon. These summer residents must be completely checked out by that time. For students who have fall housing assignments, summer housing is available directly up to the start of the fall term. These students will be permitted to move to their fall spaces during the week of August 11-18 (or earlier depending upon room availability).