Take a Break - Winter 2023 | Residence Education and Housing Services

winter break starts Saturday, December 16 and ends Sunday, January 7.

Winter break is nearly here and we hope you enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation!

All students are required to vacate their rooms during the winter break hall closure by Saturday, December 16 at 12 pm. If you are returning to campus for Spring 2024, you are permitted to leave your belongings during the Winter Break period.

Students are typically not permitted to stay when the residence halls are closed during the Winter Break period. Students who need to be here at any point during break period for an MTU related reason or extenuating set of circumstances may complete the Winter Break Stay application no later than Wednesday, December 13 at 5 pm.

Winter Break Stay Request

Please note approved requests are subject to a $20 daily rate for any stay during the residence hall closure. Late requests may be denied or may not be processed prior to the end of the semester. The Housing Office closes for break on Friday, December 22 at 5 pm and will not be available to respond to calls or emails regarding last-minute changes until Wednesday, January 3.

Winter Break Departure Checklist

All students must ensure their rooms are prepared before leaving for Winter Break and should follow these procedures listed below. Although electricity will NOT be turned off in resident rooms, energy conservation will be in effect during the break period. Staff will be entering all residence hall rooms to make sure windows are closed and conduct maintenance. If you are leaving campus during the break, please ensure you complete the following:

Remove all recycling, trash, and food that will spoil from your room and place in a sealed bag before moving to the trash container in your hall.
Please do not leave food in the common shared kitchenettes. Kitchenettes will be cleaned during the break.
Turn the heat on in your room to prevent pipes from freezing.
Unplug all electrical items and defrost your refrigerator at least 24 hours before you depart.
Close and lock your window. Leave your blinds open.
Turn off your lights and lock your room door.
Residence Education and Facilities Management staff may enter your room during the break to conduct room checks and maintenance.

Parking during break

We encourage you to leave your car at home during break if you don’t use it on a regular basis due to the narrowing of parking lots in the winter. If you previously purchased a permit and will no longer need it, the permit can be returned to the Transportation Services Office prior to January 1 for a partial refund.

If you are leaving your vehicle on campus during break, you must park it in Lot 26A Commuter Lot via Garnet Street. Vehicles must be moved during the following time frame:

Move to lot 26A: Between Friday, December 15 at noon and Sunday, December 17 at 10:00 pm. Students leaving prior to this time, OR who are remaining on campus and need regular access to their vehicle, must contact the Transportation Services Office to request alternate parking accommodations. If Lot 26A is full, you may park in Lower Lot 21 closest to the guardrail of Lot 26A.
Move back to Assigned Lot: Between Saturday, January 6 at 9:00 am and Sunday, January 7 at 11:00 pm. Vehicles not moved to their designated lot on Monday, January 8th will be cited.

On-Campus Dining During the Break

All dining halls will remain open through Wednesday, December 13. Starting on December 14, dining hall closure information is as follows:

The Food Hall at Wadsworth is closed starting Friday, December 15 at 6 pm and will reopen on Sunday, January 7 at 4:30 pm
The Food Hall at DHH is closed starting Thursday, December 14 and will reopen on Monday, January 8 for breakfast
The Eatery at McNair Hall is closed starting Friday, December 15 and will reopen on Monday, January 8 for breakfast

Please visit https://dineoncampus.com/mtu for retail dining hours and menu information.

Quiet Hours

Beginning Friday, December 8 at 12 pm, 22 hour quiet hours occur until Friday, December 15 at 12 pm.

Consideration hours are in effect during this time from 12-1 pm and 5-6 pm. If you need to move or vacuum, please do so during consideration hours.

Ask your RA for more details.

Permanent Check Out

If you are leaving and will not be returning for the spring semester, you must see your RA who will assist you in properly checking out. When you are finished checking out of your room, please bring your Blue Key Return Envelope and Key(s) to your Reception Desk.

All students leaving must be completely checked out of their rooms by no later than Saturday, December 16 at 12 pm. If you can’t meet the check out deadline, please contact your RA and request a late departure through the Winter Break Stay application.

Failure to checkout properly may result in a $25.00 improper check-out and a $55.00 - $75.00 core change charge, and/ or room and board charges for the first week of the spring semester.

To ensure proper mail forwarding, you MUST update your student account online in Banweb.

Hillside Only

If you are leaving and will not be returning for the spring semester, you must see your RA who will assist you in properly checking out. When you are finished checking out of your room, please bring your Signed Checkout Form to the McNair Reception Desk or to the misaddressed mail slot at the Hillside Place mailboxes.

Decorations

Candles and flammable decorations are not permitted. Unsure if your decorations are safe? Talk with your RA.

All holiday decorations must be removed from your hall by 12:00 noon, Saturday, December 16.

Empty Space in Your Room?

If you have an empty space in your room, you will be assigned a new student as a roommate. Prior to leaving for break, you must prepare your room by clearing half of the room.

You will be provided with your new roommate’s information in the HuskyHouse portal. Please note that students may be placed at any time during the semester.

Facilities staff will be entering your room over the break to clean the space for the new resident. If you have not cleared the space, you will be charged $100.00.

Hillside Only

If you have an empty space in your apartment and your unit is single gendered, you will be assigned a new student as a roommate.

If you have an empty space in your apartment and your unit is gender inclusive, please contact Residence Education and Housing Services at 906-487-2682 for further instructions.

Damage

If you live in a house that has received community damage charges, you will be billed a percentage of those charges and be notified of your fee due.

If the damage fee due is less than $1.00 per person, then that cost will be rolled over to the following semester. At the end of spring semester, if the cost is still less than $1.00 per person, no damage due amount will be collected.

If you do owe a damage fee for fall semester, you can pay this at the reception desk. This must be done no later than Thursday, December 14. If you have not paid the damage due amount by this date, a University bill will be generated at a minimum cost of $5.00.

Bringing a Car Back?

If you are bringing a vehicle to campus for the first time, please make sure to register online here.

You may also go to Transportation Services to register. Picture ID and vehicle registration are required.

Aquariums and Plants

Staff is not available to feed your fish or water your plants. Please use a vacation feeder and water your plants thoroughly.

Reception Desks

All residence hall reception desks will close on Saturday, December 16 at 12 pm. The reception desks will reopen on Saturday, January 6.

There will be no mail service during the break. All mail and packages will be held and slotted when the desks reopen.

The front desk will not accept outgoing packages after Wednesday, December 13. All checked-out items must be returned to the desk by 8:00 pm on Thursday, December 14.

Maintenance Inspection

Residence Education staff will enter every room to complete a maintenance inspection over the break period. They will verify that windows are closed, all electronics are unplugged, and there are no health or safety issues present in the room. If any concerns are found in your room, staff will leave a policy violation form, and your REC will email you with additional information in January.