Eight-month communities close for Winter Break on December 20, 2023 at 9:00 p.m. and reopen on Sunday, January 28, 2024 at 9 a.m.  Students are expected to leave 24 hours after their last exam, or by December 20, 2023 at 9 p.m., whichever comes first.

Students in 8-month communities do not have to remove all of their items, but are expected to vacate and complete the below checklist to help ensure the overall health & safety of their room and personal belongings:

• Clean their bathroom and personal spaces well. To avoid a stuffy bathroom, leave the bathroom door open. Make sure it’s okay with suitemates before leaving the bathroom door(s) unlocked.

• Remove and dispose of all trash in a trash room or a dumpster.

• Set the heat between 68-72 degrees.

• Unplug all appliances and extension cords from the wall. If approved appliances are left plugged in, make sure the electrical connections are safe: not running under rugs, hanging loosely out of the wall, or plugged into a thin extension cord.

• Remove fish and/or plants during winter break.

• Take valuables home including medicine, passports, pet fish, and any other items you will need over break. Communities will be inaccessible during break.

• Turn off water. Make sure faucets are not dripping.

• Turn off lights and bathroom exhaust fans.

• Close and lock all windows and doors.

• Close blinds on ground floor rooms; leave blinds up on all other floors.

• Clean your refrigerator and dispose of perishable items. 

• Defrost and prop microfridge doors open during winter break.

• Remove all remaining personal items from the floor and place them on elevated surfaces. Reminder: Renter’s Insurance is strongly recommended in the event of flood, fire, or theft.

• Report facilities concerns to FXIT.

• Update your shipping/mailing address; mail will not be received/held during the break closure.

RAs will conduct an inspection in each 8-month community. Failure to properly prepare your space and vacate by the deadline may result in student conduct action. For more information about break closing please contact your RA or Community Director. 

• Graduating,

• Have a late exam ending after 9 p.m. on December 20, 2023; or

• Volunteering with commencement

Residents approved for late stay will be expected to depart by December 21, 2023 at 10 a.m.

As a current resident you acknowledged a housing license (contract) that is for the entire academic year. If you do not plan to return to housing in the Spring Semester please review your options and complete the outlined instructions.

• Not Returning to UMBC (Transfer, Withdraw and/or Leave): Students who do not plan to return to UMBC are not automatically released from the housing license. You must complete the Petition Request form on the Housing Portal as soon as possible.

• Extenuating Circumstance Preventing Return to Housing (Medical, Financial, etc.): Students who plan to attend UMBC in the Spring but are unable to return to on-campus housing must complete the Petition Request form on the Housing Portal as soon as possible. License releases are extraordinary, not automatic, and will be reviewed, with appropriate supporting documentation. 

• December Graduates & Spring Study Abroad Students: Residents who have applied and are approved for December graduation or Spring Study Abroad are automatically released from the terms of the license.  You are not expected to complete a petition form. However, Walker Avenue residents should contact the WAA Management Office via email if they did not already.

Spring registration is currently open to eligible students.  If you are planning to continue to live on-campus, you should be working with your Academic Advisor to enroll as a full-time student for the Spring semester.  Automatic exceptions to that policy will be made for the following groups:

• Spring 2024 Graduates | Students registered to graduate at the end of Spring 2024 that do not need full-time status to meet graduation requirements, will be granted an exception to remain in housing at part-time status for the semester.  You do not need to contact Residential Life; instead please make sure you complete the Graduation Application (https://registrar.umbc.edu/preparing-for-graduation/) by the expressed deadline.

• Housing & SDS Accommodation | Students with an approved accommodation from Student Disability Student (sds.umbc.edu) to carry less than full-time credits will be granted an exception to remain in housing at part-time status, once we receive a copy of their accommodation letter. You do not need to contact Residential Life; please work directly with SDS.

Students with outstanding fall semester balances over $250 may be ineligible to register for Spring courses and risk housing termination.  Residents with past due balances were emailed throughout November and provided the following information:

• Primary contacts for assistance in resolving account issues are Student Business Services (umbc.edu) and The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships (financialaid.umbc.edu).

• If your account is not cleared or you are not granted a registration clearance by December 8, 2023, you will receive a Spring Housing Termination Notice and will be expected to vacate and remove all personal items by 9 p.m. on December 20, 2023.