You do not need to remove all of your belongings over winter break but should take all needed items with you before you depart.

Please complete the steps below before you depart for break. HRL staff will then inspect your room to ensure all health, safety, and policy expectations have been met.

Closing Steps:

• Remove all trash from your space, including all open food items.
• Close and lock all windows and lower blinds fully.
• Unplug all electronics. Turn off alarm clocks.
• Mini-fridges can remain plugged in with all perishable itemes removed.
• Turn off all lights and unplug vanity, lamps, and string lights.
• Reduce thermostat to minimum setting.
• Clean your room to ensure it is generally tidy (ensure floor does not have a high volume of items on the floor).
• Take your valuables, medications, passport and other items needed over break with you.
• Lock all doors
• If you reside in a suite-style residence hall or Nebaska: Remove all items from your bathroom so that housekeeping can clean surfaces over break. Items can be left under your sink or in bathroom drawers.
• If you reside in the Frequency: Clean all surfaces in your bathroom before departing for break.

Rentals

MicroFridge and Lockbox Rentals

Students who rented a MicroFridge or Lockbox unit for only one semester should leave their units inside their room for pickup by MicroFridgeRental. Units should be clean, emptied and MicroFridges should be defrosted completely. Housing & Residence Life is not responsible for units left outside of rooms.

All Microfridge customers will recieve an email from info@myfridgerental.com with specific instructions to prepare your fridge for Winter Break (or pickup for Single Semester rentals). Should you have any questions, please refer to the email.

Students returning to the same housing assignment for the spring term:

• AU's current guest policy will be in effect throughout the fall closing. Residents will be allowed one (1) guest at a time; the guest must be a current AU student. No more than one (1) guest per resident permitted in a bedroom/suite/apartment at a time. See the full guest policy on the Policies & Procedures webpage.
• Carts will be available during closing. Residents can meet their family/friends outside their residence halls with the belongings they are taking with them for break. 

Students approved to change their housing assignment for the 2023 spring semester may leave their items in their room over winter break. In the spring semester, you will return to campus early on January 10th to move your items to your new assignment. Additional details may be found on the Spring Move-In webpage.

Before departing for winter break:

• Pack all your belongings before you depart, and LEAVE THEM IN THE ROOM.
• Clean your room. It should be left in the same condition present when you moved in.
• Return all furniture to the location you found it when you moved in.

Residents of the Frequency and Nebraska apartments who are returning to the same space for the spring semester can remain in their room over break if they apply for Winter Break Housing by December 13.

You must remove all belongings from your room before the residence halls close for the fall semester. Follow the steps below to avoid additional charges:

Steps to Move Out and complete the check out process:

• Pack and remove your belongings.
• Clean your room. It should be left in the same condition present when you moved in.
• Return all furniture to the location you found it when you moved in.
• Complete Self Check Out in the AU Housing Portal. Not completing this step may result in additional charges.
  • Return your mail key and any items you have checked out.
• HRL staff will complete a Room Inventory Inspection (RIF) for you after you complete your check out. 

• • Return your mail key and any items you have checked out.
• HRL staff will complete a Room Inventory Inspection (RIF) for you after you complete your check out. 

Rentals

MicroFridge and Lockbox Rentals

Students who rented a MicroFridge or Lockbox unit for only one semester should leave their units inside their room for pickup by MicroFridgeRental. Units should be clean, emptied. MicroFridges should be completely defrosted. Housing & Residence Life is not responsible for units left outside of rooms.

Damages 

Residents are responsible for damages noted during the inspection upon checking out. Damages not previously noted on the RIF will be billed to the student's account following an e-mail sent to the student's AU account confirming the charges.

Students must return their mail key if moving rooms or checking out of the residence halls permanently. Failure to return mail keys will result in a $25 charge. Keys not returned upon check-out cannot be mailed back to the residence hall.

Students Not Returning for Spring Housing:

• Students can have up to (2) non-AU guests while they are actively moving out between December 12 - December 18.
• All guests are expected to follow all AU health and safety guidelines.