Spring Closing Information

The following information will help you prepare for spring closing (most information is also applicable to any student who is checking out of a room mid-year). More information will be added as it becomes available. If you have questions that are not addressed here, please contact our office.

Closing dates

Students must vacate their residence hall room at the time indicated. No exceptions are allowed. Students who find it necessary to depart later are expected to make alternative off-campus arrangements.

  • Thursday, May 31, 2012: Freshmen, sophomores, juniors and non-graduating seniors must be checked out of their room for summer break by 11 a.m. Summer employees will stay in their current room.
  • Saturday, June 2, 2012: All graduating seniors must be checked out of their rooms by 6 p.m.

Checkout procedures

To ensure a smooth checkout, please refer the following checklist:

  1. Sign up: Sign up with your current RA or building manager for a time to check out of your room.
  2. Remove personal items: Personal belongings such as couches, desks, carpet and boxes must be removed from student rooms prior to checkout. These items may not be left in the hallway. Personal refrigerators must be removed from campus; because they contain harmful chemicals, refrigerators may not be disposed of in landfills. They can be taken to CSG Appliance Recycling (4651 8th Ave, Marion, IA). You can also call them at 369-0463 for pickup or for more information (there will be a charge for pickup). If you have food or other items in the community refrigerator or cupboards in your building, please remove those items prior to checkout.
  3. Remove trash: take all garbage to the dumpster provided outside of the buildings (residents may be charged for garbage piled in hallways, in the garbage rooms, or left in student rooms).
  4. Remove tape: completely remove tape and other adhesives from walls, doors and windows (tape removal is the most common damage charge at checkout).
  5. Rearrange furniture: the furniture in the room must be in the same condition and arrangement as when you checked into the room. All college furniture must be in the room and correctly assembled. Drawers and cupboards should be emptied and wiped down. Residents with modular furniture will need to return the modular furniture to its original configuration. Extra pins should be returned to the RA Office.
  6. Clean: you must sweep and, if necessary, mop your floor before checking out.
  7. Secure your room: Close and lock all windows and your room door prior to departure.
  8. Return keys: At your checkout appointment, sign the checkout portion of your Housing Data Card and turn in your keys to your RA or building manager. The role of the residence life staff member at checkout is to collect keys. RAs and building managers are not responsible for assessing damage charges, nor can they provide assurances that a student will not be charged for damages. The best assurance is to return the room to its original condition.

Dumpsters and donation drop-off

The College will place additional dumpsters around campus. All trash should be taken there. In addition, the College will designate locations to take donatable items (clothes, food, etc.). Those dumpsters and donation locations will be available around May 23. Specific locations will be posted here as soon as the details are confirmed.

Late stays

Only graduating seniors, summer student employees, and students who are authorized by the Residence Life Office may stay past the initial residence hall closing deadline (Please refer to our list of important dates for those specific dates and times). Students who do not move out within the appropriate timeframe will be assessed a $25.00 fine for failing to follow checkout procedures and an additional $25.00 fine for each hour past the deadline.

Storage

All residence hall storage rooms will be emptied over the summer. Storage of personal property on campus over the summer is not possible. Refer to a list of off-campus storage companies compiled by the Information Desk. It is each student's responsibility to arrange for storage of his or her belongings. We recommend that several students share a storage unit to help maximize space usage and save money. The availability of storage units is limited in the area, so do not hesitate to coordinate storage early.

Damage to student rooms

Staff from Facilities Services and Residence Life will inspect student rooms after the halls close to determine necessary repairs and assess damage and cleaning fees as appropriate. Room damages are billed to student accounts through Business Services. Refer to list of approximate damage charges as determined by Facilities Services and the Purchasing Department. Costs include materials, labor and overhead.

Damage to common areas

Residents of a floor or residence hall are responsible for damage done to the common areas of their residence hall. A common area is one generally used by, or available to, all residents of the hall. These areas include, but are not necessarily limited to, kitchens, lounge areas, bathrooms, hallways, laundry rooms and stairways. If damage occurs to property located on a floor or in a common area, the Residence Life Office and Hall Council will attempt to determine who is responsible for the damage. In the event that an individual cannot be identified, costs of the repair/replacement will be assessed to residents of the floor and building involved. Residence hall damages are billed to student accounts through Business Services.

Excessive cleaning cost from garbage and furniture left behind in the hallways, storage rooms and lounges is considered common area damage and will be charged to all members of the floor.

Parking during move-out

On Wednesday, May 23

  • Parking immediately behind Merner (north row) closed to accommodate a dumpster and a truck for donations (this includes the spaces from the east end of Olin to the Merner kitchen)

On Friday, June 1:

  • All student vehicles must be moved out of D-Lot (facilities) and by 8 p.m.
  • All student vehicles must be moved out of S-Lot (front lot of Sports Center) by 8 p.m.
  • All vehicles must be removed from Russell Hall parking lot by 8 p.m. This lot will be closed until 8 a.m., Saturday June 2 and only vehicles with a move-out pass (obtained from Residence Life) will be allowed to use this lot from Saturday at 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
  • Those vehicles may be moved to any other student lot on campus.

By Monday, June 4:

  • All students staying on campus over the summer with a vehicle on campus must have their vehicle registered with Campus Safety for summer parking. Registration for summer parking is done in the Campus Safety Office.

General tips and expectations related to parking during move-out:

  • Parking is not permitted on the grass, with the exception of designated area in the Tri Hall (Pfeiffer, Dows and Tarr) area.
  • Do not park in fire lanes, designated by red curbs.
  • Do not park in reserved parking spaces or handicap parking spaces without proper authorization.
  • 15-minute parking spaces are for use for 15 minutes only.
  • Do not leave vehicles unlocked at anytime.
  • Do not leave items next to your vehicle or open rooms unattended.
  • Keep serial numbers and descriptions (or pictures) of valuable items in a safe place.
  • Do not enter dumpsters on campus to retrieve discarded items.
  • Parking or driving is not permitted on the Ped Mall.
  • All students leaving campus must take their vehicle with them. No summer storage/parking is permitted. Any vehicle left abandoned will be towed off campus at the owner's expense.

Meal plans

Meal plans will end on Thursday, May 30 after breakfast. After that time, the only students that will be permitted to eat in the dining hall are those who are required to stay through graduation. Munch Money will end on Saturday, June 2. Please refer to Dining Services website for updates.

Scramble hours:

  • Wednesday, May 30 - Friday, June 1: Breakfast from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m., Lunch from 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m., and Dinner 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
  • Friday, June 1: Senior dinner from 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 2: Breakfast from 7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. and Brunch from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Ratt hours

  • Wednesday, May 30: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Thursday, May 31: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Friday, June 1: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 2: 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Getting to and from the airport

If you will be traveling and don't have a car, you can refer to a list of transportation suggestions compiled by the the Thomas Commons Information Desk.  You will find the College's electronic need a ride board as well as information on commercial transportation opportunities.

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