Requests to be Released from On-Campus Housing for Spring 2026
If you are not returning to on-campus housing for Spring 2026, you must complete a cancellation request form through the Housing Portal by Monday, December 1, 2025.
This includes students who are:
- graduating
- transferring
- studying abroad
- withdrawing or going on inactive status
- moving off campus
- foreign exchange students returning to their home institution
If you are graduating this fall or participating in a UM-approved study abroad program for Spring 2026 and have requested your release from on-campus housing by Monday December 1, you will be released without penalty. However, a $500 penalty will apply if the request is made after the December 1 deadline.
If you are moving off campus for Spring 2026 and have requested your release from on-campus housing by Monday, Dec. 1, you will be assessed a $500 penalty. Requests received after December 1 will incur a full room penalty (unless the vacancy can be filled by a new incoming student who does not currently live on campus).
First-year students will only be released from on-campus housing to move home with parents or guardians within Miami-Dade or Broward counties. A letter must be provided by a parent/guardian indicating that you will be moving home (address listed). The deadlines and penalties listed above will apply.
Partially Empty Spaces
Please read this section carefully if you are in a currently half-empty unit or apartment or if your current roommate is leaving on-campus housing after the Fall semester. Failure to prep your shared space for a new student to move in will be subject to administrative charge and/or disciplinary action.
We will be assigning new residents to these spaces. Therefore, please consider identifying other current residents that you would like to move in with you before the end of the semester.
Before leaving campus, please prepare the empty half of your space by making sure:
- All your belongings are clearly on your designated side of the space.
- Posters, pictures, or other decorations do not spread to the half-empty side of the space.
- Confirming the new resident’s closet is empty and ready for them.
- Ensuring all furniture is ready for the new resident.
If the empty half of the room is not prepared, you will be subject to disciplinary action and/or administrative charges, and your items will be moved to allow your new roommate to move in.
For Lakeside and University Village residents with a vacancy, custodial staff will complete light housekeeping over the break period to prepare the space for a new resident. For this to be completed, please:
- Move valuables into your individual bedroom and secure the door or take them with you during the break period.
- Clear out food from the fridge and items from kitchen/kitchenette countertops.
- If you have a shared bathroom, move your toiletries to your individual bedroom and secure the door.
If the commons areas of your unit are not prepared to allow for light housekeeping, you will be subject to disciplinary action and/or administrative charges, and your items will be moved to allow for housekeeping to be completed.
For Mahoney, Pearson, and Eaton residents in a half-empty unit/suite, custodial staff will complete light housekeeping in the bathroom over the break period to prepare the space for a new resident. For this to be completed, please:
- Remove personal items out of the shared bathroom and into your individual bedroom, including toiletries.
If you plan to be present during the break, you may encounter custodial staff in your unit while they complete this housekeeping.
If the bathroom area is not prepared to allow for light housekeeping, you will be subject to disciplinary action and/or administrative charges, and your items will be moved to allow for housekeeping to be completed.
Room Change Requests
If you would like to change your room assignment for the Spring 2026 semester, submit a room change request through the Housing Portal by Monday, December 1. Submit your room change request via the On-Campus Housing Portal.
- If your room change is approved, you should be prepared to completely move out of your Fall 2025 assigned space by the time housing closes at noon on Friday, December 12. Upon returning to campus in January, you will move into your Spring 2026 assignment.
- The UPS Store on campus offers winter break storage solutions that you are encouraged to explore if you prefer to avoid taking all your belongings with you over the winter break period.
How to Leave Your Room
Please follow the instructions below on how to leave your room for the winter break, either if you are returning to or leaving on-campus housing. Housing & Residential Life staff will complete inspections of all student units after Housing closes for winter break.
If you are returning to the same space for the Spring 2026 semester, you do not need to move out of your room. However, to prepare for an extended time away you should:
- Clean your space, and, if you have a half-empty space, follow the applicable instructions above.
- Take everything with you that you will need for the break, including medications, valuable, and toiletries.
- Remove and dispose of all opened and expired foods.
- Leaving food or other unsealed items can attract pests over the winter break.
- Non-perishable foods should be stored in tightly sealed containers.
- Unplug all appliances except University-provided appliances in kitchens, and empty minifridges.
- It is strongly recommended to defrost minifridges to prepare for the break period, at least one day before your departure. Be mindful of water drippage when defrosting!
- Close all blinds, turn off lights and set the air conditioning on low, auto, and 72 degrees.
- When you are ready to check out, complete the Express Check Out form on the Housing Portal or visit your residential area’s front desk.
- Please check out to avoid an administrative charge on your student account.
- Close and secure your door before leaving.
If you are leaving on-campus housing for the Spring 2026 semester, you should:
- Make sure you have submitted your cancellation request by the December 1 deadline on the Housing Portal.
- Pack and remove all your belongings from the room.
- External vendors may be used but must always be escorted by the student. Housing & Residential Life will not provide access to these vendors.
- Dispose of trash, trash bags, or boxes by utilizing the trash chutes or the open-top dumpsters on the exterior of the building.
- Be sure to take large items to the open-top dumpster rather than trying to place in the trash chutes.
- Except for University-provided appliances in kitchens, unplug all appliances and empty and defrost minifridges.
- Be mindful of water drippage when defrosting!
- Close all blinds, turn off lights, and set the air conditioning on low, auto, and at 72 degrees .
- When you are ready to check out, complete the Express Check Out form on the Housing Portal or visit your residential area’s front desk.
- Failure to properly check out will result in an administrative charge on your student account.
- Close and secure your door before leaving.
Applicable Penalties and Fees
A common list of charges for damages, cleaning and administrative fees can be found on the website.
Winter Break Parking Information
Parking restrictions differ during winter break from what occurs during the normal academic year. If you plan to leave your car on campus during the winter break, please confirm that you are in compliance with Parking & Transportation guidelines.
Mail and Packages
- No packages should be delivered to University Village or The UPS Store after Friday, December 12 unless you have an approved intersession application.
- Students must retrieve all mail and packages before leaving campus.
- Mail or packages received over winter break may be returned to sender.
- The first day returning students can ship mail or packages to campus for Spring 2026 is Tuesday, January 6. Anything delivered before this date will be undeliverable.
- The UPS Store and University Village will operate during the break period under limited hours. Please plan accordingly.
Returning for Spring 2026
Housing opens for all residential students on Wednesday, January 7 at 8 a.m.
- Returning students will check in at their residential area’s front desk.
- New students will check in at Centralized Check In at the Lakeside Village Expo between 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
