Moving Out

• Do not leave any exposed or open food in your residence hall and dispose of any items that will expire before your return in your refrigerator.
• Unplug all personal electronics such as alarms clocks, computers, game systems, TV’s or small appliances.
• Please clean all dirty dishes in your sink and your residential area. 
• Take your fish home.
• Be sure to secure your bike to a bike rack. Remember that powered bikes, hoverboards, scooters, etc. are not permitted inside the residence halls at any time.
• Take down all holiday decorations.
• Empty all trash and recycling materials. 
  
  • Additional dumpsters will be placed around campus. Please utilize the one closest to your building. 
• Take home all valuables including important medications.
• Take home or return rented textbooks.
• Students who are returning to their current room in the spring may leave their belongings in the room throughout the break, but will not have access during that time.
• You will keep your keys, but your card will not have access over the break. If you are found in the halls without permission, you will be subject to student conduct action.
• Please keep your keys and USF ID Card in a safe place over the break so you are not subject to lock change or key replacement fines. 
• Do not leave your bedroom doors unlocked or keys in your room.
• Set your thermostat to 72 degrees. If your thermostat has a fan speed setting, set it to AUTO.
• Make sure all showers and sink faucets are completely turned off and not dripping or leaking.
• Close your blinds, rotating the louvers to the open position.
• Residence halls re-open for the spring semester at 9 a.m. on Friday, January 9. Card access will be automatically restored at this time. Your financial account must be in good standing before you move in.
• IMPORTANT: If you live in a double room and do not have a roommate at the current time, please anticipate a roommate being assigned to your room for the spring semester. Before you leave for break, please clear the room (including the vacant bed, desk, dresser, bathroom space, etc.) to allow for a new roommate to move in their belongings. If you do not move belongings from these areas, Housing & Residential Education will move them and post a charge to your student account. Staff will be entering rooms to confirm readiness for all new roommates.

Residents not returning for the spring semester must complete the checkout process on/before Friday, December 12 at noon. This includes formally canceling your housing contract for the spring semester as early as possible via the Housing Portal; cleaning your space prior to your departure; and returning your key(s) to your Residence Hall desk. For cancellation information, see Section V of your Housing Agreement. Residents participating in commencement after residence halls close for winter break should submit a late stay request by Wednesday, November 26.

• Before You Depart: 
  • Please remove all personal belongings from your room prior to checkout time.
  • Please return all furniture to its original position. (There is a $30.00 charge to re-assemble or move furniture.)
  • Please remove posters, tape/decals and residue, nails, hooks, etc. from walls, windows, and mirrors.
  • Please clean your room and/or apartment thoroughly. Clean and remove all food from the refrigerator and clean the stove and other appliances in the apartment if applicable.
  • Please remove trash and sweep/vacuum the floor. Common areas must be cleaned each time a member of the living unit checks out, otherwise cleaning charges will apply - regardless of who is responsible for clean up. 
    
    • Additional dumpsters will be placed around campus. Please utilize the one closest to your building.
  • Set your thermostat to 72 degrees. If your thermostat has a fan speed setting, set it to AUTO.
  • Close your blinds, rotating the louvers to the open position.
  • If you are the first person in your room/suite/apartment to check out, please have your room/suite/apartment-mate present, if possible, at the time of your checkout to clarify who is responsible for any damages that might be identified.
• Ready To Depart 
  • Turn in your room key(s) at your Residence Hall Desk (Osprey Suites, USC, Pelican Apartments) Express check-out envelopes will be available at each of the three locations.
  • Update your address on Student Self Service and in the Housing Portal.
  • Please Note: an Improper Checkout Fee of $100 may be charged to students who do not follow the proper checkout procedures. 
  • Keys must be physically turned in, we do not accept keys that have been mailed in. 

The Fall 2025 - Spring 2026 Break Stay Request Form will close in the Housing Portal on Wednesday, November 26. 

Conditions of Break Stay include:

• Break Stay Housing is not free, nor is it already paid for in the Housing Agreement. The cost is based on the style of housing you live in.
• Only residents with housing accounts in good standing are eligible (October 20 is the due date for Fall housing). Students with fall semester balances due are not eligible for Break Stay Housing.
• Residents eligible to request Break Stay Housing must complete the Break Stay Request form in the Housing Portal before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26.

NOTICE OF ENTRY: From December 12- January 9 housekeeping and maintenance techs will be knocking on doors and then entering rooms starting at 8 a.m. to clean and/or complete repairs as needed. Because this transition occurs during a limited break/holiday period, we will not be able to postpone entry. Staff will be wearing appropriate IDs. We appreciate everyone's cooperation and support as we seek to prepare our residence halls for our returning residents and for new residents arriving for the spring semester.

For more information on break stay, including break stay rates, please visit here. 

RA's on Duty: All residence halls that are open for students with break-stay housing will have RA's on duty over winter break. For assistance, please look for the signage posted in your building with the RA on-duty phone number listed.