We hope your fall semester is going well. We are writing to share important information about several important upcoming processes, some of which require a response from you.

At a Glance:

• Staying on campus during Thanksgiving Break? Let us know by November 21.
• Residence halls close at 12pm (noon) on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
• Residence halls reopen on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
• Need housing at any point during Winter Break? Request it by December 4.

Thanksgiving Break

All residence halls remain open during Thanksgiving Break (Wednesday, November 27 - Sunday, December 1). While no approval is needed to remain on-campus during this break, we ask that you let us know if you plan to stay by completing our Thanksgiving Plans form (accessible via the Forms process) no later than 11:59pm ET on Thursday, November 21. Our office arranges a few events/programs that you can attend as well as get connected to others who are still on campus during the break.

Fall Closing

The residence halls will close at 12pm (noon) ET on Sunday, December 22, following the conclusion, on Saturday, of the final exam period. Student are asked to vacate their rooms within 24 hours after their last exam or by 12pm on December 22nd, whichever comes first. All card access will be disabled at that time, except for students with prior approval to remain on campus. If you will be returning to your current housing assignment in the spring, you should keep your room key; your personal belongings can remain in your room over winter break. If you will not be returning to on-campus housing in the spring, you must fully vacate your fall housing assignment and return your room key no later than Sunday, December 22 (when the halls close). 

You will receive more detailed information about fall closing after Thanksgiving Break.

Winter Break Housing

If you need to remain in your residence hall room beyond 12pm (noon) ET on Sunday, December 22, arrive prior to Saturday, January 18, or remain in on-campus housing for the entirety of winter break, you must submit the Winter Break Housing form. The form is available now, and has a priority deadline of Wednesday, December 4, 2024. Late requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and approvals are not guaranteed. 

You do not need to complete the Winter Break Housing form if you do not plan to live on-campus between December 22 and January 18.

Student housing requests will be considered based on one of the following criteria: proven travel challenges, housing insecurity, unsafe home environment, athletic programs, student employment, sponsored program/research, Brown Winter Session, or RISD Wintersession. Requests outside of those conditions or without sponsorship will be reviewed but may not be approved. 

Housing during the winter break period costs $45 per day. Sponsors are responsible for payment, those students without a sponsor, are responsible for payment. If you are sponsored and you are approved to arrive outside the date(s) noted by your sponsor, you are responsible for all housing charges for the non-sponsored days at a rate of $45 per day. (Information about the process for seeking financial support is in the form and on our website).

Fall meal plan access is available through the end of the exam period on December 21. Please note that approval for winter break housing does not include winter break meal services. Students interested in meal services during the winter break period should refer to the Dining Services website or contact Dining Services directly at dining_services@brown.edu or 401-863-3343.

Spring Opening

The residence halls will reopen on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 9am ET. Before accessing your residence hall for the Spring semester, you must complete a self check-in via the StarRez Housing Portal which will activate swipe access and inform our staff that you have arrived. The link to this process will be sent to you prior to your arrival. 

If you have any questions about the information provided in this communication or in general, please visit our Fall Closing and Winter Break Housing pages, attend our office hours, or contact us at res_life@brown.edu.

Sincerely,

Amanda Surgens (she/her/hers)

Director of Residential Operations

Office of Residential Life

Brown University | Providence, RI 02912