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Housing & Residential Life

Winter Break Closing Checklist

Winter Break 2026 Closing Checklist: December 20, 2026 – January 19, 2027

All undergraduate residences close on SUNDAY, December 20, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET.

Residents are not permitted access to residential buildings during Winter Break except those who have received prior approval to stay in designated Winter Break housing. (Please see your Residence Hall Director or House Assistant Dean for details). 

Any resident remaining in the residential buildings after 2:00 PM ET on Sunday, December 20 will be charged at the rate of $60.00 per hour for each hour or fraction thereafter. These charges are not prorated. Please submit a request via the Housing and Dining Portal by Monday, December 7 if you are unable to accommodate the 2:00 PM ET departure time on December 20, and include your name, room number, and reason for the request. 

Undergraduate residences reopen on Tuesday, January 19, 2027, at 9:00 AM ET. Students may move back in at any time before classes begin on Tuesday, January 26 and must sign up for an arrival timeslot in the Housing and Dining Portal.

ROOM CHECKLIST (to complete before you leave campus)

  • Do NOT turn in your keys if you are returning for the spring semester.
  • Dispose of all trash in your building dumpsters and take recycling to your building’s recycling center.
  • Return all “borrowed” Cornell Dining items including plates, bowls, mugs, and silverware, to the nearest dining room – no questions asked!
  • Use the Fill it Forward app on your smartphone to return your reusable container at any of our participating dining rooms. You'll have a credit on your account to pick up a freshly sanitized one when you return for the spring semester.
  • Clean your bathroom and kitchen (if applicable).
  • Unplug all appliances – computers, lamps, clocks, etc. (Exception: Apartment refrigerators and in-room minifridges/microfridges should remain plugged in.)
  • Please remove all items from community fridges as these will be emptied and cleaned during winter break.
  • Take all valuable items with you.
  • Remember to take passports, medications, and all important items! You will not have access to your hall/room during the break.
  • Take fish and plants with you.
  • Lock your windows, close your drapes and/or shades, and turn off lights.
  • Lock and double-check your room, suite, and/or apartment door.

Please indicate by initialing your printed closing notice that you have completed your Room Checklist and have left at your indicated timeslot.

Initials (All occupants)

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

ROOM INSPECTIONS

Facilities and Residential staff members will conduct safety/maintenance inspections of all residential rooms during Winter Break.  All violations of the Student Code of Conduct, Community Living Standards, or the Terms and Conditions of your housing license will receive a violation notice. When appropriate, a follow-up appointment will be initiated with the residential staff and/or the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.

MAINTENANCE & REFURBISHING WORK

University and Student & Campus Life maintenance staff may enter rooms during the Winter Break to allow mechanics to perform routine mechanical repairs and/or general maintenance.

STUDENTS OCCUPYING A PARTIALLY EMPTY ROOM

If you are living in a double, triple, or quad room and do not currently have a roommate, you should expect to have a roommate assigned for the spring semester. Before you leave, please ensure that your belongings occupy only your share of the room. If your belongings are found to prevent a new roommate from using the space, some of your things may be moved or removed from the room to create living space, and you will be charged for the time and labor required. 

Moving out?  

If you are leaving University housing at the end of this semester, and will not be returning for the spring semester, please be sure to return your room and suite (if applicable) key using a key envelope from your Service Center/House Office. All keys must be returned to your Service Center/House Office by 2:00 PM ET on Sunday, December 20 to avoid key/lock replacement charges. Abandoned personal items will not be stored. 

DINING

Meal plans end for the fall semester with brunch on Sunday, December 20, 2026 and resume with lunch on Tuesday, January 19, 2027. Your dining meal plan contract covers the academic year. The deadline to reduce your meal plan, if applicable and available, for the spring semester is Wednesday, February 3, 2027. You can upgrade a meal plan at any time. Changes to your meal plan, if applicable, can be made online at dining.cornell.edu.

COMMUNITY CENTERS, SERVICE CENTERS, AND MAIL SERVICE

Campus Life community centers, House offices, and service centers have special or reduced hours and services starting during study days and continuing through Winter Break. Please visit https://scl.cornell.edu/residential-life/student-service-centers for specific hours and mail services.

IMPORTANT LOADING/UNLOADING PARKING INFORMATION

In order to ensure safety and emergency response, driving on sidewalks/paths and parking in fire lanes is strictly prohibited. Please refer to your email communications from our Housing & Residential Life team and visit housing.cornell.edu for detailed information.

PARKING

On-Campus Parking: If you plan to leave your vehicle on campus during the winter break period, please note that Parking and Transportation Services designates specific parking lots where students may leave their cars: please visit parking.cornell.edu for details. 

Ithaca City Parking: Please be aware that if you leave your car parked on city streets during winter break without moving it regularly, your vehicle may be considered "abandoned," and be ticketed, towed, and impounded. In addition, the City of Ithaca may enforce odd/even parking rules from November 1 - April 1 when there's snowfall, and you may need to move your car if Ithaca notifies residents. Violators will be ticketed and may be towed. For questions, call (607) 274-6570 or visit cityofithaca.org.

PERSONAL SECURITY AND THEFT

The need for residential security increases when there are fewer residents present (from now through closing). Protect yourself and your personal belongings. Wallets and bags, packages, and electronics are all more vulnerable at this time. Keep your doors locked at all times. As always, do not allow nonresidents access to the building unless a resident accompanies them. Any unusual observations should be reported to Campus Life or Cornell Police at (607) 255-1111. If it is an emergency, please dial 911.

Undergraduate residential buildings reopen on Tuesday, January 19, 2027, at 9:00am. Residents will not be permitted to enter their building or access their room before that time. Meal plan dining resumes with lunch on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.