MOVE-OUT & BREAKS
Ever wonder how 10,000 – 12,000 students manage to leave, return, and move-out of on-campus housing? Well, to be honest, it’s not easy!
The purpose of this page is to give you — whether a student, parent, or administrator — a better understanding of the annual transition periods and their processes. For a calendar of move-out and closing dates, refer to the Closing Dates section below.
Move-Out and Closing
If you will not be returning to Residence Life, we wish you well. We hope you have enjoyed your time with us and that you will take many wonderful memories with you as you depart.
Please use the following guidelines as you prepare to move-out. Additional information about move-out and proper cleaning procedures can be found in the resident handbook.
Need to stay later or after closing?
Learn about Extended Stay by going to How-To’s & Procedures and choosing the Extended Stay toggle. Extended stays are not guaranteed and may require a fee.
Closing Dates
Residence Halls close over the winter break and at the conclusion of the spring semester. Information below is not exhaustive related to move-out information. Residents are strongly encouraged to attend closing meetings hosted by their Resident Advisors in order to avoid improper checkout and other fees.
December Closing
If you are returning in January:
- Follow the details on the Yellow Express Checkout Guidelines given to you at your closing floor meeting. If you did not attend, you need to talk to your RA.
- Make sure all tasks are completed and sign the form. Tape the completed form to the back of your room door.
Main things needing to be completed:
- Room clean
- Trash taken out
- If you have a vacant space in your room, make sure all is clear for incoming residents
- Unplug ALL items
If you are NOT returning in January:
- You have 2 options: You can follow the Pink Express Checkout Guidelines or you can checkout with a staff member.
- Talk to your RA for more information and to find out what you need to do.
- You must return your keys regardless of your checkout process.
- Make sure you have cancelled your housing contract with the Housing Assignments Office located in the A3 Lounge.
Questions? Contact an Resident Advisor (RA) or your Community Director/Graduate Hall Director! Good luck on your finals!
May Closing & Summer Closing
Everyone has to checkout in May, even if you are going to Summer School Housing. We have moved to Express Checkout for all residence halls.
Express Checkout
- With Express Checkout, you are taking on all responsibility for completing the items listed on the Express Checkout form and any damages or billing you might incur.
- This method allows for more flexibility on your time, but more responsibility placed in your own hands.
- During the closing floor meetings, you can pick up one of the Express Checkout forms from your RA.
- You will still need to get a key envelope for your keys to make sure we have the proper information needed to process the key back into our system. You can drop off your key at any time of the day or night in the key drop-box located right outside of your hall office.
You must attend the closing floor meeting to receive all of the information you need about closing. If you are unable to attend, please contact your Resident Advisor or your Graduate Hall Director/Community Director.
Think you are ready to check out? Go over this list to be sure!
- Doors – Cleaned, free of decals, door number intact and in good condition
- Floors – Cleaned, mopped, and dry/vacuumed
- Medicine Cabinet – Clean, door open
- Windows – Window sill(s) clean, screens fastened and intact, stickers/writing removed, locked
- Blinds – Clean, down, slats open – except ground floor, no knots in the cord
- Beds – Reassembled, mattress flat, pulled away from the wall 6 inches
- Desk – Clean, drawers empty and open, stickers removed
- Dresser – Clean, drawers 1/3 open
- Furniture* – UN-STACKED and pulled 6 inches away from wall, bunk beds assembled
- *All furniture in corridor style halls should be moved away from the AC/heater unit (Davis-Gary, Moses)
- Walls – Clean, tape/putty/double-stick pads/stickers removed, writing/drawings removed
- Bathroom – Clean and all items removed
- Refrigerator (MicroChill) – Defrosted, cleaned, dry, doors open and left in the room (if rented)
- Thermostat – Set at 76 degrees and fan at low speed (if applicable)
- Closet Doors – Cleaned, properly hung
General Information
The University Apartments do not close and are open to students year-round. Move-out is based on the term and length of your contract.
White Creek Apartments
Checkout Deadlines
Residents must schedule a checkout appointment and vacate the apartment or complete Express Checkout (see below). Checkout appointments need to be scheduled at least 72 hours prior to the end of their contract.
Checkout Appointments
Login to myHousing Portal to schedule your checkout appointment. Residents will select the day they want to checkout and a specific 30-minute time slot on that day. Resident must be in the apartment at the time of their scheduled appointment. All of their personal belongings removed and apartment cleaned. If resident is not ready for checkout at the appointment time, they will need to go to the White Creek Apartments office during normal business hours to reschedule their appointment.
Express Checkout
Residents doing an Express Checkout must remove all of their belongings and clean the apartment prior to leaving. Completely fill out the envelope before dropping the key in the drop box. Residents may pick up envelopes near the key drop box or in the office during normal business hours. Key drop box is located in the main lobby of the White Creek Activity Center, near the restrooms. As a reminder, if you do an Express Checkout you are unable to appeal any charges for damages or additional cleaning.
Gardens Apartments
Checkout Deadline
Residents must schedule a checkout appointment and vacate the apartment or complete Express Checkout (see below). Checkout appointments need to be scheduled at least 72 hours prior to the end of their contract.
Checkout Appointments
Login to myHousing Portal to schedule your checkout appointment. Residents will select the day they want to checkout and a specific 30-minute time slot on that day. Resident must be in the apartment at the time of their scheduled appointment. All of their personal belongings removed and apartment cleaned. If resident is not ready for checkout at the appointment time, they will need to go to the Gardens Apartments office during normal business hours to reschedule their appointment.
Express Checkout
Residents doing an Express Checkout must remove all of their belongings and clean the apartment prior to leaving. Completely fill out the envelope before dropping the key in the drop box. Residents may pick up envelopes near the key drop box or in the office during normal business hours. Key drop box is located near the Gardens Community Center entrance by the Game Room. As a reminder, if you do an Express Checkout you are unable to appeal any charges for damages or additional cleaning.
General Information
At all times during the checkout period, cadets are responsible for keeping hallways, vending machine rooms, dorm perimeters, and all grounds on the Quad free from discarded personal belongings and trash. This responsibility includes:
- Placing all small room trash in hallway trash cans (and requesting additional bags if those cans are full).
- Taking all unwanted items including but not limited to lumber, cinderblocks, carpet, personal furniture and other large items directly to the dumpster(s) provided.
- Moving all personal belongings directly from the room to vehicles (i.e., boxes, personal furniture, etc., will not be stacked in the hall).
Failure to follow these guidelines will result in charges for the individual(s) or group involved. If the individuals cannot be determined, a group billing for the unit, staff, or building will be processed.
Pre-Checkout Process
- Sign-up for a pre-checkout inspection time with your Corps Housing Officer
- Carpet must be taken up and rolled; carpet cannot be left in the room after checking out; carpet cannot be placed in common areas, especially the hallway
- All room furniture is accounted for or you will be assessed
- Room is returned to the standard room configuration
- Hallway in vicinity of room must be clear
- Complete pre-checkout inspection with your Corps Housing Officer no later than the date instructed
Proper Checkout Process
Your Corps Housing Officer has complete authority to conduct all aspects of checkout. All cadets must comply with the directives of their Corps Housing Officer.
Properly checking out of your room includes: (1) Returning your room to the standard room configuration; (2) Having your room inspected; (3) Signing your inventory card and; (4) Returning your room key.
- Sign-up for a final checkout inspection time with your Commander/Housing Officer
- Doors & mirrors – clean, free of decals/stickers, tape, etc.
- Carpet – must be completely removed from room
- Any and all carpet remaining in any room after the checkout deadline will be discarded and the resident(s) of the room will be charged $25.00 for failure to clear as well as a $17.95 per hour labor fee (1 hour minimum)
- Room returned to the standard room configuration within
- Floors – clean and mopped dry
- Windows – clean, closed, locked, all decals removed
- Blinds – cleaned, open, blinds down
- Chairs – placed upside down on beds
- Walls – clean; posters, putty, tape, etc. removed; nail holes spackled and painted
- Heater/Air Conditioner – turned on, set to low cool
- Complete other tasks as assigned by your dorm Corps Housing Officer
- Complete final checkout inspection with your Corps Housing Officer. Your room must be in the condition listed on the inventory card
- Lock your room and return your room key to your Corps Housing Officer. Failure to return your key will result in a $100.00 lock-change charge. Return any other keys you have signed for.
- Sign your inventory card. Failure to sign the inventory card will result in a $25.00 administrative charge
Parking Procedures
Temporary one-hour loading and unloading zones will be established in close proximity to the residence halls and apartments so that students may transfer their belongings between their building and vehicle with minimal inconvenience. | View Transportation Services Move-Out Procedures & Maps
Additional Information
Texas A&M University has three major breaks for students: Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, and Spring Break.
Thanksgiving Break & Spring Break are approximately one week in duration and all housing communities remain open on campus. We do suggest, however, if you are leaving over these breaks to:
- Unplug appliances
- Lock windows and doors
- Remove trash & recycling
- Turn off heaters and lights
- Refer to additional break and move-out instructions provided by staff
Winter Break occurs between the Fall and Spring semester and is four to five weeks in duration. During this time, the Residence Halls and Corps Halls on campus close. White Creek and the Gardens Apartments do not close to residents.
Please review the Academic Calendar for up-to-date holiday and break dates. If you are staying on campus during a break, please be mindful of any changes to University Dining operating hours during these times.
Residence Life strongly supports sustainability. So, as you are preparing to move out at the end of the Spring semester, we are asking that you Donate… Don’t Dump!
We have partnered with Goodwill Industries and The 12th Can, a student-run food pantry,who are providing trailers, trucks, and bins in convenient on-campus drop-off locations so you can donate unwanted non-perishable food items, clothing, and other household items rather than adding them to the landfill.
More information, including on-campus drop-off locations, is available at Donate… Don’t Dump!