Spring Term Check-Out

What residents need to know about moving out of the residence halls at the end of the academic term or year.

Spring 2025 Check-Out Timeline

Your room must be completed vacated by the deadline.

  • Non-Graduating Students: within 24 hours of your last exam or by 12 p.m. noon on May 17
  • Graduating Students: no later than 12 p.m. noon on May 22
  • RAs: no later than 12 p.m. noon on May 23
  • Extensions are not permitted. Fees are assessed for late Check-Out.

Read Check-Out Messages

April 17 Message
May 2 Message

Check-Out Policy

Students are expected to leave their room and other assigned spaces in the same condition as they were provided at Check-In. A $250 supplemental cleaning fee will be assessed per resident if assigned spaces require additional maintenance or extensive cleaning, including, but not limited to, the removal of trash or abandoned furniture. Learn more about the Check-Out policy. 

Select a Check-Out Appointment in the Housing Portal by 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 7. This helps us to manage resources and elevator traffic during move-out.
 

  1. Complete online maintenance requests to resolve issues in your room.
     
  2. Pack and remove all personal belongings from your room, kitchen, and common areas: double-check drawers, closets, and corners carefully. Items left behind in the room will be discarded.
    • Do not use trash bags. Facilities may mistake your belongings for trash or recycling.
       
    • Do not leave personal belongings in the suite or corridor-style building hallways unattended.
       
    • Remove all trash to designated locations (locations to be provided below). Trash bags are available from your RA if you need them. Trash chutes close on May 5.
       
    • Clean and sweep/vacuum your room, suite, kitchens, and common areas, where applicable.
       
    • Remove message boards, door tags, posters, and tape from your door(s) and walls.
       
  3. Close and lock your door and windows.
     
  4. Use Web Check-Out in the Housing Portal. You may complete Web Check-Out at any point before the Check-Out deadline. If you have issues accessing the Portal around the deadline, please refresh your browser and try again before contacting Columbia Housing.
     
  5. Notify your RA that you have checked out.

If you have any questions, consult the Check-Out procedures outlined in the Guide to Living or contact the Hospitality Desk by email at [email protected] or phone at 212-854-2779. 

  • Belongings left behind in common and shared areas between continuing student Check-Out and graduating student Check-Out are at risk of being discarded. 
  • Graduating students, please note and be extra diligent: all your belongings need to remain in your assigned space. 
  • Facilities is tasked with cleaning all common areas and unoccupied rooms in a very abbreviated time frame in preparation for summer housing.

Students are allowed two individuals to help them move out. 

In light of current campus access restrictions, residents of John Jay, Wallach, Hartley, Carman, Furnald, Wien and East Campus must request access for non-affiliates (i.e., parents and family) to assist with move-out.

If you need help packing, and/or need to have your belongings stored for the summer months or shipped to you, please refer to the storage page in the Guide to Living.

In light of current campus access restrictions, residents of John Jay, Wallach, Hartley, Carman, Furnald, Wien and East Campus will be required to request access for their vendor and meet them at campus gates. When completing the University's registration form:

  • Enter the vendor company name in place of guest name.
  • Enter your Columbia email address in place of guest email address.

You will need to show the guest registration QR code at the campus gate when you meet your vendor. Vendors may only access campus through the 116/Broadway, 116/Amsterdam and Wien Courtyard gates. Vendors may be denied access without a student escort.

Special access points will be accessible to residents during select times to facilitate Check-Out, including the Hartley-Wallach Gate to Amsterdam Avenue, the Broadway Street Level exit, and the East Campus B3 exit. 

Special access points will only be open during these times.

Broadway Street Level

Carman Loading Dock & Gate

East Campus: B3 Level

Hartley/Wallach: Gate to Amsterdam Ave*

*Access will be limited to students with moving bins only. 

Bin Policy

  • Bin rentals are for 2 hours at a time and should be returned to the location from which they were rented.
  • Please consult the Guide to Living for complete policy information concerning moving bins.

The following bin rental dates, times, and locations are subject to change.

Hartley Hospitality Desk or Lounge

Bins are available from Hartley Hall 24/7. 

Broadway/Hogan Lobby

Carman 1st Floor Computer Lab

Carlton Arms Lobby

East Campus

McBain Computer Lab

Schapiro Lounge

Wien Lounge

Residents are financially responsible for any damages, missing items, or unsatisfactory conditions in their room. Review the Damage/Vandalism section of the Guide to Living for additional information and a listing of all damage charges. Damage charges are assessed based on inspections carried out by Resident Advisers and an evaluation of the state of the room or suite relative to the Room Condition Report (RCR) completed by student(s) at the beginning of the residency period.

Please bring your trash to the floor lounge or basement compactor room for collection. 

Residents of EC townhouses should bring their trash to the EC courtyard.

Trash chutes close May 5.

To facilitate Check-Out, the following streets will be closed to street parking.

On May 17

On May 22