Breaks and Special Session Housing
Housing for Breaks and Special Sessions
Find out if you are eligible, and how to apply, for housing over university breaks or in Winter and Summer Sessions.
Breaks Housing
Traditional and suite-style residence halls close during Thanksgiving, December and Spring Breaks, but students can request to stay, if needed.
All residents of apartment-style spaces maintain access to their apartments through breaks.
Thanksgiving Break
On-campus residence halls (except apartments) close at 7 p.m. on the Friday before Thanksgiving day, and reopen at noon on the Sunday immediately following Thanksgiving day.
Non-apartment residents are expected to vacate by closing time, and will regain access to their space when the halls reopen.
Students who need access to their room during any part of the break will need to submit the Thanksgiving Break application in the Breaks and Early/Late Stays section of the My Housing Portal. There is no fee for Thanksgiving Break housing.
University Courtyard and Executive Apartment residents do not need to vacate or apply for break housing.
Any resident (except those in apartments) who needs access to their room past 7 p.m. on the Friday the week before Thanksgiving day, due to a late class or other circumstance, must sign up for a late stay, which grants them access until 10 a.m. the next morning (Saturday). There is no additional fee for a late stay, however, if you leave later than 10 a.m., you may be charged a $150 improper checkout fee.
Any resident (except those in apartments) who needs access to their room for any portion of the break beyond the late stay must sign up for the full break which grants them access for the entire break period. This includes students looking to return to campus early at the end of the break. There is no additional fee for Thanksgiving break housing.
Residence Life & Housing staff will be available during the break to assist students and contact information will be posted in buildings. Other university services, including dining, student health services and recreational activities, may be limited or unavailable during the break. University offices will be closed Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after, but staff on duty will remain available.
Once the halls close, staff will enter traditional and suite-style rooms to confirm residents have properly vacated.
If leaving for Thanksgiving break, you don't need to formally check out with a staff member or turn in your room key; however, building access will be turned off when halls close. Please keep your room key and student ID card in a safe place over break! If lost, replacements will incur a fee.
Be sure to prepare your room before you go:
- If applicable, close and lock your windows and close the shades.
- Remove perishable items from your refrigerator.
- Take garbage and recycling to appropriate dumpsters.
- Unplug all electronics except refrigerators and fish tanks.
- If applicable, turn the heat on and set to low.
- Close and lock your doors and turn off lights.
- Your RA will give you a checklist, and each roommate will need to complete and sign it.
December Break
Students not living in apartment-style rooms should plan to leave the residence halls within 24 hours of their last fall semester final exam, and no later than 10 p.m. on the Monday following, when halls officially close for December Break.
Those needing to request a late stay for an exam or planning to stay on campus for any part of the break must complete the December Break application in the My Housing Portal by the posted deadline. An additional fee is applicable for full December Break housing.
Apartment residents who are returning for the spring will automatically retain access to their unit for the break and do not need to apply to stay.
Students returning to the same room for the spring semester may leave their belongings in their room during the break. Students who are not returning to their same room or any residence hall for the spring semester (including apartments) due to graduation, withdrawal, leave of absence, study abroad, etc. are not eligible for December break housing and must fully vacate with all belongings by the time the halls close at the end of the fall semester.
Any resident (except those in apartments) who needs access to their room past 10 p.m. on the Monday that final exams end, due to a late exam or travel restrictions, must sign up for a late stay, which grants them access until 10 a.m. the next day (Tuesday). There is no additional fee for a late stay, however, if you leave later than 10 a.m., or do not follow check-out instructions, you may be charged an improper checkout fee and/or additional administrative fees.
Fee: $510
Any resident (except those in apartments) who needs access to their room for any portion of December break beyond the late stay must sign up for the full break which grants them access for the entire break period. We do not offer partial hall access or a prorated fee.
The break housing fee will be charged to the student account once offices reopen after the break.
Residence Life & Housing staff will be available during the break to assist students and contact information will be posted in buildings. Other university services, including Dining, Student Health Services and recreational activities, may be limited or unavailable during the break. University offices do close from late December through New Years Day, but residence hall staff on duty will remain available during that time.
All students (except apartment residents returning for spring) who are leaving for December Break must turn in their room key/fob and check out with an in-hall staff member (Resident Assistant or Residence Hall Coordinator) during the designated times for their building. If you lost your key/fob, you should still check out with staff. Failure to follow check-out procedures could lead to an improper checkout fee and/or additional administrative fees.
After the halls close, Resident Assistants will enter student rooms to conduct health and safety checks, which help us maintain the safety and security of our residence halls.
Be sure to prepare your room before you go:
If applicable, close and lock your windows and close the shades.
Take garbage and recycling to appropriate dumpsters.
Empty, unplug and defrost refrigerators a few days before leaving.
Unplug all electronics.
If applicable, turn your heat on and set to low.
Close and lock your doors and turn off lights.
Check your mailbox and pick up any packages.
- Return any resources you've checked out (i.e. spare ONEcard, etc.)
- Each roommate should complete and sign the room checklist provided by staff.
- Remove any prohibited items.
- If there is an empty bed space in your room, make sure the bed and corresponding furniture are empty as a new roommate may be assigned to that space at any time.
Spring Break
On-campus residence halls (except apartments) close at 7 p.m. on the Friday of the last scheduled class before the break, and reopen at noon on the Sunday before classes restart.
Non-apartment residents are expected to vacate by closing time, and they will regain access to their space when the halls reopen.
If you will need access to your room during any part of the break, you will need to submit the Spring Break application in the Breaks and Early/Late Stays section of the My Housing Portal.
University Courtyard and Executive Apartment residents do not need to vacate or apply for break housing.
Any resident (except those in apartments) who needs access to their room past 7 p.m. on the Friday before break, due to a late class or other circumstance, must sign up for a late stay, which grants them access until 10 a.m. the next day (Saturday). There is no additional fee for a late stay, however, if you leave later than 10 a.m., you may be charged a $150 improper checkout fee.
Any resident (except those in apartments) who needs access to their room for any portion of the break beyond the late stay must sign up for the full break which grants them access for the entire break period. This includes students looking to return to campus early at the end of the break. There is no additional fee for Spring Break housing.
Residence Life & Housing staff will be available during the break to assist students and contact information will be posted in buildings. Other university services, including dining, student health services and recreational activities, may be limited or unavailable during the break.
During break, the RA staff will enter all traditional and suite-style rooms to conduct health and safety checks, which help us maintain the safety and security of our residence halls.
If leaving for Spring Break, you don't need to formally check out with a staff member or turn in your room key; however, building access will be turned off when halls close. Please keep your room key and student ID card in a safe place over break! If lost, replacements will incur a fee.
Be sure to prepare your room before you go:
If applicable, close and lock your windows and close the shades.
Remove perishable items from your refrigerator.
Take garbage and recycling to appropriate dumpsters.
Unplug all electronics except refrigerators and fish tanks.
If applicable, turn the heat on and set to low.
Close and lock your doors and turn off lights.
Your RA will give you a room preparation checklist, and each roommate will need to complete and sign it.
Special Sessions Housing
Winter and Summer Session housing on campus is available to students who meet specific criteria.
Winter Session
Any student who meets the eligibility criteria can request Winter Session housing by completing the Winter Session housing application. It will open in the My Housing Portal in mid-late October with a priority deadline in early December. Applications submitted after the priority deadline may result in delayed processing and communication. Applications are reviewed, verified and approved on a rolling basis.
There is no housing fee for Newark campus students during Winter Session.
Students living in apartments in the fall who are returning to their space for spring automatically retain access to their apartment through Winter Session and do not need to complete an application.
Any resident (including apartments) not returning to on-campus housing in the spring is not eligible to stay for Winter Session and must fully move out by 10 p.m. on the Monday of the last final exams for fall.
Winter Session housing is only available to students meeting one of the following criteria.
Living in the Residence Halls and Taking a Course
Students who live in a traditional or suite-style hall and enroll in at least one in-person or online Winter Session course in Newark can request to live on campus.
Living in the Residence Halls but Not Taking a Course
Students who live in a traditional or suite-style hall can request to live on campus, if one of the following applies.
- You have a university-related reason, such as university employment, research, sport, etc. Verification nof your participation from a program supervisor will be part of the application process.
- You are an international student who needs to stay on campus during Winter Session.
- You are requsting continuing housing due to home insecurity. We know that not everyone has a home they can go to as they may be transitioning between spaces, not have a secure space to stay, not have a safe home life or another reason.
An Associate in Arts Student Taking an In-Person Class in Newark
Associate in Arts students are eligible to request Winter Session housing if they are taking an in-person Winter Session course in Newark. We will notify you as soon as possible if we are able to house you. Associate in Arts students will pay a $500 housing fee, if approved.
New Applicant for Spring Semester Housing Who also Needs Winter Session Housing
Newly admitted first-year and transfer students for the spring semester, or returning students not currently living on campus, who have applied for spring semester on-campus housing can request to move into the residence halls for Winter Session, if they are enrolled in an in-person Winter Session course or are involved in a university-sponsored activity during the session. We will notify you as soon as possible if we are able to house you.
Students living in traditional or suite-style halls for Winter Session are required to purchase a Winter Session dining plan. Those who don't select a specific plan will be registered and billed for the default plan.
Students living in apartments do not need to purchase a dining plan, but may opt into one.
Residence hall check-in for Winter Session typically occurs on the first day of Winter classes from noon–6 p.m. Classes on this day are virtual or asynchronous.
Students can arrive at any point during this timeframe and do not need a specific appointment. More details about Winter Session move-in will be shared closer to that time.
Students leaving on-campus housing after Winter Session must fully vacate their room and return their room key upon checking out with a staff member by 6 p.m. on the Saturday of final exams. Students staying on campus in the same room for the spring semester do not need to check out.
Students should plan to arrive or vacate in accordance with the posted dates and times when staff are available to assist.
Prior to the start of Winter Session, visit the My Housing Portal to cancel your Winter Session housing application and/or assignment. If you've been charged for a dining plan, you can cancel or change your plan through Dining Services starting in mid-November.
Summer Session
Any student who meets the eligibility criteria can request Summer Session housing thorough our office by completing the Summer Session housing application. It will open in the My Housing Portal in mid-April with a priority deadline of mid-May.
Summer housing is not guaranteed as space is limited, so we encourage students to apply by the priority deadline for the best consideration. The application will remain open after that date pending space availability.
There is an additional fee for summer housing.
Summer Session housing is only available to students meeting one of the following criteria:
Current undergraduate UD students at the Newark campus who are taking at least one in-person, credit-bearing summer course
An international student unable to travel home
Course registration and student status will be verified.
Students experiencing housing insecurity over the summer should contact Student Advocacy and Support to get connected with helpful resources. These students still must meet one of the above eligibility criteria to live in summer housing.
Students taking only online courses, doing an internship or research, attending a conference, working for a UD department or doing any other activity on campus are not eligible for our summer school housing. These students must either seek off-campus housing or inquire about housing options through our Summer Camps and Conferences program.
The location of Summer Session housing can change from year to year. Details for the current year will be announced once the application opens. Room type and roommate requests can be made in the application, but are not guaranteed for any student.
All students living in summer housing are required to purchase a summer meal plan. Charges will be added to the student financial account.
Caesar Rodney is the only dining hall open on campus during Summer Session. Details on any additional POD Market or grab-and-go offerings will be announced closer to that time.
Students already living on campus for spring semester who need housing between the end of the spring semester and start of Summer Session can request interim housing in their summer application. Interim housing is not guaranteed and is space-dependent, so we suggest you make the request early.
If approved for interim housing, you will have continuous housing from the end of the spring semester through the start of the first Summer Session and will be charged the additional interim housing fee. You will be required to move to your summer assignment on a specific date and time which will be noted in the application.
We’ll send approved students an email with additional instructions for the relocation process toward the end of the spring semester. If you can't move at the designated time, you are ineligible for interim housing as we cannot accommodate requests for alternate times.
Housing accommodations already documented or updated for the current year through Disability Support Services (DSS) will be considered during the assignment process. If a student needs to submit a new accommodation request, they should do so through DSS within one week of submitting their application and no later than the priority application deadline. Accommodations are not guaranteed. If we are unable to meet an accommodation, we will notify the student.
Prior to the start of Summer Session check-in, visit the My Housing Portal to cancel your Summer Session housing application and/or assignment. If you've been charged for a dining plan, you can cancel or change your plan through Dining Services.
2025 Summer Session Dates
2026 dates will be listed once they become available.
Summer Sesssion check-in and check-out times will be communicated closer to the start of the terms.
| Session | Check In | Check Out |
|---|---|---|
| First Summer Session Only (five weeks) |
Sunday, June 8, noon–5 p.m. |
Saturday, July 12, noon–7 p.m. |
| Second Summer Session Only (five weeks) |
Sunday, July 13, noon–5 p.m |
Friday, August 15, noon–7 p.m. |
| First and Second Summer Sessions (ten weeks) |
Sunday, June 8, noon–5 p.m. |
Friday, August 15, noon–7 p.m. |
| 7½-Week Summer Session |
Sunday, June 8, noon–5 p.m. |
Thursday, July 31, noon–7 p.m. |
We cannot accommodate requests to check in outside of the listed dates and times, based on staff availability and room readiness, so plan to adjust your schedule accordingly. If you need to check out prior to noon at the end of your session, please make an appointment in advance with the Summer Session in-hall staff.