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Cassius T. has seen it all on move-out day. It’s his fourth year as a resident assistant at Weatherford Hall.
In his experience there are two types of students: Those who ask all the questions, read all the updates and start filling boxes right away and those who begin packing on the last day.
“You have to shed all belief that anyone is listening to you at any moment,” he said with a laugh.
Regardless of which camp you fall into, Cassius has some tips for a smooth transition:
- Mark your calendar: Most residents must move out by 5 p.m. Friday, June 12 or within 24 hours of their last final, whichever comes first. If you have a late final or need to participate in commencement, you can apply for a Late Stay. It takes about seven to eight hours to pack, clean and move out in Cassius’s experience, so keep that in mind when planning.
- Schedule your room inspection via the Housing Portal. Students need to check out with building staff and turn in the key before leaving. You must sign up for a room inspection appointment by 5 p.m. June 7.
- Take photos and a video of your room before you start packing. It’s a big transition, Cassius said, and people don’t think about it until it’s over. “Give yourself a video tour of your room so you can watch it in a few years when it’s meaningful,” he said. It's also good practice to take photos of your clean, empty room to keep a record of the condition when you moved out.
- Look through and clean every drawer and cabinet. Cassius has found AirPods, important documents and even a passport left behind. “You’ll never return to that space, so you want to make sure you’ve got everything.” Review guidelines to help prepare for your room inspection. Check with your RA for cleaning supplies.
- Don’t trash useable items or leave them in your room. “I’m always surprised by what ends up in the trash. We have seen nice jackets and microwaves,” Cassius said. “Some residents don’t realize the donations bins exist.” Use the designated areas in your residence hall to return Eco2Go containers along with any dining center dishware. Donate used items in good condition using the donation bins and recycle what you can! Please dispose of anything else you don’t want to take. (You can’t leave anything in your room for the next person.)
- Turn keys in right away. Residents have 30 minutes after checkout to return room keys or risk a late fee. Return keys to the Service Center counter in the dining hall where you pick up your mail.
- Take time to process the moment. Cassius sometimes hears students say, “Oh my gosh, this is so sad” when faced with an empty room. “They don’t process it until that moment. The more you think about it and process it in advance,” he said, “the easier it might be.”
- Bonus tip from UHDS: Pick up your mail one last time and update your mailing address. When the time comes to move out of your space, update your mailing address via the Beaver Hub under "update your contact information." Service Centers will forward USPS mail for 30 days, when possible. UPS, FedEx and Amazon deliveries can't be forwarded, so don't forget to update your address when you shop online.