Moving Out

The residence halls close for winter break at the end of the semester, on Dec. 16, 2023. Here's what you need to know about leaving for the fall.

If you are a resident who is returning for the spring semester, make an appointment with your community advisor to go over your move-out checklist within 24 hours of your last final. You will not need to remove your belongings or turn in your key. However, unless you are staying for winter break(Neptune and Patterson only), all residence halls will be locked until Jan. 12 when they reopen for the spring semester. If you have a reason to request a late stay past your final, please contact and notify your community advisor. All residents who are not staying during winter break must check out of their halls by December 16, 2023. See Prepare For Moving Out below.

Permanently Moving Out

Students who are leaving NIU at the end of the fall semester because you graduate, transfer and/or withdraw from NIU, you need to request a contract release as soon as possible. Make an appointment with your community advisor to check out of your room within 24 hours of your last final exam and remove all of your belongings from your room before the appointment. A check out appointment should only last 20 minutes if you have all your items removed ahead of time.

If you have a reason to request a late stay past your last final (for example, if you're graduating), you must contact and notify your community advisor.

Residents who "might" leave NIU are strongly recommended to move all of their belongings out. Their room will be held unless they officially request a release. You can email housing@niu.edu or submit a release request if they decide not to return.

Prepare For Moving Out

Returning for Spring Term

  • Remove all personal items you will need over the break.
  • Clean all areas of your room, and do not leave any personal items on the floor.
  • Empty your trash and remove all perishable items from your refrigerator.
  • Avoid ordering packages that may arrive during the break period. You will not have access to them until January 12
  • Make sure your window is closed and locked.
  • Turn off your lights and lock your room door.

Moving Out Permanently

  • Make an appointment with your CA for a check-out time.
  • Remove all personal items
  • Clean all areas of your room.
  • Carefully remove posters, tape, sticky tack and strips from walls. You will be responsible for any damage fees.
  • Defrost, clean and dry your micro-fridge unit unless you have a roommate returning in January. Failure to clean and defrost the unit could result in fees.
  • Return furniture to its original position.
  • Throw away all trash.
  • Update your permanent address in MyNIU.
  • Close and lock room windows.
  • Close curtains or blinds.
  • Turn off all the lights.

Patterson and Stevenson Suite Bathrooms

Building Services team members will perform a mid-year cleaning of showers, sinks and toilets in suite bathrooms of Patterson and Stevenson if residents have removed all personal items from vanities, sinks and showers before Dec. 18. Students who have properly signed up for winter break housing in Patterson will be contacted about scheduling a bathroom cleaning so items can be removed according to the schedule.

Moving Out of Your Room/Apartment

When a resident is permanently leaving their room, whether changing rooms or moving out, they need to complete a room condition form (RCF) with their community advisor (CA). They should schedule a time with their CA to check out of the room at least 24 hours in advance and during business hours. If the resident fails to make an appointment with their CA to check out, they may be assessed a $50 improper check-out fee. They then must turn in any keys as instructed. If they are withdrawing from the university (not moving due to a room change or the end of the year move out), they need to complete a Contract Release Request form.

Your Room's Original Furniture Layouts

Remember to put the furniture in your room back in its original layout before you move out. If you had your bed lofted at the beginning of the year, you don't need to change it before moving out.

Put each bed on either side of the room. Place desks in the corners of the room by the window. Put the MicroFridge in front of the window.

Bed Desk MicroFridge

Put each bed on either side of the room. Place desks in the corners of the room, one by each window. Place the large dresser and the small dresser under the beds. Put the MicroFridge in the middle of the far wall.

Bed Desk MicroFridge Large dresser Small dresser

Put the bed on the side of the room the closet is on. Put the desk in the corner of the room by the window. Place the large dresser next to the MicroFridge. Put the small dresser under the bed. Put the MicroFridge by the desk.

Bed Desk MicroFridge Large dresser Small dresser

Put each bed on either side of the room. Place desks in the corners of the room by the window. Put the MicroFridge in front of the window.

Bed Desk MicroFridge

Put the bed on the right side of the room, opposite of the AC unit, if you have one. Place desk in the corner of the room by the window and next to the bed. Put the MicroFridge in front of the window.

Bed Desk MicroFridge

Put the bed on the right side of the room. Place the desk in the corner of the room by the window. Put the large dresser under the bed.

Bed Desk MicroFridge Large dresser

Put one of the beds on the right side of the room and the other bed on the left side of the room along the wall the door is on. Place one of the desks in front of the right window and put the other desk on the left side of the room. Place one of the wardrobes by the left window and the other wardrobe by the door on the right side of the room. Put the MicroFridge along the far wall in the middle.

Bed Desk MicroFridge Large dresser Small dresser Wardrobe

Put the bed on the right side of the room. Place the desk on the left side of the room. Place the wardrobe on the side of the room the bed is on, closest to the door. Place desk in the right corner of the room, by the window. Put the MicroFridge on the left side of the room, closest to the door.

Bed Desk MicroFridge Large dresser Small dresser Wardrobe

Put each bed on either side of the room. Put one of the wardrobes near the window and the other wardrobe by the door. Place one of the desks by the window and one of the desks by the door. Place the large and small dresser under the beds. Put the MicroFridge in front of the window. Put the couch on the left side of the room with the long table in front of it. Put each chair on the right side of the room with the small table in-between them.

Bed Desk MicroFridge Large dresser Small dresser Wardrobe Living room couch and chairs Living room tables

Put each bed on either side of the room. Put each wardrobe in the corner by the door. Put each desk in the corners by the window. Place the large and small dresser under the beds. Put the MicroFridge in front of the window. Put the couch on the far side of the room with the long table in front of it. Put one of the chairs by the couch with a small table next to it and put the other chair on the opposite side of the room.

Bed Desk MicroFridge Large dresser Small dresser Wardrobe Living room couch and chairs Living room tables

Mail Forwarding

When you move out of the residence halls, we'll forward USPS mail to the permanent address you have listed in MyNIU. Please note: Packages from private delivery services like UPS, FedEx, DHL or Amazon will get returned to sender. NIU is unable to forward packages from private services.

Fees and Cleaning Charges

Rooms will be inspected by your CA for damages and cleaning charges. If there are any damages and/or cleaning issues, a fee will be charged to your NIU account.

Common fees include:

  • Failure to defrost and clean micro-fridge unit - $100
  • Failure to remove personal items can be assessed up to $600.

Questions?

Contact your community advisor or hall director if you have any questions about the check-out process.

Important Dates

  • Thursday, Dec. 7: Residence hall 24-hour quiet hours begin
  • Friday, Dec. 15: Dining operations close
  • Saturday, Dec. 16, 10 a.m.: Residence halls close.

Winter Housing

Winter break housing is only available for residents of Neptune and Patterson Complex. Sign up for winter housing.

Contact Us

Housing and Residential Services
Neptune East 101
housing@niu.edu
815-753-1525

Additional Contact Info


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