Moving Out

Moving Out

Fall Closing

General Closing information: Fall 2024

1. Residents are expected to vacate Atala Hall within 24 hours of their last final exam.

2. Residents returning to housing for the spring do not have to fully move out. However, USF ID card access to Atala Hall will be deactivated beginning at noon on Friday, December 13 through 9:00 a.m. on January 10.

3. Atala Hall will close at noon on Friday, December 13, 2024.

Please read if you are...

Returning to your room in the spring

  • Do not leave any exposed or open food in your room and dispose of any  items that will expire before your return in your refrigerator.
  • Unplug all personal electronics such as alarms clocks, computers, game systems, TV’s or small appliances.
  • Please clean all dirty dishes in your sink and your residential area. 
  • Take your fish home.
  • Be sure to secure your bike to a bike rack. Remember that powered bikes, hoverboards, scooters, etc. are not permitted inside the residence halls at any time.
  • Take down all holiday decorations.
  • Empty all trash and recycling materials.
  • Take home all valuables including important medications.
  • Take home or return rented textbooks.
  • Students who are returning to their current room in the spring may leave their belongings in the room throughout the break, but will not have access during that time.
  • Your card will not have access over the break. If you are found in the halls without permission, you will be subject to student conduct action.
  • Please keep your USF ID Card in a safe place over the break so you are not subject to lock change or key replacement fines. 
  • Do not leave your bedroom doors unlocked.
  • Set your thermostat to 72 degrees. If your thermostat has a fan speed setting, set it to AUTO.
  • Make sure all showers and sink faucets are completely turned off and not dripping or leaking.
  • Verify your window is closed and the latch is locked. Close your blinds, rotating the louvers to the open position.
  • Atala Hall re-opens for the spring semester at 9 a.m. on Friday, January 10. Card access will be automatically restored at this time. Your financial account must be in good standing before you move in.
  • IMPORTANT: If you live in a double room and do not have a roommate at the current time, please anticipate a roommate being assigned to your room for the spring semester. Before you leave for break, please clear the room (including the vacant bed, desk, dresser, bathroom space, etc.) to allow for a new roommate to move in their belongings. If you do not move belongings from these areas, Housing & Residential Education will move them and post a charge to your student account. Staff will be entering rooms to confirm readiness for all new roommates.

Please note:  You may request to stay one additional night in Atala Hall beyond December 13 at noon. To request a Late Stay, please contact your RLC for more information. Late Stay Requests are only eligible for one extra night. No additional nights will be permitted.

Not returning to your room in the spring

Residents not returning for the spring semester must complete the checkout process on/before Friday, December 13 at noon. This includes formally canceling your housing contract for the spring semester as early as possible via the Housing Portal; cleaning your space prior to your departure; and returning your key(s) to your service desk. For cancellation information, see Section V of your Housing Agreement

  • Before You Depart:
    • Check out with an RA before you leave
      • Contact your RA or RLC for more information
    • Please remove all personal belongings from your room prior to checkout time.
    • Please return all furniture to its original position. (There is a $30.00 charge to re-assemble or move furniture.)
    • Please remove posters, tape/decals and residue, nails, hooks, etc. from walls, windows, and mirrors.
    • Please clean your room and/or apartment thoroughly. Clean and remove all food from the refrigerator and clean all appliances in the apartment.
    • Please remove trash and sweep/vacuum the floor. Common areas must be cleaned each time a member of the living unit checks out, otherwise cleaning charges will apply - regardless of who is responsible for clean up.
    • Set your thermostat to 72 degrees. If your thermostat has a fan speed setting, set it to AUTO.
    • Verify your window is closed and the latch is locked. Close your blinds, rotating the louvers to the open position.
    • If you are the first person in your room/suite/apartment to check out, please have your room/suite/apartment-mate present, if possible, at the time of your checkout to clarify who is responsible for any damages that might be identified.
  • Ready To Depart:
    • Check-out with your Resident Assistant.
      • Please see your RA for more specific infromation on how to check out of your hall. 
      • When the RA arrives for your checkout, your belongings must be out of the room. If the staff member arrives and you are not finished moving out, you may be charged a late departure fee if you are not moved out before noon.
      • When the staff member arrives, they will check your room. Please note that the RLC and facilities make the final decisions regarding charges of damages.
      • If there are damages, be sure all members of the room let the staff member know who is responsible. If no one claims responsibility, everyone will be charged. If the apartment/room is dirty, you will be charged. All areas of the apartment/room must be cleaned prior to each person checking out.
    • Update your address in Student Self Service and in the Housing Portal.
    • Please Note: an Improper Checkout Fee of $100 may be charged to students who do not follow the proper checkout procedures. 

24-Hour Quiet Hours

24-hour quiet hours begin on Wednesday, December 4 at 10:00 p.m. through Friday, December 13 at 8:00 a.m. Please be courteous to your peers, especially when you are packing and moving during check-out. Failure to comply with quiet hours may result in immediate dismissal from the halls.


Mail During Winter Break 

  • Make arrangements with anyone you anticipate will send you mail over the break to ensure mail is sent to your permanent address. If you have mail-order prescriptions, please plan ahead for this University closure.
  • Mail and packages are neither forwarded nor returned to sender over winter break. Please ensure packages are not mailed to your on-campus address after December 5.
  • During the break, residents not returning to USF for Spring 2025 will have their mail sorted and forwarded after the start of the spring semester only if residents have left a forwarding address in the Housing Portal.
  • If you are leaving the University, please remember to update your forwarding address in the Housing Portal's Profile Information section. Please also update your information on your Student Self Service.

cART cHECKOUT 

A limited number of courtesy carts will be available to residents for a one-hour rental during the week of fall closing. All courtesy carts will be available at the front desk during regular business hours.


Transportation With Lithium-Ion Batteries

All forms of transportation with lithium-ion batteries are not permitted inside Atala Hall and cannot be charged in the building. 

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Electric Scooters
  • Hoverboards
  • Electric Bikes

These transportation devices are also not allowed to be stored in residents' rooms over break. Please ensure you take any transportation featuring lithium-ion batteries with you when leaving for winter break. We also strongly recommend leaving them behind when returning for the spring semester.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact the Housing office at 813-974-0001 or sar-housing@usf.edu.