You do not need to remove all of your belongings over winter break but should take all needed items with you before you depart.

Please complete the steps below before you depart for break. HRL staff will then inspect your room to ensure all health, safety, and policy expectations have been met.

Closing Steps:

• Remove all trash from your space, including all open food items.
• Close and lock all windows and raise blinds fully.
• Unplug all electronics. Turn off alarm clocks.
• Mini-fridges must be emptied, unpluged and defrosted.
• Turn off all lights and unplug vanity, lamps, and string lights.
• Reduce thermostat to minimum setting.
• Clean your room to ensure it is generally tidy (ensure floor does not have a high volume of items on the floor).
• Take your valuables, medications, passport and other items needed over break with you.
• Lock all doors
• Check out for fall semester in your AU Housing portal, this let's us know when you're officially gone!
• If you reside in a suite-style residence hall or Nebaska: Remove all items from your bathroom so that housekeeping can clean surfaces over break. Items can be left under your sink or in bathroom drawers.
• If you reside in the Frequency: Clean all surfaces in your bathroom before departing for break.

Rentals

MicroFridge and Lockbox Rentals from GoBreez

Students who rented a MicroFridge or Lockbox unit for only one semester should leave their units inside their room for pickup by GoBreez. Units should be clean, emptied and MicroFridges should be defrosted completely. Housing & Residence Life is not responsible for units left outside of rooms.

All GoBreez customers will recieve an email from info@gobreez.com with specific instructions to prepare your fridge for Winter Break (or pickup for Single Semester rentals). Should you have any questions, please refer to the email.

The Day Before your departure

• EMPTY all contents.
• UNPLUG your fridge.
• PROP OPEN both the fridge and freezer doors so it can properly defrost.
• Place a TOWEL in the freezer, at the base of the fridge, and paper towels in drip tray behind fridge.

The Morning of your departure. 

• DRY out fridge completely including the drip tray in back, and remove towels.
• CLEAN using sanitizing wipes if needed, but do NOT use any bleach.
• KEEP OPEN both the fridge and freezer doors so it can continue to dry.
• Leave rental INSIDE your room.

GoBreez and American University Residence Life and Facilities will not be responsible for cleaning or replacing any fridges that develop mold or mildew. You will be responsible for any damage that occurs to your fridge, room or personal belongings due to improper fridge preparation before you leave for the break.

Students approved to change their housing assignment for the spring 2026 semester may leave their items in their room over winter break. In the spring semester, you will return to campus early on January 7th to move your items to your new assignment. Additional details may be found on the Fall to Spring Room Change page.

Before departing for winter break:

• Pack all your belongings before you depart, and LEAVE THEM IN THE ROOM.
• Clean your room. It should be left in the same condition present when you moved in.
• Return all furniture to the location you found it when you moved in.
• Check out for fall semester in your AU Housing portal, this let's us know when you're officially gone!

Residents of the Frequency and Nebraska apartments who are returning to the same space for the spring semester can remain in their room over break if they apply for Winter Break Housing by December 3.

For those departing for the break, please remove all perishable and unsealed food items from the kitchen and refrigerator.  Refrigerators do not need to be unplugged.

You must remove all belongings from your room before the residence halls close for the fall semester. Follow the steps below to avoid additional charges:

Steps to Move Out and complete the check out process:

• Pack and remove your belongings.
• Clean your room. It should be left in the same condition present when you moved in.
• Return all furniture to the location you found it when you moved in.
• Complete Self Check Out in the AU Housing Portal. Not completing this step may result in additional charges.
• HRL staff will complete a Room Inventory Inspection (RIF) for you after you complete your check out. 

Rentals

MicroFridge and Lockbox Rentals from GoBreez

Students who rented a MicroFridge or Lockbox unit for only one semester should leave their units inside their room for pickup by GoBreez. Units should be clean, emptied. MicroFridges should be completely defrosted. Housing & Residence Life is not responsible for units left outside of rooms.

Damages 

Residents are responsible for damages noted during the inspection upon checking out. Damages not previously noted on the RIF will be billed to the student's account following an e-mail sent to the student's AU account confirming the charges.