Winter Break Staythrough

The University and Student Housing are closed during the winter holiday between Terms 1 and 2, and students living in residence are required to vacate their rooms during this time. Although belongings may remain in residence rooms and suites, key cards are deactivated and will not work during the closure. Details of the mandatory closure are in your Residence Contract.

This year, Student Housing will be closed from December 22, 2023 at 12 noon until January 7, 2024 at 12 noon.

To apply to remain in residence

Eligible students who wish to remain in residence for any duration of time between December 22 at 12 noon, 2023 and January 7 at 12 noon, 2024 must fill out an online Winter Break Residence Staythrough Request. The application deadline is 11:59 PM (PST), Friday, December 1^st, 2023.

If you are approved for any duration of time during the winter closure, a flat rate of $300 will be applied to your Student Housing account, which will cover housing (please note that Food Service locations will not be open during this time). See FAQs below for more on this.

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Exceptions

If you meet one of the following criteria, you may submit an application by emailing Student Housing directly.

International students who are unable to travel to their country of residence.
Graduate students who are required to stay on campus for the purpose of their studies.
HEAT athletes who are required to attend practice during the winter closure.

Student Housing and Community Services may consider other residence stay-throughs in exceptional circumstances.

Additional documentation may be requested. Examples include:

- Flight itinerary
- Letter from preceptor/coach/faculty
- Documents must be submitted with the application by the Dec. 1 application deadline.

Please note

The university is closed during this period and services on campus will be limited. This includes:
- Food Services (including Pritchard Dining Hall)
- Orchard
- Bookstore
- Fitness facilities
- other amenities typically in operation during the academic term
There will be fewer students in residence and fewer staff members available to support residents. Some Residence Life staff will remain on campus. Campus Security is available 24 hours a day (Emergency: 250-807-8111 | Non-emergency: 250-807-9236).
Any approval can be revoked at the discretion of the Residence Life Manager.

FAQs

Can I stay in residence over the winter break?

As per the Residence Contract, students pay for their housing and meal plans on a per-term basis; Term 1 ends on Dec. 22, and Term 2 begins on Jan. 7. For those students in exceptional circumstances, stay-through housing may be offered for a fee of $300. As these dates fall outside of the Residence contract, the $300 fee covers the basic operational cost of keeping the residence buildings open and staffed (i.e., meal plan costs are not included)

What services are available while campus is closed?

For the weeks in between Terms 1 and 2, the campus is closed. That includes food service locations, the library, bookstore, and other amenities usually in operation during an academic term.

Students who meet the criteria to stay and have been given permission to remain in residence during the winter closure have been granted an exception due to very specific circumstances, on the understanding that the campus community closes down for the holiday break, and minimal services are available.