Housing Break Information
Housing Break Information
Campus housing does not close for Thanksgiving Break.
Students are welcome to stay in the Residence Halls for all or part of the holiday
break.
Thanksgiving break begins on Wednesday, November 25th with no classes and classes
resume Monday, November 30th.
Limited Dining Services
Dining Services are limited over the break. Details will be sent/posted prior to the break. Students should be prepared to provide most of their own meals over the break. Regular operations resume Sunday evening for Dinner in the Hardrocker Cafe.
Thanksgiving Meal
Residence Life staff typically hosts a Thanksgiving Meal for residential students staying on campus and looking to share a meal with fellow students. If hosted again this year (Donor and staffing dependent), see logistics below.
Thursday, November 26th
TBD (typically 11:00am - 2:00pm)
Location in Upper Surbeck
Details and RSVP Form to be sent to email.
This meal is provided in collaboration with Residence Life, Alumni Donations, Dining Services, and contributions from Faculty & Staff.
Departure Checklist
Rooms with no occupants staying over break are encouraged to complete the checklist items below:
- Turn off all lights and close curtains or blinds
- Close and lock all windows & doors
- Set thermostat to 65°F (Palmerton, Connolly, & Peterson Halls) or 60°F (Placer Hall & Rocker Square Apartments) and the fan to "auto"
- Ensure HVAC unit and sensors are not blocked
- Remove any perishable items likely to spoil
- Remove all trash, recycling, and clean room
All campus housing closes at 12:00PM noon on Thursday, December 17, 2026. It is recommended students done with finals depart campus within 24 hours of their
last final, no later than noon Dec. 17th to promote quiet and academically focused
environments in the residence halls for others still taking exams.
Campus housing will reopens at 8:00AM on Sunday, January 10, 2027.
Winter Break Housing - PRIOR REGISTRATION REQUIRED
$0 cost for full-year housing students
Application deadline for Winter Break Housing: 12:00PM noon Monday, December 7, 2026.
Students requesting to stay in the halls over break should complete the winter break
registration form no later than December 7, 2026. Students must be registered for spring semester coursework to remain in on-campus
housing during the break between the fall and spring semesters.
Students who fail to provide notice by the stated deadline may experience interruption
or unavailability of access to their assigned room during the break, especially if
submissions are made right before or over break.
Any applications submitted after noon on Monday, December 7, 2026 will be accepted with a $50 late charge. Any submission providing less than 1 full business days’ notice (weekend not included) will be a $75 late charge. Immediate access for late applications is NOT guaranteed.
Dining Services will not be open, with the exception of the 24/7 Market at Rocker Square.
Winter Break Departure Checklist
A checklist will be placed on all resident doors that outlines specific items that must be done before leaving for Winter Break. Please refer to this checklist for specific items in your residence hall. In general, all students must ensure the following is done before leaving for break:
- Close and lock all windows
- Close drapes or blinds
- Set thermostat to 65°F (Palmerton, Connolly, & Peterson Halls) or 60°F (Placer Hall & Rocker Square Apartments) and the fan to "auto"
- Ensure HVAC unit and sensors are not blocked
- Remove all perishable items
- Remove all trash, recycling, and clean room
- Unplug Appliances:
- Residence Halls - all appliances including refrigerators and computer systems
- Rocker Apartments - all appliances and computer systems, except major kitchen items
- Turn off all lights
- Lock doors
- Return rented books to Rocker Shop
Note: Residence Life and Facilities staff enter all rooms over break to perform preventative maintenance and to ensure all items on the checklist are completed. Fines will be issued for items not completed.
Residents Not Returning for the Spring 2027 Semester
Contact Our Office by 12:00PM noon on Monday, November 23, 2026
Students not returning for the spring semester must notify Residence Life about the
status of their housing contract (email reslife@sdsmt.edu).
Vacating Deadline: 12:00PM noon on Thursday, December 17, 2026
Students who are not returning to housing second semester must vacate by 12:00PM noon
on Thursday, December 17, 2026.
Graduating Students Extended Deadline: Noon on Sunday, December 20, 2026
Students graduating on December 19, 2026 will be able to stay in housing until noon
on December 20, 2026 at no cost.
Return Rooms to Move-In Condition & Turn in Access Cards & Keys
Rooms must be returned to move-in condition: cleaned, damage-free, and with all University
furniture.
Rocker Square Residents must return all keys and cards to Residence Life via an "Express Check-Out" envelope (2 keys, 1 card). Envelopes will be provided to all students who are leaving. Extra envelopes can be found at the Surbeck Front Desk. Failure to return all keys/cards will result in improper check-out and re-keying charges. Envelopes can be returned to the Residence Life Office or in the Residence Life maildrop when the office is closed.
Return Your Parking Pass
Parking passes are issued for the academic year. If you are not going to need parking
for the spring, return your parking pass, as you may be eligible for a partial refund.
Update Mail Forwarding Address
Mail will automatically be forwarded to the address on file with the University. If
another address is desired, complete the .
All campus housing closes at 12:00PM noon on Saturday, March 13, 2027.
Residence halls will reopens at 8:00AM on Sunday, March 21, 2027. Rocker Square Apartments do not close.
Spring Break Housing - PRIOR REGISTRATION REQUIRED
$0 cost for full-year housing students
Application deadline for Spring Break Housing: 12:00PM noon Wednesday, March 3, 2027.
Students requesting to stay in the halls over break should complete the winter break
registration form no later than March 3, 2027.
Students who fail to provide notice by the stated deadline may experience interruption
or unavailability of access to their assigned room during the break, especially if
submissions are made right before or over break.
Any applications submitted after noon on Wednesday, March 3, 2027 will be accepted with a $50 late charge. Any submission providing less than 1 full business days’ notice (weekend not included) will be a $75 late charge. Immediate access for late applications is NOT guaranteed.
Dining Services will not be open, with the exception of the 24/7 Market at Rocker Square.
Spring Break Housing
Dining Services will not be open, with the exception of the 24/7 Market at Rocker Square.
Please refer to this checklist for specific items in your residence hall. In general, all students must ensure the following is done before leaving for break:
- Close and lock all windows
- Close drapes/blinds
- Set thermostat to 60 degrees and "auto" - or what is applicable to your building
- Remove all perishable items and clean room
- Remove all trash (each bag left for staff to remove is $20)
- Turn off all lights
- Lock doors
Note: Residence Life and Facilities staff enter all rooms over break for health/safety checks plus to perform preventative maintenance and to ensure all items on the checklist are completed. Fines will be issued for items not completed.
Spring Break Closing Inspections
Residence Life staff will stop by each residential room to perform Spring Break closing inspections between Wednesday, March 10 and Friday, March 12, 2027. While residents do not need to be present, we do prefer at least one resident be present to address any concerns found.
We will address vacancy and ensure health & safety conditions during our check. This includes prohibited items, propped doors or disassembled closers, access to exits, general cleanliness, excess trash and odors, unattended appliances, fire and electrical hazards, unsafe lofts or furniture, and evidence of unapproved animals.
