Helping Your Hokie Prepare for Winter Break

Winter Break and the end of the semester are exciting and busy times for the Hokies in your life, whether they are graduating, staying on campus for break, or returning home. Want to keep up with your Hokies’ schedules? Check out our important dates for this school year on our website and keep reading to help them prepare for Winter Break!

There are different processes for students returning to campus in the spring and for those who are not. If your student is returning, they are eligible for Winter Break Housing. Your student is not eligible for Winter Break Housing if they are not returning; however, they can submit a Late Check-Out request form alongside their mandatory Intent to Depart form.

Hokies returning to on-campus living in the spring

Hokies returning for spring classes in 2026 are eligible for Winter Break Housing! If your student is not registered for Break Housing, they should plan to depart University housing within 24 hours of their last exam, no later than 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2025. Students will not have access to their space after this time.

Registration

Your student can register for Winter Break Housing at any point during the break period on the StarRez Portal at no additional charge. Your student must register to stay on campus for any duration between 10 a.m. on December 18 and 12 p.m. (noon) on January 16.

How to Register

• Students should access the StarRez Portal
• The registration form can be found by navigating to “Online Forms” and then to “Break Housing Registrations”

The registration is open the entirety of Winter Break, and your student must register to stay on campus at any point during the break. If your student returns to campus earlier than expected, they still need to register! They will not have access to their space without registration.

Expectations

Residence halls will be in a low-occupancy period during break, and services will be limited. Your student should familiarize themselves with what they can expect during break concerning dining, staff support, and more on our website.

Dining halls will be closed for most of the break. When they are open, they may have limited hours and locations. Your Hokie should see the Dining Center Operation Hours for the most current schedule.

University offices close at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. Offices will open at 8 a.m. on Friday, January 2, 2026.

Residence halls open for returning students at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Friday, January 16, 2026. Your student may want to return on Saturday or Sunday, as new students will be moving in for Spring Orientation on Friday.

Hokies not returning to on-campus living in the spring

Your Hokie is not eligible for Winter Break Housing if they are:

• Graduating
• Participating in study abroad or off-campus co-op in the spring
• Otherwise not taking classes in the spring semester

Your student must fill out an Intent to Depart form on the StarRez Portal. They can also submit a Late Check-Out request form on the StarRez Portal before Monday, December 15 at 12:00 p.m. (noon). If approved, students must move out by 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.

Accessing the forms:

• Students should access the StarRez Portal
• The mandatory Intent to Depart form can be found by navigating to “Online Forms” and then to “Intent to Depart”
• The Late Check-Out request form can be found by navigating to “Online Forms” and then to “Late Check-Out”

Late Check-Out

Students who are not returning to Virginia Tech for Spring 2026 classes may request a late check out if they are:

• Graduating
• Attending commencement of a sibling
• Required to participate in commencement by an academic department
• Have other circumstances requiring that they be on campus past 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2025

If your student is approved for a late check-out, they must be fully moved out of their residence hall by 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 20.

Your student can check out of their space:

• In person with a staff member
• By submitting a Self Check-Out Form on the StarRez Portal under Online Forms, Self Check-Out. On the drop-down menu, the form is called Checking Out of Your Room.

Residential Well-being staff will give more specific information about in-person check-outs during closing community meetings!

Intent to Depart

Students who are not returning for Spring 2026 must complete an Intent to Depart form. Your student should submit the form at least 48 hours before they depart from campus. We will verify the form, and your student will be expected to properly check out of their space.

Students who fail to submit an Intent to Depart form will face major delays in getting their bills updated for the spring semester.

Spring Billing for Students Not Returning

Spring 2026 housing or dining charges will be removed from your student’s account if they aren't enrolled for spring classes. By completing a proper check-out, your student can avoid improper check-out charges and have these charges removed faster.

Your student can view their current balance on their Ebill in HokieSpa, which will update after complete check-out and move-out. PDF billing statements will not change even after Housing Services removes charges.

Students with belongings still in their room after Thursday, January 15, at 5 p.m. will incur partial spring charges. Students who leave for Winter Break and decide not to return for Spring 2026 must make plans to move out of their room to avoid charges.

Your student can access their room weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. by coming to the Housing Services office at 134 New Hall West. Staff will assist them in processing their check-out.

University offices are closed from 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, through 8 a.m. on Friday, January 2, 2026. To move out during the University closure, your Hokie must make arrangements before December 23 by emailing housing@vt.edu.

Important Dates

Want to help your Hokie remember the important info you’ve read here? Add the dates below to your calendar!

December 15, 2025 - The Late Check-Out Request Form for students not returning to campus in the Spring but needing extra time on campus is due at 12 p.m. (noon). Their Intent to Depart form is due, at minimum, 48 hours prior to them leaving campus.

December 18, 2025 - Students not registered for Break Housing or approved for Late Check-Out should plan to depart from University housing within 24 hours of their last exam, no later than 10 a.m.

December 20, 2025 - If your student is approved for a late check-out, they must be fully moved out of their residence hall by 10:00 a.m.

December 23, 2025 - University offices close at 5:00 p.m. Offices remain closed until January 2, 2026. 

January 15, 2026 - Students who leave for Winter Break and decide not to return for Spring 2026 must make plans to move out of their room by 5:00 p.m. to avoid partial spring charges.

Jan. 16, 2026 - Residence halls open for returning students at 12:00 p.m. (noon).

Jan. 17-18, 2026 - Returning students may want to return to campus the weekend of Jan. 16, as new students will be moving in for Spring Orientation that Friday.