Housing and Residence Life

Breaks

Housing and Residence Life
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5312 USA
(269) 387-4735

Fall Break

Fall Break starts Wednesday, Oct. 15, and the University is closed Friday, Oct. 17. Residence halls, apartments and Student Center Dining stay open, but some services will be limited. Here's a quick rundown of what you need to know: 

Residence hall staff will be doing supervised room checks beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14. These are maintenance and safety inspections, not personal searches. If you have questions about room checks, please see your hall director.

Register in the housing portal if you'll be here anytime Wednesday - Saturday night (Oct. 15 - 18). This helps staff know who's around for safety. If your plans change, just update your info in the portal. 

Safety

While the residence halls will be open, many campus services will be closed or limited. For your protection and safety during the holiday break:

  • Housing staff will be on duty to respond to problems or emergencies. See the information posted at your front desk.
  • All university and residence hall policies apply.
  • Do not allow others to access the building, and make sure you keep your room door locked.
  • Make sure building entrance doors are closed and secure.

Hall Services

  • Front desks: Close 11 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14 and reopen 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19
  • Hall offices: Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 15 and Thursday, Oct. 16
  • Mail and packages: Processed Wednesday, Oct. 15 and Thursday, Oct. 16; services paused Friday, Oct. 17 to Sunday, Oct. 19

Contacting Staff During Break

A staff member will be on duty at all times during break and ready to help if you need anything. You'll find their contact info posted on your floor, at the front desk and outside your building. For emergencies, call WMU Public Safety at (269) 387-5555.

Dining Services

Dining hours and menus are modified during fall break.

You do not need to let us know you are leaving. If you are on campus at any time during break, see the Staying for Fall Break section for information on desk hours, mail service, safety and more.

Preparing your room

  • Close and secure windows; close blinds. If you are in a ground- or roof-level room, insert the wooden security stick in the window track. If you don’t have one, see your hall office.
  • Take all of your trash to the dumpster and recyclables to the appropriate bin outside.
  • Shut off and unplug all unnecessary appliances (TV, computer, stereo).
  • Clear your heat register of any obstruction.
  • Take home any valuables.
  • Clean and lock bathrooms.

Dining Services

Dining hours and menus are modified during fall break.

Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving Break begins at noon Wednesday, Nov. 26. Residence halls and apartments are open with limited services; Dining is closed.

Staying for Thanksgiving break

Register in the Housing Portal if you are staying for anytime Wednesday-Saturday night (Nov. 26 - 29). This helps staff know who's around for safety. If your plans change, just update your info in the portal.

Safety

While the residence halls will be open, many campus services will be closed or limited. For your protection and safety during the holiday break:

  • Housing staff will be on duty to respond to problems or emergencies. See the information posted at your front desk.
  • All university and residence hall policies apply.
  • Do not allow others to access the building, and make sure you keep your room door locked.
  • Make sure building entrance doors are closed and secure.

Hall Services

  • Front desks: Close 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25 and reopen 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30
  • Hall offices: Closed Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28
  • Mail and packages: Processed Wednesday, Nov. 26; services paused Thursday, Nov. 27 to Sunday, Nov. 30

Contacting Staff During Break

A staff member will be on duty 24/7 during the break and ready to help if you need anything. You'll find their contact info posted on your floor, at the front desk and outside of your building. For emergencies, please contact WMU Public Safety at (269) 387-5555.

Leaving for Thanksgiving break

Please register if you are staying for any part of break Nov. 26-29.

Preparing your room

  • Close and secure windows; close blinds. If you are in a ground- or roof-level room, insert the wooden security stick in the window track. If you don’t have one, see your hall office.
  • Take all of your trash to the dumpster and recyclables to the appropriate bin outside.
  • Shut off and unplug all unnecessary appliances (TV, computer, stereo).
  • Clear your heat register of any obstruction.
  • Take home any valuables.
  • Clean and lock bathrooms.

Dining Services

Dining services are closed during Thanksgiving break.

Winter Break

Residence halls and the University will close for winter break. WMU apartment residents will still have access to their units. 

  • Residence halls close for holiday recess 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12.  Check Dining Services hours here.
  • Residence halls reopen at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10.  Dining Services resumes Monday, Jan 11 at 7 a.m.
  • WMU and the housing office are closed 5 p.m. Dec. 23 and reopen at 9 a.m. Jan. 5, 2026.

You do not need to move out of your room. Take home the things you will need over break and lock your room. To prevent pests, take out your trash and recycling, remove food that will spoil, clean dishes left in the room, and close and lock your windows. Unplug non-essential electrical items. Access to your hall will not be available Dec. 13 to Jan. 5.

  1. Request to cancel your housing contract. Sign into the housing portal and fill out the cancellation request. You will receive an email regarding your cancellation status.
  2. Empty, clean and wipe down your part of the room as well as the bathroom (suites). Return your bed to its original set-up position.
  3. Make arrangements with Bedloft to return any EcoMax units (www.bedloft.com).
  4. Confirm with the hall office or your resident assistant the check-out process in place for your building.
  5. Change your mail forwarding information on GoWMU.

If your roommate leaves, please keep the second half of the room open for new students joining us in January. You will not receive notice if a new roommate is assigned to you. Instead, you can check on the housing portal under "View my spring assignment." 

January Return

Residence halls reopen 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, 2026. You may return then or anytime after. Food service and classes begin Monday, Jan. 6.

Spring Break

Spirit Day (no classes) is Friday, March 6, and Spring Break is the week of March 9-13, 2026.

Residence hall staff will be doing supervised room checks beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 5. These are maintenance and safety inspections, not personal searches. If you have questions about room checks, please see your hall director.

Register in the housing portal by noon, Thursday, March 5 if you’ll be here anytime during break (March 6-14). This helps staff know who’s around for safety. If your plans change, just update your info in the portal.

Safety

While the residence halls will be open, many campus services will be closed or limited. For your protection and safety during the holiday break:

  • Housing staff will be on duty to respond to problems or emergencies. See the information posted at your front desk.
  • All university and residence hall policies apply.
  • Do not allow others to access the building, and make sure you keep your room door locked.
  • Make sure building entrance doors are closed and secure.

Hall Services

  • Front desks: Close 11 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 | Reopen 5 p.m. Sunday, March 15
  • Hall offices: Open 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday, March 6 and March 9-13
  • Mail and packages: Processed Friday, March 6 and March 9-13

Contacting Staff During Break

A staff member will be on duty 24/7 during break and ready to help if you need anything. You’ll find their contact info posted on your floor, at the front desk, and outside your building. For emergencies, call WMU Public Safety at (269) 387-5555.

Dining Services

Dining hours and menus are modified during spring break.

If you are staying on campus at any time any time between March 6 and March 14, please register by noon Thursday, March 5. It helps us look out for everyone’s safety if we know who will be around. If your plans change, you may update your information at any time.

See the Staying for Spring Break section for information on desk hours, mail service, safety and more.

Preparing your room

  • Close and secure windows; close blinds. If you are in a ground- or roof-level room, insert the wooden security stick in the window track. If you don’t have one, see your hall office.
  • Take all of your trash out to the dumpster and recyclables to the appropriate bin outside.
  • Shut off and unplug all unnecessary appliances (TV, computer, stereo).
  • Clear your heat register of any obstruction.
  • Take home any valuables.
  • Clean and lock bathrooms.

Dining Services

Dining hours and menus are modified during spring break.