Residence Hall/House Move-Out Procedure

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To all residential students:

As you received notification earlier today, coursework will be moving to virtual instruction. The community message also outlined that all student residence halls and houses are closed and students should plan to vacate their rooms by Sunday, March 22, 2020.

We recognize the heartbreak that this news has on everyone in the Wheaton community, especially graduating seniors, and all offices are working on how to continue traditions, programming, and support throughout the rest of the semester. These decisions were not made easily, and were decided with the health and safety concern of the community as the priority. As such:

  • Students currently on campus should vacate at their earliest convenience and before March 22, 2020.
  • Students NOT on campus currently are permitted to return to campus only for the purposes of retrieving their belongings and will not be permitted to stay on campus for a prolonged time. Staying overnight, for a single night, is permissible (not beyond March 22).

ALL STUDENTS should review the move-out procedures listed below.

After March 22, you will not be permitted to access your rooms. Exterior locks will be changed to ensure buildings are secure. If you are unable to vacate fully by March 22, you will need to schedule an appointment with Residential Life staff between March 23 and May 9 via [email protected]. Those appointments will only be available from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Petitioning to stay on campus

We understand that for some students travel back home is not possible. Given the circumstances, we ask that you consider alternatives such as family or friends that may be able to host you. Given the circumstances, requests will only be honored for life and travel restrictions, and other serious extenuating circumstances.

The deadline to petition for on-campus housing has passed. We expect that students will have found alternative living arrangements at this time. If you have any questions, please email the Dean of Students Office at deanofstudents@wheatoncollege.edu.

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Student Support

Residential Life will be shifting operating hours to 10am and 6pm to be more conducive to students who have questions about departure. Staff will be available in the office through Friday, March 20, but also available via email and live chat through Sunday, March 22. You can always reach us during those hours via email at [email protected] or our live chat.

For assistance outside of those hours, please call Public Safety at 508-286-8213 (non-emergency) or 508-286-3333 (emergency)

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Move-out Procedures
  • Students can begin moving out of rooms as early as today (March 11th).
  • Families and friends are able to help you pack and vacate your room.
  • If you are requesting access for someone else to go into your room to remove specific urgent items, please contact Public Safety.
  • If you need to request someone else to completely vacate your room, you will need to work with Residential Life to schedule this for after the 23rd.
  • Students who have lengthy travel plans are able to spend a night in the residence halls in order to accommodate flights and/or long commutes.
  • Once your belongings have been removed, please return your key to a designated Key Drop Locations (listed below).
  • Keys should be placed in the envelope that will be available at the Key Drop Locations, the Residential Life Office, and with the staff in Emerson and Pine.
  • On the envelope please write (legibly):
    • Your Name (printed)
    • Your Wheaton ID Number
    • The building and room number
  • FINALLY & MOST IMPORTANTLY – Students should also fill out the Spring 2020 Check Out Confirmation form to let Residential Life know that you have vacated and returned your key. (Your browser must be logged into your Wheaton Gmail to access).

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Key Drop Locations
  • Balfour Hood – Around the corner from the Mailroom Window
  • Public Safety Office
  • Emerson Dining Entryway – Just inside the door on the Cragin side
  • Pine Hall Conger Commons – Inside Conger Commons

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Student Storage

Residential Life is offering limited, free storage in Chapin Basement to students who live 500 miles or more from campus. Qualifying students may store two items. Access will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. We cannot guarantee the availability of storage.

Student storage access will be available every day 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12 through Sunday, March 22. Storage access will not be available after March 22. Only students who successfully pre-register will be granted storage access. We cannot offer waitlist space to students this year.

On-campus storage is only available in Chapin Basement. Students may not store belongings in any other space on campus.

Students planning to study abroad in Fall 2020 will only qualify for storage if their home location is 500+ miles from campus. Due to space restrictions, we cannot permit all students studying abroad to utilize storage.

See our storage page for more information, including box size restrictions and item retrieval policy.

How to Register for Storage Space

  1. Complete the Storage Registration Form to select your storage access date. Students are encouraged to complete registration as soon as possible. The form will become unavailable once capacity is reached. Students must pre-register for storage access.
  2. Arrive at Chapin Basement with your belongings during the date and time you’ve selected. It is important that you adhere to the date you selected on the form. You will complete a storage contract and place Residential Life issued labels on your two items once you arrive to Chapin.

If you do not qualify for storage or need to store items outside our restriction parameters, we recommend emailing our preferred vendor Student Moving & Storage Services to set up an appointment ([email protected]). There is a cost associated with outside storage.

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Campus Mail Services

Campus Mail Services will be extending our service hours for package pick-up to accommodate students as they move off campus.

March 12 through March 22 our operational hours are as follows:

M-F 8:30 am to 6:00 pm
Sat, March 14 and March 21 8:30-3:00
Sun, March 15 and March 22 8:30-3:00

At this time Office & Campus Mail Services would like to remind you of an available service for forwarding your mail. We offer USPS mail and package forwarding services to send your mail to your home address.

How It Works

  • Complete and submit the online Forwarding Address form on InsideWheaton found on the Office & Campus Mail Services page under Forms
  • Only First-Class Mail, Express Mail and packages sent through the USPS are eligible for forwarding to your home address. Periodicals and magazines can be forwarded for up to 60 days.
  • Mail and packages going to an International address are not eligible for forwarding through Wheaton OCMS.If moving abroad, you must request a Mover’s Guide and fill out an international COA at the local post office.
  • Mail is sent piece by piece to your home address.
  • Packages shipped through FedEx, UPS, or other private couriers are not eligible for the forwarding service and are subject to a fee to re-route package(s) to your home address.
  • Forwarding will begin on March 23 and will continue through the semester close on Sunday, May 9.
  • If you do not submit a forwarding address form your mail/packages may be returned to sender.

NOTE: Please remove your Wheaton address from all online vendor sites that you purchase from and have items sent directly to your home address.

Thank you for reviewing this information and taking advantage of the Forwarding Address Form and services.

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Further Information
  • Microfridge Rentals can remain in your room. We will work with Microfridge to coordinate pick up after March 22nd. Please remove everything from the fridge before you leave. We recommend labeling your fridge with your name, wID and room number. If you have questions about your account, please contact Microfridge directly.
  • Those students who utilize E&R Laundry service, should direct all questions about laundry plans to [email protected].
  • Given that Commencement and Senior Week may still happen as scheduled, and more information will be communicated to seniors about these programs as this situation develops, we recognize that some instructions for those students may change.
  • If you have a car that you intend on leaving parked on-campus, please let Public Safety know by emailing [email protected].
  • As listed in the email from earlier today, our offices will be developing a financial policy to address this disruption in room and board and more specific information will be communicated soon.

We understand that this news may be surprising and unexpected. We are here for you to help in any way we can. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

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