April, 2013

TO:                  ALL STUDENTS

FROM:             KRIS NIENDORF, ASSISTANT DEAN OF STUDENTS, DIRECTOR OF RESIDENTIAL AND CAMPUS LIFE

RE:                  SPRING SEMESTER CLOSING

DEPARTURE DATES

All Residence Halls will officially close on Sunday, May 19, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.  All students in the classes of 2014, 2015, and 2016 are expected to vacate the residence halls by this date. Failure to vacate the residence hall by this deadline will result in a minimum fine of $50 per hour after 5:00 p.m. 

If you wish to request an exemption to the above requirement, you must have a faculty or administrative supervisor email Kris Niendorf in the Office of Residential Life.  All exemption requests must be received by 4:00 p.m., Friday, May 3, 2013.  The disposition of exemption requests will be communicated via email by Friday, May 10, 2013.

All seniors must vacate the residence halls by 8:00pm on Friday, May 31, 2013. Failure to vacate the residence hall by this deadline will result in a minimum fine of $50 per hour after 8:00 p.m. 

RDs/ACs will be posting information regarding closing procedures.  It is your responsibility to check your res hall Google Groups and Sites for information.

Please call or email the Housing Office with questions regarding summer housing or check-out their website https://www.wellesley.edu/housingtransp/studenthousing/summer

KEYS AND ROOM INSPECTION

Every student must return their room key to the key box near the RD/AC apartment or office on the day that they leave.  The key does not need to be in an envelope. Keys should be returned no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2013.  Seniors and those who have been approved to remain after May 19 may return keys prior to their departure but no later than 8:00pm on May 31, 2013.  Failure to return a room key when you leave will result in a $30 fine.

Student rooms must be left exactly as they were found, i.e. clean and clear of all trash and debris.  All furniture must be fully assembled and present in the room. If a staff member does not check the room in your presence before you leave, you waive the right to appeal any fine that is levied.  It is your responsibility to schedule a room inspection with your RA or RD/AC at least 48 hours before your departure.

STORAGE IN RESIDENCE HALLS

Students are encouraged to begin packing before exam period and may store belongings in their current hall only.  Please note that all storage in the residence halls is at your own risk.  Only students returning to residence halls for the 2013 fall semester may store belongings. Graduating seniors and students going on leave or exchange may not store their belongings on campus (see instructions for shipping or off-campus storage). 

Do not use residence hall storage for any item that you may need before Saturday, August 31, 2013.  Access to storage areas will not be available until that date. You will not be allowed to drop-off items into your room until August 31, 2013 due to the preparation of the halls.

Students must remove all items from the storage areas by 9:00 am, Monday, April 29, 2013.

All items remaining in storage after 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 29 will be discarded.  The Office of Residential Life will generate storage labels. Your RD/AC will inform you of the procedure for distribution of labels.

Students may begin to store belongings after 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 6, 2013. You must move your own belongings into the storage areas. 

    ABOUT STORAGE LABEL DISTRIBUTION

• Each member of the classes of 2014, 2015 and 2016 returning to residence for Fall 2013 will receive storage labels which must be attached to all stored items.  (Seniors returning to residence must go to the Office of Residential Life to receive labels.)
• Students within a 300-mile radius of the college will receive no storage labels. 
• Students residing within a 300-600 mile radius and who live in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania will receive 2 storage labels. 
• All other students from the classes of 2014, 2015, and 2016 will receive 4 storage labels. 
• The label should indicate your name, class, extension, and residence hall for fall 2013. 
• The space restrictions will not allow for students to share labels.  The above number of labels will determine the maximum number of boxes allowed per student in the storage rooms on campus.
• Each student is allowed to store one item per label, within the following  
•                             1.   1 cube refrigerator cleaned & defrosted, for one label.  Taller refrigerators                                       are 2 labels.

                                    2.   2 small boxes (14”x14"x14") for one label.

                                    3.   1 suitcase for one label.

                                    4.   Any plastic storage container less than 18 gallons = 1 storage label

                                    5.   Any plastic storage container more than 18 gallons = 2 storage labels                                                    ( storage containers may not exceed 30 gallons)

                                    6.   1 boxed bicycle must have 2 labels attached.

                                    7.   1 24”x24”x24” box per label

                                    8.   Trunks are 2 labels

                                    9.   Plastic storage drawers that are 12 inches wide = 1 label, wider units = 2 labels.

Absolutely NO rugs, furniture, bookcases, loose items, unboxed bikes, or oversized boxes of any kind may be stored. Such items will be removed and discarded.

You must be able to lift your own boxes without assistance to any shelf in the storage room. Please be aware of the weight of your boxes.

You may not leave anything outside the storage area.  Items left improperly will be discarded, and a $50 fine per item will be charged.

Please note that items may be rearranged to maximize space and your items may not be exactly where you left them when you return in the fall.

When you are ready to store your belongings, be sure your storage items clearly display the label with your name and 2013 residence hall address. Please check your residence hall Google Groups or Sites for times and dates of storage hours.

We highly encourage you to take things home with you over breaks and long weekends to avoid storage problems at the end of the semester. 

There will be no access to storage areas after 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, 2013.  Those students exempt from the departure deadline will have access to storage areas until 8:00 p.m., Friday, May 31, 2013.

OFF-CAMPUS STORAGE AND SHIPPING

The College has requested the services of two storage and shipping companies for your convenience.  The different vendors and their contact information are below:

The Packaging Store of Needham - www.packaging-store.com

Boomerang Storage - http://www.boomerangstorage.com/

Campus Cardboard - http://www.campuscardboard.com/

Representatives will come to campus in April to sell boxes and remove items to be stored off campus.  Please watch for future posts regarding these dates.

PLEASE NOTE:  If you choose to use “Door-to-Door” or “Pods” storage units, the only drop location will be in the tennis courts next to the Chapel.  Each person that will be using one of these two storage options must contact Kristen Ferrante at (kferrant@wellesley.edu) to give us your name and the dates of the drop-off and pick-up of your unit.  Students are still responsible for arranging your own storage.  These two companies will be notified of our procedures.  No units will be placed near the residence halls. 

REDUCE AND REUSE

This year we will again be attempting to reduce the amount of trash that is accumulated during closing.  There will be clothing donation boxes for Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization in each hall.  This organization sells your donated items to raise funds for their programs.  We will also be collecting other non-clothing items to be resold to others in a large “yard sale” in the fall.  If you have not had time to sell your good items, please consider donating them to this project sponsored by the Sustainability Committee.  More details about both of these programs will be coming soon.

Please pay attention to other drop boxes for items such as library books and food.

AUTOMOBILES AND BICYCLES

Automobiles may not be left on Campus in any parking lot during the summer unless you are living in summer housing and secure a summer parking permit. 

All bicycles must be removed from outside bike racks.  Bicycles left over the summer may be removed and discarded.

MEALS

The last meal on the semester board plan is lunch on Sunday, May 19, 2013.  Only seniors and students working during Commencement will have access to college meals after May 19.  Please check the Dining Services website for which halls will be open.  You may continue to use flex points until graduation. 

MAIL

All students should submit a change of address card to the mailroom.  If the mailroom does not receive a card from you, all first-class letters and materials will be automatically forwarded to your permanent home address. The

mailroom does not forward magazines, newspapers or other bulk rate materials. Those students living in summer housing or attending summer school should indicate their campus summer address on the card.

SUMMER HOUSING ENDING DATE

Summer Housing will end on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.

ALL other Summer Housing residents will be expected to vacate their rooms, leave campus and return either on their approved early return date or Saturday, August 31, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. when all residence halls officially open for Fall Semester residents.

FALL RETURNS

Students in the classes of 2014, 2015, and 2016 may return to campus beginning at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, August 31, 2013.  Any student traveling to the Boston area prior to Saturday, August 31, must arrange her own off-campus accommodations. You will not be allowed to drop-off items into your room until the opening date due to the preparation of the halls.

ROOM FREEZE AND ROOM CHANGES IN FALL

Every year at the beginning of first semester, there is a “Room Freeze.”  During the first two weeks of classes, no student will be allowed to change rooms, either within her Residence Hall or between Halls.  The only exceptions allowed would be in case of error on the part of the Housing Office.  After the Room Freeze, upperclass students may exchange rooms by posting notices and completing a room change request form in the Housing Office.  (Please see the Wellesley College Rooming Policy 2013-2014 for additional information.)