Moving & Breaks

Your Move-In Day

A specific move-in date and time was assigned to you in My UW Housing when you received your room assignment information in June. Assigned days/times allow us to spread out activity evenly to ensure available resources and parking. Depending on the availability of open slots, if you’d like to request a change to your assigned move-in date/time because it does not fit your schedule, log in to My UW Housing to select a new one by August 28. Please note that you will need to delete your current move-in time slot prior to signing up for a new one.

Note: Residents who are unassigned will get their room assignment before move-in. We continue to assign students daily as we get cancellations.

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Shipping Packages

If necessary, residents with a room assignment can ship packages prior to their move-in date for pick-up. Unassigned residents waiting for their room assignment should not ship packages until they receive their room assignment. Due to storage space constraints, do not ship items more than one week before your move-in date.

All US Mail and packages are received and distributed by your hall desk. Mail is placed in your mailbox. Packages are logged, placed in storage, and an email is sent to your @wisc.edu account notifying you a package is available for pickup. You must have your Wiscard (or another form of ID) with you to receive your package, but you do not need to print out the email notification. To avoid confusion and delays, mail should be addressed with:

Full preferred name (first and last)
Room number, residence hall house, residence hall name (available in My UW Housing)
Residence hall street address (available on individual hall pages)
Madison, WI, residence hall zipcode (available on individual hall pages)

For example:
Buckingham Badger
6206 Withey, Ogg Residence Hall
835 W. Dayton Street
Madison, WI 53706

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Construction Projects

UW-Madison campus and University Housing construction projects may be ongoing during move-in, special events, and some campus road closures may affect traffic.

Note: John Nolan Street from Olin Park to Brittingham Park to Law Park will be closed for The Ride the Drive event on August 27 from 7:00am-2:00pm.

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New Student Convocation

Tuesday, September 5 from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. at the Kohl Center
New Student Convocation is a formal welcome for new students where you’ll be introduced to the legacies of our campus — past, present, and future. Free lunch will also be provided by Housing Dining for new students on the basketball courts outside Sellery Residence Hall from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., and you can check-in with your Academic Program, College, or School for orientation activities that morning as well.

Note: check the Kohl Center carry-in policy before you arrive. Because of this campus event, Housing Dining locations will have limited hours on September 5. Check our locations and hours to see what’s open.

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Badger Welcome Dinner

Tuesday, September 5 from 4 – 8 PM
Four Lakes Market & Gordon Avenue Market

After Convocation, we’re throwing a Badger Party! Four Lakes and Gordon Avenue Markets will be celebrating the start of the year with a Badger Welcome Dinner. Join us for food and lots of fun all for just a meal swipe for residents and a door price for the public.

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Wisconsin App

The “Wisconsin” app is the official UW-Madison mobile application for iOS and Android devices. It features real-time bus departures/arrivals and schedules, events, maps, and many other resources for you to use anywhere.

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Renter’s Insurance

We strongly recommend you obtain insurance for your personal items and liability. You will be held financially liable for damage because of negligence on your part. Be sure to have adequate coverage for fire and water damage.

• Check to see if you are already covered on your family’s homeowner’s insurance
• Ask your family about adding a rider to existing policies
• Obtain your own policy

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Upcoming Live Q&A

Have questions about move-in? Join us on Facebook or YouTube for a #LiveWithBucky Live about move-in on Wednesday, August 9 at 5:00 p.m. CT, where we’ll have Housing Staff live on camera and via text chat to answer your questions.

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Questions/Concerns

If you can’t make the livestream, our FAQs page includes answers to common questions. If you don’t see your question answered there, feel free to use our contact form.

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November 24 – 27, 2022

All University Residence Halls will remain open through fall break without charge from November 24 – 27, 2022 for residents who choose to remain on campus.

Office Closures

All UW-Madison offices will be closed on Thursday, November 24 and University Housing offices will also be closed on Friday, November 25.

Limited Staff

Limited Housing staff will be available during fall break. Residents can call their House Fellow on Duty phone number or the UW-Madison Police Department for assistance.

Desks

All hall desks will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23 and will be closed on Thursday, November 24. Desk hours will be limited on Friday, November 25, Saturday, November 26, and Sunday, November 27. Regular Desk hours will resume on Monday, November 28.

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December 23, 2022 – January 21, 2023

All residents must log in to My UW Housing and let us know their plans for the end of the fall semester by choosing “End of Semester Plans” by December 15.

ENTER YOUR END OF SEMESTER PLANS

Unless you are signed up for winter break housing, you should vacate your room within 24 hours of your last exam or by 12 p.m. on Friday, December 23, 2022, whichever comes first. All University Residence Halls will close at this time for residents not signed up for winter break housing and will re-open for the spring semester on January 21, 2023. If you are unable to leave by December 23 at 12 p.m., email details to reslife@housing.wisc.edu and staff will follow-up with you.

Personal belongings which may be needed during winter break should be taken out of your room. If not signed up for winter break housing, you will not have access to your building or room during winter break. Other personal items may remain in your residence hall room without signing up for winter break housing as long as you are returning for the spring semester.

Check bulletin boards for information regarding quiet hours and details specific to your hall. If you have questions, please contact your House Fellow or Residence Life Coordinator.

Note: As a reminder, your Housing contract is for the full academic year. Except for students who are graduating, studying abroad, or no longer attending UW-Madison, we typically do not release residents from their contract unless in a position where demand for housing exceeds occupancy.

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Authorized Access

Authorized personnel will inspect your room, document any concerns after your departure, and perform maintenance as needed during winter break. For further information, see Section 22. Room Entry of your University Residence Halls contract.

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Desks

All hall desks will close at 12 pm on Friday, December 23 and remain closed through Sunday, December 25. Desks will be closed on weekends during winter break and will begin winter break hours on Monday, December 26. All hall desks will resume regular semester hours on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.

Note: Mail and packages will NOT be forwarded to your home address during Winter Break.

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Dining

All dining locations will be closed after lunch on Friday, December 23 and will remain closed through Sunday, January 1, 2023. Winter Break dining hours will be very limited beginning Monday, January 2. Dining locations will resume academic year hours on Saturday, January 21.

* Flamingo Run at Gordon Avenue will offer its regular convenience store items as well as a selection of Grab-n-Go items such as re-heatable entrees, deli sandwiches, salads, and various sides.

Note: Carson’s, Liz’s, Lowell, and Rheta’s Markets will be closed throughout winter break.

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January 21 & 22

Unless signed-up for winter break housing or a new resident, all residence halls will open for the spring semester on January 21 & 22.

Note: students who are studying abroad, no longer attending UW-Madison or graduated can request a cancellation of their Housing contract by logging in to My UW Housing.

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Parking

UW-Madison Transportation Services will allow 30 minutes for drop-off for residents and their families in areas around the residence halls on January 17-22. For details, view our parking map.

Special Event Parking

Note: traffic in the Southeast Neighborhood may be busy and some parking areas may be unavailable or require payment due to special event parking. Check lot entrances for posted signs. Impacts include: Lots 7, 46, 48, and 83 while Lots 29, 44, 87, and 91 will be unavailable for parking on:

• 1/17 (men’s basketball)
• 1/19 (women’s basketball)
• 1/21 (men’s and women’s swimming & diving; men’s and women’s hockey)
• 1/22 (women’s hockey)

Free Parking Areas

• 30-Minute Parking: Visitors may park for up to 30-minutes in lots 2, 5, 26, 34, 35, 37, 58, 61, 69, 110, 136, and at mobile payment stations located on Babcock Dr, Kronshage Dr, Observatory Dr, and adjacent to Barnard, Chadbourne, Ogg, Smith, and Witte. Winter parking rules must be followed. Vehicles that are left unattended for over 30-minutes are at risk of being ticketed as this accommodation is meant for pick-up and drop-off only.
• Side Streets Near Campus: Some City of Madison streets near campus offer limited parking with time limits, although winter parking rules must be followed.
• Other Campus Parking Lots: Some campus lots may offer free parking on weekends or after 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Check posted parking lot entrance signs for <details.

Free Campus Bus Route

Madison Metro Transit’s campus bus route #80 is free and runs throughout the UW-Madison campus area from approximately 8 a.m. – Midnight year-round. Additional information on route #80 can be found in Madison Metro’s ride guide.

Paid Parking Areas

• Campus Parking Lots: In lots 6, 17, 20, 27, 36, 67, 76, and 80, visitors will take a ticket on entrance and pay when leaving the lot. Hourly rates vary by location. No trailers are allowed.

No Parking Areas

Parking is prohibited at all times in fire lanes, no parking zones, disabled stalls (unless a proper permit is displayed), in front of trash dumpsters, in service vehicle stalls, on grass, or on sidewalks.

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Desks

All hall desks will resume regular semester hours on Tuesday, January 17.

Dining

Hours for the early spring move-in period are listed below. All dining locations resume academic year hours on Saturday, January 21.

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March 11 – 19, 2023

All University Residence Halls will remain open through spring break without charge for residents who choose to remain on campus. If you have questions, contact your House Fellow or Residence Life Coordinator (RLC).

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Staff

House Fellows will be on duty in each residence hall community, and the House Fellow duty phone number is posted at the entries of each residence hall.

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Security

Desk hours will be reduced during spring break. Please carry your Wiscard at all times to ensure access when doors are locked. Residents remaining on campus are reminded to lock their rooms whenever they leave. Dens and lounges may be locked at various times.

 

Students are requested to report the presence of unauthorized persons to a staff member or the UW-Madison Police Department at 264-COPS (264-2677) immediately. This is particularly important during this period. Please be alert and do not allow non-residents or anyone unknown to you to enter the building.

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Desks

Campus and US mail delivery will continue over spring break. Desk hours will be limited. All desks will return to regular academic year hours on Sunday, March 19.

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Guests

Each room may have one overnight guest per room, per night. Guests must be escorted at all times and must abide by all University Housing policies as stated in the rules & expectations. Residents are responsible for the actions of their guests.

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Maintenance

Maintenance and custodial staff will be available and working in all facilities during spring break. A maintenance request may be filled out if you need something.

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Dining

Hours for spring break are listed below. Dining locations will resume regular semester hours on Sunday, March 19.

Note: Carson’s, Liz’s, Lowell, and Rheta’s Markets will be closed during spring break.

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May 6 – 13, 2023

We hope you’ve had a wonderful experience living in the University Residence Halls! Additional information regarding quiet hours and details specific to your hall will soon be available on bulletin boards and digital signage. Have questions? Contact your House Fellow or Residence Life Coordinator.

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Checklist to Complete

Before leaving, all residents must complete and sign the following spring move-out checklist and attach it to the outside of their door before moving out. A printed version of this checklist will be provided on resident doors. Staff will inspect residents’ rooms and document any concerns after residents depart. Failure to complete the checklist will result in additional charges. If you have questions about the condition of your room, contact Housing staff.

1. Remove all belongings from your room/hallway and donate/recycle/trash unneeded items outside at the location nearest you (see maps posted in your hall)
2. Retrieve items placed in kitchen areas, empty and clean/wipe down waste bins, recycling bins, and drawers
3. Remove all items (tape, stickers, poster putty, nails, etc.) from walls, ceiling, and both sides of doors
4. Empty, clean, defrost, and leave the Housing refrigerator(s) unplugged and open (do not use sharp objects to pry ice out of the freezer)
5. Ensure your room has all furniture in your room/assembled and return it to its original layout including bed height (view room layouts on your hall’s web page under “room types” to see your room’s original layout)
6. Clean and sweep/mop or vacuum your room (do not sweep dirt into the hallway) and leave closets/drawers open
7. Close windows, open drapes or blinds, turn off your lights, and lock your door
8. Take your bike with you when you leave
   1. Bikes left for more than 72 hours are considered abandoned, including at the Elm Drive bike shelter. Abandoned bikes are subject to being impounded beginning immediately after move-out. If you aren’t living on campus this summer, or if you plan to stay on campus but aren’t using your bike, take your bike home! See the Transportation Services website for more information on bike impoundment. We are not responsible for abandoned bicycles left on bike racks.
9. Check your mailbox and/or collect any packages from your hall desk
10. Update your mailing address to your summer location in your student center at my.wisc.edu
11. Return your room key to your hall desk or key drop box
    1. All residents must return their room keys before leaving. Unreturned keys will require a lock change and a $75 charge.
    2. Remove key chains or rings from keys
    3. Return your room key directly to your hall’s desk staff
       — OR —
       Place your room key in the black key drop box on the counter at your hall’s desk (at Holt, the dropbox is outside the west entrance, and at Carson’s it is outside the lower entrance door)

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Recycling & Donations

Did you know that over 90% of belongings in your room can be recycled or donated? In 2022, students and their families diverted over 115,603 pounds of material during move-out. Please recycle or donate as many of your belongings as possible at a recycling location near you. Only items that do not fit in the below categories should go in landfill containers. Know before you throw, ask a recycling site volunteer if you have questions. Badgers live sustainably!

Outdoor Recycling & Donation Areas

Sort items in the recycling bins in your room and empty them in your nearest outdoor trash/recycling area.

• Carpet: foam mattresses, cushions, pillows, rugs, items with foam stuffing
• Donations: clothes, shoes, furniture, gently used futons, working computer equipment/microwaves, small working appliances
• E-Waste: broken electronics, lamps, microwaves, TVs, small refrigerators, DVD players
• Metal: futon frames, metal lamps
• Lightbulbs
• Recycling: all paper, cans, glass, plastic, & cardboard
• Trash: take all trash outside to the dumpster

Near Hall Desks

• Books, School Supplies, and Food
  • No frozen and/or perishable food
• Plastic Bags

Recycling & Donation Locations

• Southeast: Chadbourne, Ogg, Sellery, Smith, Witte, & Lowell
• Lakeshore: Dejope, Bradley, Holt, Leopold, Tripp Circle, & Waters

Be a Recycling Volunteer

Want to help direct students and their families on how to recycle during move-out? If you are able, sign up to staff one of the sites.

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Summer Term Housing

For students taking UW-Madison Summer Term courses, housing is available in Kronshage. Residence Halls for all summer term sessions. Plus, the Summer Housing Boost Program can help students cover the cost of living in the residence halls over the summer.

Learn more about Summer Term Housing

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Address Changes

Use MyUW to change your mailing address for the summer and fall. Your mail will then automatically be sent to this new address. If you want newspapers and magazines forwarded, you must send a change of address to the publisher. If your mailing address is not updated after you move out, any mail or packages sent to the residence halls will be returned to the sender.

Changing your mailing address:

1. Log into your MyUW Student Portal
2. Click on Student Center
3. Click on the PROFILE tile
4. Edit your mailing address

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Rental References

If you would like to use University Housing as a rental reference, leasing agents can send their housing verification questionnaire to the UW Housing Cashier’s Office inbox.

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Wiscard Account Balances

We encourage you to closely monitor your Wiscard balances as the end of the semester approaches. Additional information about what happens to your Wiscard Account and Dining Dollars balances at the end of the school year is available on our website and information about how to close your account is available on the Wiscard FAQs page.

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Quiet Hours

All residence halls will have 24-hour quiet hours starting no later than Friday, May 5 at 11:59 p.m. Overnight guests are not permitted in the residence halls during 24-hour quiet hours.

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Desk Hours

Hall desks will remain open for regular hours until Saturday, May 13. Remember to forward all your mail and packages to your summer address and cancel newspaper and magazine subscriptions.

• Saturday, May 13: desks open 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

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Dining Hours

Dining hours for the spring move-out period, Friday – Sunday, May 12-14, are listed below.

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August 27 & August 30 – September 1, 2023

University Housing Fall Move-In dates will be August 30-September 1, 2023. Some residents of a few approved student groups may receive an earlier move-in date to participate in required trainings or orientation activities. Students will receive their pre-assigned move-in date and time when they receive their room assignment this summer.

Note: Once students have received their pre-assigned move-in date and time, they will be able to switch to another available timeslot in their My UW Housing. Available dates and times will fluctuate as other students adjust their schedules.

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