Break Housing and Early Arrival

Living in Bowdoin housing? It is your responsibility to make your plans according to the dates housing is open on the academic calendar.

Buying a plane ticket? Confirm the opening date. Remember, upperclass students are not required to arrive on that date. They have a buffer of several days after that date before classes start.
Driving a long distance to campus? Map out your trip so you arrive when you can access housing.
Roommate(s) approved to return early for a program? That approval does not include you.
Internship in the Northeast ending in mid-August? You need to figure out a housing plan for those two weeks prior to opening.
Just showing up on campus will not gain you approval to access housing, so we appreciate you not asking.
Trying to figure out when you should depart campus for break, or not leave at all? Check the information below.
Internship that starts in June? You need to figure out a housing plan for the time period between when housing closes and your internship begins.

Read the information below for answers to these questions to be sure you will have access to your housing when you arrive on campus.

Fall 2024 Semester

Housing for returning students opens on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at 12:00pm noon.

Early arrival in August: Students living on campus for the entire summer or sponsored by a department for a programmatic need (see list of groups below) are automatically approved for early arrival on the date specified by the sponsoring department.
- If you are part of the following groups, you do not need to submit a request. You will receive confirmation of your early arrival to campus and your approved arrival date in early July.
  - Renting on-campus housing from Bowdoin through August 11
  - Orientation trip leader
  - Residential Life student staff
  - College House resident
  - Peer Educator
  - Conduct Review Board member
  - Fall varsity athlete
- Submit a request under Break Housing in Bricks and Beyond if you are working on campus in late August to assist with opening or are a returning international student.
  - Returning international students may request and will be approved to arrive two days earlier than opening day to allow students to acclimate to the time zone and have flexibility getting flights. We are unable to accommodate request more than two days early.

Fall Break in October: All residence halls remain open and meal plans are in effect. You can make plans and leave campus or decide to remain on campus the entire time. No sign-up required.
Thanksgiving Break in November: Students must sign-up to remain on campus via the Bricks and Beyond housing portal (live in early November). Meal plans* are not active between brunch on the first Saturday and brunch on the second Saturday.

Housing closes on Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 12:00pm noon.

Winter Break (December 2024 to January 2025)

Students must apply via Bricks and Beyond (live after Thanksgiving break) to stay on campus during winter break. Meal plans* are not active for the entirety of winter break and the dining hall is usually closed from 12/23–1/2.

If students have an extenuating circumstance and need to remain on campus for the entire winter break they should submit a request. The Office of Residential Life may communicate with a student’s Dean prior to winter break housing approval. Only students enrolled and assigned on-campus housing for both the fall and spring semesters will be considered for break housing. Reasons a student may be approved to be on campus for winter break:
- home is outside of the United States
- financial hardship to travel home
- challenging family circumstance
If you are part of the following groups, you do not need to submit a request:
- Winter varsity athlete (Various arrival dates based on team. If you need the information early for travel arrangements, contact your coach.)
- Sophomore Bootcamp registered participant (1/14/25 arrival date)
- Wilderness First Responder training participant (TBD arrival date)
- Residential Life student staff (1/17/24 arrival date)
You will receive confirmation of your early arrival to campus and your approved arrival date in early December.
Returning international students may request and will be approved to arrive two days earlier than opening day to allow students to acclimate to the time zone and have flexibility getting flights. We are unable to accommodate request more than two days early.

Spring 2024 Semester (will be updated with 2025 dates at the close of the semester)

Housing reopens on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 8:30am

Spring Break in March: Students must sign-up to remain on campus via the Bricks and Beyond housing portal (live at the end of February). Meal plans* are not active between brunch on the first Saturday of break and brunch on the last Saturday of break.
Spring Varsity Athletes do not need to sign up for housing. Students will be automatically approved to return/remain in their housing based on the dates provided by the Athletic Department for their team.

Housing for underclass students closes on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 12:00pm noon.

Seniors

Housing for seniors closes on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at 6:00pm

Commencement Night Housing: Seniors participating in graduation may sign up in Bricks and Beyond to remain in their housing through Sunday, May 26, at 10:00am There are no extensions to this departure time on Sunday.

Interim Housing (May to June)

Interim Housing runs between May closing and summer housing opening. Meal plans end on the last day housing is open for the semester.

Only students who are living on campus for the summer, employed for Commencement and/or Reunion, or remaining on campus for sponsored trainings (see list of groups below) are eligible for interim housing.

If you are part of the following groups, you do not need to submit a request but should confirm with your supervisor/sponsor that you are on their approved interim housing list. You will then receive your housing assignment on May 17, 2024.

Outing Club
Kent Island
Conduct Review Board member
Employed by:
- Alumni Relations for Reunion
- Dining for Commencement or Reunion
- Student Activities for Senior Week

Because Reunion uses almost every residential building on campus, we are required to consolidate all students remaining on campus after housing closes into six first-year buildings for approximately two weeks, so you may need to move to a new room during this time.

Submit a request if you are living in Bowdoin housing this summer. If you have other needs, please submit a request and it will be reviewed. Interim Housing applications will open in Bricks & Beyond in late April.

Please note: requests to remain for senior week activities will not be approved. Also, if you have an non-Bowdoin internship starting June 1, please plan for alternate housing accordingly.

Summer Housing

Summer Housing is handled by the Events and Summer Programs Office; you can find more information on their website.

*What are the costs involved in staying on-campus over breaks?

There is no additional housing charge to remain in campus housing for any of the break periods referenced above. For all breaks during the academic year when meal plans are suspended, the Bricks and Beyond sign-up includes a checkbox for students to request meal assistance. Those requests are funneled to the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs to verify that applicants are financial aid recipients. That office will communicate directly with the students regarding approvals and how meal assistance works during break. Please note that meal assistance is not offered in August before fall semester begins or in May after the spring semester ends.