Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving Break information for students living in non-break housing halls:
 

Baker/Chadbourne/Greenough, Birch/Maple, Brooks, Brown, Cance, Coolidge, Crabtree/Knowlton/Mary Lyon, Crampton, Dwight/Leach/Hamlin, Elm/Linden, Emerson, Field, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Johnson/Lewis/Thatcher, Kennedy, McNamara, Melville/Thoreau, Oak, Patterson/MacKimmie, Pierpont/Moore, Sycamore, VanMeter/Butterfield, Washington, Webster/Dickinson, Wheeler

Residence Halls close for Thanksgiving Break on Wednesday, November 25, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and re-open on Sunday, November 29, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Students who fail to vacate the residence halls by 10:00 a.m. on November 25, 2026 will be subject to a $150 Unauthorized Occupancy Fee. Residents will not have access to residence halls during the break period. The following are some important details about the Fall/Thanksgiving Break:

• Student Closing Checklist:
  • Clean up including removing any perishable food items and taking out trash and recycling.
  • Pack up everything you need for the break including IDs, medication, technology and chargers, and coursework.
  • Conserve energy by unplugging everything except refrigerators, closing and securing windows, leaving shades open, and turning off lights.
  • Lock your door as you leave and remember to take your key and ID with you.
• Room Inspections
  • University staff will complete health and safety inspections of all student rooms over the break period.
  • Violations of the Code of Student Conduct and/or Residence Hall Policies observed during room inspection will be documented and referred to the Student Conduct and Community Standards Office.

Thanksgiving Break information for students living in break housing halls (by request):
 

Brett, Gorman, James

If residing in Brett, Gorman, or James, students who have specifically requested Break Housing and have been charged the Break Housing fee on their Bursar bill are permitted to reside in the residence hall during the break period. 

For all students who have not specifically requested break housing, Residence Halls close for Thanksgiving Break on Wednesday, November 25, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and re-open on Sunday, November 29, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Students who fail to vacate the residence halls by 10:00 a.m. on November 25, 2026 will be subject to a $150 Unauthorized Occupancy Fee. Residents will not have access to residence halls during the break period. 

The following are some important details about the Fall/Thanksgiving Break:

• Lock-out Assistance – If you are staying on campus during the break, there will be an RA on-duty each night during the break period. If you need lock-out assistance outside of RA duty hours, contact the Facilities Service Center at 413-545-6401.
• Break Resources – When classes are not in session, many campus services have reduced hours. Please double check the Dining Services website as well as any other services you may need for more information.
• Closing Checklist – If you are leaving campus for the break, please complete this closing checklist:
  • Clean up including removing any perishable food items and taking out trash and recycling.
  • Pack up everything you need for the break including IDs, medication, technology and chargers, and coursework.
  • Conserve energy by unplugging everything except refrigerators, closing and securing windows and leaving shades open, and turning off lights.
  • Lock your door as you leave and remember to take your key and ID with you.
• Room Inspections
  • University staff will complete health and safety inspections of all student rooms over the break period including break housing.
  • Violations of the Code of Student Conduct and/or Residence Hall Policies observed during room inspection will be documented and referred to the Student Conduct and Community Standards Office.

Thanksgiving Break information for students living in break housing halls (by hall):

Cashin, Grayson, Prince

If residing in Cashin, Grayson, or Prince, you automatically have Break Housing, so you are permitted to reside in the residence hall during the fall/Thanksgiving break period. The following are some important details about the Fall/Thanksgiving Break:

• Lock-out Assistance – If you are staying on campus during the break, there will be an RA on-duty each night during the break period. If you need lock-out assistance outside of RA duty hours, contact the Facilities Service Center at 413-545-6401.
• Break Resources – When classes are not in session, many campus services have reduced hours. Please double check the Dining Services website as well as any other services you may need for more information.
• Closing Checklist – If you are leaving campus for the break, please complete this closing checklist:
  • Clean up including removing any perishable food items and taking out trash and recycling.
  • Pack up everything you need for the break including IDs, medication, technology and chargers, and coursework.
  • Conserve energy by unplugging everything except refrigerators, closing and securing windows and leaving shades open, and turning off lights.
  • Lock your door as you leave and remember to take your key and ID with you.
• Room Inspections
  • University staff will complete health and safety inspections of all student rooms over the break period including break housing.
  • Violations of the Code of Student Conduct and/or Residence Hall Policies observed during room inspection will be documented and referred to the Student Conduct and Community Standards Office.

Thanksgiving Break information for students living in break housing halls (North Apartments):
 

North A, B, C, & D

If residing in North Apartments, you automatically have Break Housing, so you are permitted to reside in the residence hall during the fall/Thanksgiving break period. The following are some important details about the Fall/Thanksgiving Break:

• Lock-out Assistance – If you need lockout assistance outside the Crabtree Residential Service Desk (RSD) hours, contact the Facilities Service Center at 413-545-6401.
• Break Resources – When classes are not in session, many campus services have reduced hours. Please double check the Dining Services website as well as any other services you may need for more information.
• Closing Checklist – If you are leaving campus for the break, please complete this closing checklist:
  • Clean up including removing any perishable food items and taking out trash and recycling.
  • Pack up everything you need for the break including IDs, medication, technology and chargers, and coursework.
  • Conserve energy by unplugging everything except refrigerators, closing and securing windows and leaving shades open, and turning off lights.
  • Lock your door as you leave and remember to take your key and ID with you.
• Room Inspections
  • University staff will complete health and safety inspections of all student rooms over the break period including break housing.
  • Violations of the Code of Student Conduct and/or Residence Hall Policies observed during room inspection will be documented and referred to the Student Conduct and Community Standards Office.

Room Inspections

Residential Life Facilities Operations staff and Environmental Health and Safety will conduct ongoing inspections of rooms during Thanksgiving Break. Inspections consist of visual surveys of rooms. Illegal items and other policy violations in plain view will be documented and referred to the appropriate authorities.

Card Access

Card Access will expire on Wednesday, November 25, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. If you have been issued a Temporary Card, please return it to your Residential Service Desk to avoid a $50 card replacement charge.

Personal Property

Take all essential and valuable items with you when you vacate for Thanksgiving Break. Residents are not allowed access to the Residence Halls during Thanksgiving Break. The University does not guarantee the security of property left in the residence halls and does not carry insurance that compensates residents for losses due to fire, theft, water damage, etc. 

Students who forget a critical item, such as medication or a passport, can contact Residential Services at (413) 577-7777 to request temporary access to their room. Students who request access to a closed hall will be subject to a $50 break access fee during business hours and a $150 break access fee for access after hours. Business hours are Monday–Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Please note: Residential Services will be closed on Thursday, November 26, and will operate on Break Housing Residential Service Desk Hours (please see below).

Break Housing Service Changes

North Apartments, Brett, Cashin, Grayson and Prince Residence Halls will remain open over Thanksgiving Break. Approved residents in Gorman and James are also able to remain over Thanksgiving Break. Gorman and James residents who wish to stay on campus must contact Residential Life Assignments for approval before Wednesday, November 25, 2026.

Adjusted Hours for Break Housing Residential Service Desks
The Brett, Cashin, Crabtree, Dickinson, Prince, and Thoreau Residential Service Desk will observe the following hours over the Break Period:

• Wednesday, November 25: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Closed 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.)
• Thursday, November 26: Closed
• Friday, November 27: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Closed 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.)
• Saturday, November 28: 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

All Residential Service Desks will open at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 29.

Lockout Assist Service in Brett, Gorman, Prince, James, Grayson and Cashin
Students who lock themselves out of their room during Residential Service Desk Hours can contact the Residential Service Desk to request a Lockout Assist. Students who lock themselves out of their room outside of Residential Service Desk Hours should contact the RA On-Duty. The number is available in your residence hall. Requesting a Lockout Assist requires staff to come directly to your room to unlock your door and verify that you have your room key. Please note that there is a $50 Lockout Assist Fee which will be applied to the student’s Bursar bill.

Lockout Assist Service in North
Students who lock themselves out of their room during Residential Service Desk Hours can contact the Residential Service Desk to request a Lockout Assist. Students who lock themselves out of their room outside of Residential Service Desk Hours should contact Facilities Service Center. The number is available in your residence hall. Requesting a Lockout Assist requires staff to come directly to your room to unlock your door and verify that you have your room key. Please note that there is a $50 Lockout Assist Fee which will be applied to the student’s Bursar bill.

Mail Delivery
Standard mail and package delivery is suspended from November 25 through November 28. Packages sent to on-campus addresses during this time will be held by delivery vendors until residence halls open on November 29.

Temporary Break Housing

Residential Life strongly encourages students who need housing over break periods to use one of the In-Semester Change Processes to secure a permanent assignment in a break housing hall. After these processes conclude, students can also contact the Residential Life Assignments Office to ask about available break housing spaces.

In years where there are available spaces, Residential Life will offer students the option to temporarily move into a break housing hall over Thanksgiving Break. For Thanksgiving Break, there are a limited number of temporary options available.  Students interested in Temporary Break Housing can complete the form here.