You are here: American University Student Affairs Housing & Residence Life Winter Break Housing

Winter Break Housing 2023-2024

Traditional and suite-style residence halls close at 12 p.m. (noon) on December 17, 2023 and re-open January 11, 2024 at 9 a.m. Residents should make arrangements to depart for winter break within 24 hours of their last final exam. All residence halls close for students who are participating in December graduation at 12 p.m. (noon) on December 18, 2023.

Frequency and Nebraska Apartments remain open throughout winter break. Please review the information at the bottom of this page for specific instructions for apartment residents.

Please be aware that Facilities Management in partnetship with the university electricity provider, PEPCO, completes maintenance work to campus buildings over break, including a planned power and water outage that will affected the entire main campus (excluding Nebraska Hall) on December 27 and 28, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. each day. As Hughes Hall will be affected, temporary near-campus arrangements will be provided to those students for up to three nights, as needed, and will involve an additional move from Hughes Hall to a temporary space, followed by a return to Hughes. Additional information will be communicated to students prior to the start of Winter Break Housing upon assignment, and can be found below. 

Eligibility

  • Must be a current fall on-campus AU student living in the same housing assignment for both the fall and spring semesters.
  • Students participating in a one semester program, graduating seniors, or those who have elected to cancel their spring housing are not eligible for winter break housing.

Terms and Conditions

  • Applicants must agree to:
    • The Winter Break Housing License Agreement on the Winter Break application.
    • All rules and regulations outlined in the Student Code of Conduct are applicable.
    • Housing & Residence Life reserves the right to remove any resident from Winter Break Housing if deemed necessary as indicated in the Housing License Agreement.


Traditional and Suite-Style Residents

The Winter Housing Application is available through the AU Housing Portal between November 1 at 12pm (noon) - December 4, 2023 at 12pm (noon).

Location

  • Winter Break Housing will be offered in vacant spaces in Hughes Hall. All rooms are double occupancy and will have 2 residents assigned during winter break.
  • Current Hughes Hall residents interested in Winter Break Housing must apply and will be charged the break rate. However, they will remain in their fall assignment over break.

Rates and Billing

  • Winter break housing is available for $1,200 and includes the full winter break term (December 17, 2023-January 11, 2024). 
  • Winter break housing is only available for the full break and rate listed. Bills are not prorated based on dates a student is in-room.
  • Winter break charges will posted in Eagle Service on student's spring 2024 university bill. This will be completed within the first two (2) weeks of the spring semester.

Application and Assignment Dates

  • November 1, 2023: Application opens in the AU Housing Portal.
  • December 4, 2023: Application closes. HRL may be unable to house late applicants based on limited space.
  • December 7, 2023: Applicants will be notified of their housing assigment through their AU email. 

Cancellations

  • Cancellations should be submitted through the AU Housing Portal, or in writing to housing@american.edu, by December 10, 2023 at 11:59pm. Anyone who cancels after the deadline, or fails to check in to break housing will have a $100 administrative charge will be added to their account.
  • Once a student completes check-in for Winter Break Housing they will not be eligble for a refund of Winter Break Housing charges. This includes if they move out before the break period concludes.

Winter Break Move-In: Winter break residents will move into Hughes Hall on Sunday, December 17, 2023 between 9am-12pm (noon). Please bring all personal items needed throughout winter break with you at this time. There will be no access to other main campus residence halls after December 18. Items not needed for winter break can remain in your room until you return for the spring semester.

Winter Break Move-Out: Winter break residents will move from the Hughes Hall to their spring housing assignment on Thursday, January 11, 2024 [subject to change] between 9am-12pm (noon). There are no exceptions to this timeline to move. Winter break residents will receive further transition instructions in advance.

Campus-wide Outages are expected to occur between December 27th and 28th from 7 A.M. - 7 P.M. Hughes Hall residents will be temporarily relocated to the Frequency Apartments.

  • Relocation will occur on December 26th and shuttle service will be provided every 30 minutes from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. There will be no other shuttle service available outside these hours. 
    • Residents will receive their key fob and assignments at the Frequency front desk upon arrival. 
  • Return to Hughes will occur on December 28th, and shuttle service will be provided every 30 minutes from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
    • Residents should return their key fob upon departure. 
  • Residents are encourage to bring all items they may need to the Frequency. Access to Hughes will not be turned off, however the building will be impacted by the outages. 
    • Linens and bedding will be made available at the Hughes Hall front desk for pickup should you not wish to transport your bedding to the Frequency. Residents who opt to use these linens are asked to return them to the Hughes Hall front desk upon return. 


Apartment Residents

The Winter Housing Application is available through the AU Housing Portal between November 1, 2023 and December 4, 2023. Frequency and Nebraska residents who want access to their room between December 17, 2023-January 11, 2024 must complete the Winter Housing Application.

There is no additional cost for apartment residents.

All applicants for Winter Break Housing must read and abide by the Winter Housing License Agreement and the Student Code of Conduct.