Spring break is almost here, and the anticipation is already buzzing through Chico residence halls. Soon, students will trade in their dorm life for a week of rest, travel, or time with loved ones. Before students leave, housing staff and resident advisors remind Wildcats of the required preparations.
Spring break at Chico runs from March 14 to March 22. While residence halls will remain open at no additional cost, students staying on campus should prepare for several policy changes and service closures.
Students should note that there will be a no-guest period enacted from 5 p.m. on March 13 until 8 a.m. on March 22.
Residence hall front desks will close at 3 a.m. on March 14 and reopen at 10 a.m. on March 21. Several campus services will also be closed during break, including The Bell Memorial Union, Wildcat Recreation Center, the University Village shuttle, Campus Connection, and Estom Jamani dining hall.
However, a special meal plan will be offered for those staying, with the Wildcat Den offering pick-up only services on select dates, and regular brunch hours for Estom Jamani Dining will resume on March 22.
Resident advisors have already hosted floor meetings to share tips and tricks to help residents prepare for break and to remind them of resident hall policies. These meetings cover basic safety information and cleaning reminders: turn off lights, clean rooms, bring bikes inside, and make sure doors and windows are properly closed and locked.
Resident advisors emphasize the importance of students planning ahead for what they need when they return after break.
“Make sure to bring summer clothes down and take out winter clothes, because the time and weather are different,” said Liliana Detaris, resident advisor in Esken Hall.
Cleaning before leaving is especially important when food is left out. In on-campus dorms, it is important to take any perishable items from the fridges, said Detaris.
“UV is more apartment-style, meaning cooking is more popular there,” said Valerie Douglas, resident advisor for University Village. “Make sure you don’t keep food out so bugs aren’t there. Clean, clean, clean, since you’re not there for a week.”
If students return to find pests or other issues , it is important to submit a work order form on the University Housing Page rather than trying to handle it themselves.
Students are also reminded to secure all their valuables before leaving.
“Bring it with you, depending on the size, or keep it tucked away somewhere,” Douglas said. “If it’s a bike or something like that, bring it inside. Be mindful.”
For safety reasons, housing staff recommends securely locking and closing all doors and windows, turning off all lights, removing trash, setting thermostats to 70, unplugging appliances and leaving MicroChill units plugged in. Double-check to ensure this is all done before leaving.
The Whitney mail room will have limited operational hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through March 14 until March 20. Regular hours will then resume on March 22 at 10 a.m. Packages will continue to be processed through open hours and if students are unable to pick them up, they will be held until they return after spring break.
Reduced occupancy in dorm halls will allow faculty and operations team to have a greater focus on preventative maintenance, deep cleaning of common areas, health and safety follow-up, and operational planning for the rest of the semester. Maintenance may also replace door batteries, most of which can be done from the outside, but if entry is necessary, staff will knock and announce themselves before entering.
Resident advisors encourage students to communicate with their roommates about their cleaning responsibilities, shared food storage, thermostat settings, and spring break plans, including whether they plan to stay or leave and, if they do, when they expect to return. Clear communication will help ensure the dorm stays clean, organized, and secure for break.
Lucy Bakowski can be reached at [email protected]
