
Housing Dates and Details
"University Housing” refers to ALL University-owned housing facilities, including Gaines, Graham-Lees, Woods Creek Apartments, the Village, theme, and fraternity/sorority houses.
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View the fall 2025 housing selection details and timeline.
University Housing Dates & Details
Fall Term Housing Details
Fall term housing opens for first-year 91´«Ã½ on Saturday, August 23 and upper-division 91´«Ã½ on Friday, August 29. Please see important university housing dates and details below and plan accordingly. These important dates and deadlines have implications for housing operations and other campus partners.
Fall Term Housing Timeline
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Monday, June 30, 2025 - Early Arrival Request Opens
- Fall athletes and 91´«Ã½ involved in other organizations or essential campus work may be pre-approved for early arrival and do not need to fill out an individual request. Check with your coach and/or advisor to determine if you are on a pre-approved early arrival list shared with the Office of Housing Residence Life.
- All other requests are considered on a case-by-case basis for extenuating circumstances only. Please plan your travels according to the move-in dates below. Approved 91´«Ã½ will have their accounts billed $50/night.
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Friday, July 18, 2025 - Early Arrival Request Deadline
- This is the last date to request early arrival for fall term. Requests after this date will not be considered. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for extenuating circumstances only. Plan according to the move-in dates below. Approved 91´«Ã½ will have their accounts billed $50/night.
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Friday, August 23, 2025 - Room Freeze Begins
- Three-week room freeze period. Requests will not be considered for housing reassignments.
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Saturday, August 23, 2025 - Class of 2029 (First-Year) Move-In Day Only
- All first-year 91´«Ã½ must move in by this date during the communicated timeframe. Please continue to check your WLU email for updates regarding move-in preparations and instructions. Fall athletes may be pre-approved to arrive earlier than this date - please check with your coach and/or advisor if you have an earlier move-in date approved by the Office of Housing & Residence Life.
- First-year 91´«Ã½ please discuss meal options with your class dean, leading edge trip advisors, and/or RA.
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Friday, August 29, 2024 - Upper-Division Student Move-In
- Housing reopens for all upper-division 91´«Ã½ this date (beginning as early as midnight). There will be a check-in table at the Office of Public Safety on August 29th and 30th. Students will receive an email in August with more information about check-in. All UD 91´«Ã½ are required to check-in and receive a room key. Students arriving after the check-in station is closed or after August 30th must check-in with and retrieve their key from Public Safety dispatch.
- Marketplace (D-Hall) will be the only open dining venue; meal plans are not active this date. Meal plans will activate, and other dining venues will open beginning August 30th. Please see the for more information.
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Friday, September 8, 2025 - Damage Report Form & Assignment Verification (AV) Due
- All 91´«Ã½ will receive an email early September about completing the Damage Report Form. Students wishing to report any damages to their living space, beyond that of normal wear and tear, must complete the Damage Form via eRezLife with any supporting photographs. Students who do not meet this deadline waive their right to contest any damages at check-out and may be responsible for paying damage charges.
- Students will also receive an email asking to verify correct room assignment prior to the room freeze ending. Please verify or correct your room assignment by this date to avoid penalty fees. CA/RAs will follow up with residents who miss this deadline.
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Friday, September 12, 2025 - Room Freeze Ends
- Students may request housing reassignment on or after this date.
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Wednesday, October 1, 2025 - Winter Housing Application Opens
- Students returning from fall abroad or needing winter term housing must complete the winter housing application. Students may list their preferences for housing or body-for-body swaps with other individuals. Preferences are considered, not guaranteed. Housing assignments are based on availability with priority going to sophomores and juniors.
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Thursday, October 9 & Friday, October 10, 2025 - Reading Days/Fall BreakHousing remains open.
- Students departing campus over break are encouraged to clean their room, take out trash/recyclables, unplug appliances (except the fridge), turn off lights, and secure all doors/windows.
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Monday, November 3, 2025 - Winter Housing Application Deadline
- Students returning from fall abroad or needing winter term housing must complete the winter housing application. Students may list their preferences for housing or body-for-body swaps with other individuals. Preferences are considered, not guaranteed. Housing assignments are based on availability with priority going to sophomores and juniors.
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Monday, November 3, 2025 - Winter Break Extended Stay Request Opens
- Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for extenuating circumstances only. You must complete an extended stay request . Plan according to the winter break closing date/time below. Approved 91´«Ã½ will have their accounts billed $50/night.
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Monday, November 24 through Friday, November 28, 2025 - Thanksgiving Break (No Classes)
- Housing remains open. Students departing campus over break are encouraged to clean their room, take out trash/recyclables, unplug appliances (except the fridge), turn off lights, and secure all doors/windows.
- University services are limited. For specific hours and services offered during Thanksgiving break, contact departments/offices directly.
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Monday, December 1, 2025 - Room Freeze Begins
- This is the last date to request room reassignment for the fall term. Requests will not be considered after this date.
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Monday, December 1, 2025 - Winter Break Extended Stay Request Deadline
- This is the last date to request an extended stay for winter break. Requests after this date will not be considered. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, for extenuating circumstances only. Plan according to the winter break closing date/time below. Approved 91´«Ã½ will have their accounts billed $50/night.
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Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. - Housing CLOSES for Winter Break
- All 91´«Ã½ must vacate housing at this time and complete the winter closing checklist in . Avoid fees by following the winter break closing checklist for health, safety, and energy reduction reasons. Contact your CA/RA for more information about winter checklists and closing guidelines.
- Students returning for winter term may leave personal belongings in their room. Please take all essentials (clothing, medication, toiletries, etc.). Students are not permitted to re-enter housing after closing.
- Students not returning for the winter term must vacate housing by this date. To avoid fees, please remove all personal belongings, follow the winter closing checklist, file any needed work orders, and return the room key to a drop-off location (Commons 3rd floor or Public Safety).
- Please note that University services are extremely limited during winter break. Contact departments/offices directly for hours and services offered during the winter break period.
Winter term housing opens Friday, January 2, 2026, with classes beginning Thursday, January 8.
- Students living on campus during the fall term and who register for courses/are returning on-campus winter term must plan according to the below timeline (fall 2025 closing and winter/spring 2026 opening as well as extended stay and early arrival request information).
- Readmitted 91´«Ã½ or 91´«Ã½ returning to campus from being abroad must complete the winter housing application via which opens Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
- Applicants may list their preferences for housing, including any body-for-body swaps with individuals going abroad winter term, on the application. The Office of Housing & Residence Life reserves the right to assign 91´«Ã½ anywhere on campus; however, strong consideration is given to student preferences. Assignments are ultimately made based on availability. Priority is given to sophomores and juniors who need to fulfill the residency requirement.
- Students will receive regular communication via WLU about the winter term housing application and assignment process.
- The winter term housing application closes Monday, November 4, 2025.
- Those approved for winter term housing may move in on January 2, 2026. Room keys will be available in Public Safety and swipe access will be activated on this date. Please see the below timeline for more information including details about early arrival requests.
Spring Housing Details
 at 91´«Ã½ is a period where 91´«Ã½ take one course during the term. This term period applies to the 3-year residency requirement. There are specific circumstances and requirements under which Washington and Lee Students can live on-campus during this period. Spring term housing is covered under the current room fee if a student has lived on-campus for at least the fall or winter term.
- Students living on campus winter term and who register for courses/are returning on-campus spring term must plan according to the timeline below (winter/spring 2026).
- Readmitted 91´«Ã½ or 91´«Ã½ returning to campus from being abroad must complete the spring housing application via which opens on Friday, February 20, 2026.
- Applicants may list their preferences for housing, including body-for-body swaps with individuals going abroad in the spring term, on the application. The Office of Housing & Residence Life reserves the right to assign 91´«Ã½ anywhere on campus; however, strong consideration is given to student preferences. Assignments are ultimately made based on availability. Priority is given to sophomores and juniors who need to fulfill the residency requirement.
- Students will receive regular communication via WLU about the spring term housing application and assignment process.
- The spring term housing application closes Monday, March 30, 2026.
- Those approved for spring term housing may move in on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Room keys will be available in Public Safety and swipe access will be activated on this date. Please see the timeline below for more information including details about early arrival requests.
- Students who are on-campus for the winter term and are registered for a completely off-campus or abroad spring term course must vacate housing at the end of the winter term. Students may not store personal belongings on campus while they are not on campus. See the timeline below. Exceptions may be made for 91´«Ã½ who need to remain on-campus until their trip departure. Please contact housing@wlu.edu.
- Students who have registered for spring option and wish to remain in campus housing during spring term must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- On-campus essential employment. Supervisor verification is required through Student Employment.
- Graduate entrance exam preparation and examination (i.e., GRE, LSAT, MCAT etc.)
- Local or on-campus internship or assistantship (i.e., helping a professor with research, or interning with a local organization). Advisor/supervisor verification is required.
- Other extenuating circumstances with prior approval from Residence Life.
- If you meet one of the criteria above, you may complete the “spring option housing” form via  beginning Monday, February 2, 2026. The form closes on Monday, March 9, 2026. The Office of Housing & Residence Life will review and respond to all requests shortly after receipt.
Winter/Spring Housing Timeline
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Friday, January 2, 2026 - Housing Re-Opens for all Undergraduate Students
- This opening date includes new winter term arrivals, readmitted 91´«Ã½, and 91´«Ã½ returning from fall term abroad.
- Students needing to return early for athletics, certain leadership positions, and/or for extenuating circumstances may be pre-approved for an earlier arrival date. Please check with your coach and/or organizational advisor.  All other 91´«Ã½ with early arrival requests must submit via  and are only reviewed case-by-case for extenuating circumstances. The early arrival request will open on November 3 and close on December 1, 2025. We will not consider submissions received after this deadline. Approved requests will have their student accounts charged a $50/night fee.
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Monday, February 2, 2026 - Room Freeze Ends
- Students may request housing reassignment on or after this date.
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Monday, February 2, 2026 - Spring Option Housing Form Opens
- Students who spring option and intend to remain in campus housing for spring term must meet certain requirements and fill out the spring option form on eRezLife.
- The spring option housing form deadline is Monday, March 9, 2026.
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Monday, February 23, 2026, to Friday, February 27, 2026 - Feb/Washington Break (No Classes)
- Housing remains open. Students traveling from campus are encouraged to clean their room, take out trash/recyclables, unplug appliances (except the fridge), turn off lights, and secure all doors/windows.
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Friday, February 20, 2026 - Spring Housing Application Opens
- Students returning from winter abroad or needing spring term housing must complete the spring housing application via . Students may list their preferences for housing or body-for-body swaps with other individuals. While we do our best to meet student preferences, assignments are made based on availability.
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Monday, March 9, 2026 - Spring Option Housing Form Closes
- Requests will not be considered after this date.
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Monday, March 30, 2026 - Spring Housing Application Closes
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Saturday, April 18, 2026 to Sunday, April 26, 2026 - Spring Break (No Classes)
- Housing remains open. Students traveling from campus are encouraged to clean their room, take out trash/recyclables, unplug appliances (except the fridge), turn off lights, and secure all doors/windows.
- University services are limited-contact departments/offices for hours and services offered during the break period.
- Students returning for spring term may leave personal belongings (take-home essentials) in the room.
- Students not returning for the spring term must remove all personal belongings, follow the “Closing Checklist,” and return the room key to a drop-off location by no later than Sunday, April 19, 2026, to avoid cleaning or unreturned key fees. This date is non-negotiable as we must prepare vacant spaces for 91´«Ã½ returning from winter abroad.
- Students arriving on campus from winter abroad may move in no earlier than Saturday, April 25, 2026. Keys will be available for pick-up in Public Safety, and swipe access will be activated this day.
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Sunday, May 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. - Housing Closes for Undergraduates
- All 91´«Ã½, except for graduating seniors and approved extended stays, must vacate housing at this time. Students will receive closing information at the beginning of May. Avoid item removal, cleaning, and unreturned key fees by following the “Closing Checklist ."Students who need to remain in their spring assignment until they can transition to on-campus summer housing must submit an extended stay request. Please click “Summer 2026” below for more information about Summer housing.
- Graduating seniors or approved extended stays not transitioning to summer housing will need to vacate spring housing by no later than Sunday, May 31, 2026. Follow the closing checklist to avoid fees.
- Students must submit all extended stay requests via  and are only reviewed case-by-case for extenuating circumstances. The extended stay request will open on April 17 and close on May 15, 2026. We will not consider submissions received after this deadline. Approved requests will have their student accounts charged a $50/night fee.  Extended stays will not be approved to watch friends graduate (unless they are an immediate family members) or store personal belongings until off-campus leases begin. These are not examples of extenuating circumstances as they can be planned for and avoided.
Summer Housing Details
W&L Housing & Residence Life (HRL) offers limited summer housing to undergraduate 91´«Ã½ who are engaged in on-campus faculty research or other essential campus work. Students requesting housing for other reasons may apply, but preference will be given to those researching/working on campus. University services, including dining, are extremely limited during the summer. Contact specific departments/offices for hours and services offered during the summer. Please see the details and timeline below:
- Only currently enrolled, W&L undergraduate 91´«Ã½ are eligible for summer housing. Students must also be engaged in on-campus faculty research or essential campus work (advisor/supervisor verification required). Students participating in virtual research/work are not eligible.
- Summer residents must always abide by policies as set forth in the Summer Housing Agreement and Student Handbook.
- We are aware that some programs/work will begin before and/or continue after summer opening and closing.
- If you are on-campus during the spring and your program/summer work begins earlier than June 7:
- You may submit an extended stay request (beginning April 17) to remain in your spring assignment until your summer assignment is move-in ready. Please submit your request no later than May 15, 2026, via .
- Students who do NOT have a spring term housing assignment for a portion or all of spring term are not eligible for temporary housing or an extended stay prior to summer move in on June 7.
- If your program/work ends on/before July 26:
- You are required to vacate summer housing and may return for the scheduled fall 2026 opening.
- If your program/work goes beyond July 26:
- You may submit an early arrival request (beginning June 29) to transition from your summer housing to your fall 2026 assignment. You will be required to transition on July 27 to your fall assignment unless otherwise communicated by HRL. Please submit early arrival requests by no later than July 17, 2026, via .
- The summer housing fee covers extended stays and/or early arrivals if approved, i.e., summer residents will not incur additional charges if they can prove the need to stay late in their spring assignment and/or move into their fall assignment early.
- If you are on-campus during the spring and your program/summer work begins earlier than June 7:
- Summer ’26 housing facilities (subject to change): TBD
- Other locations may be used if the designate location reaches capacity.
- There is a flat summer fee of $420.00 per student regardless of move-in and out time.
- Students who complete a summer housing application will participate in a summer housing selection process (timeline below). There is no lottery system, meaning selection is first come, first served. All summer housing units are coed. HRL reserves the right to fill any vacancies in summer housing should the need arise and/or utilize alternative facilities.
- Students may view their summer housing assignments and roommate information via eRezLife once selection concludes.
- There are limited dining options on campus during the summer. Please see the for open venues and hours. Meal plans are  NOT  available during the summer. Please contact diningservices@wlu.edu with any dining-related questions.
Summer Housing Dates
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Wednesday April 1, 2026 – Summer Housing Agreement and Application Opens
- Login to  to complete your agreement/application.
- Even if your summer plans are not finalized, or you are unsure, you should fill out the application and participate in summer housing selection by the deadline. You may retract your application prior to June 7, with no penalty or financial obligation, by emailing housing@wlu.edu.
- Summer applicants may create summer roommate groups in eRezLife. All roommates must fill out their own housing agreement and accept their invitation to join roommate groups.
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TBD – Summer Housing Information Session
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Friday, May 1, 2026 – Summer Housing Agreement and Application Closes
- Applications will not be accepted after this date.
- Applications will be reviewed on or shortly after they close. All applicants will receive notification if their application was accepted or denied within one week of the form closing.
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Wednesday, May 13, 2026 – Day One of Summer Selection ("Must Fill Day")
- Most units will have a “must fill” requirement, meaning that the number of individuals in your group must match the number of bedrooms (4-person group for a 4-person apartment) within each unit. Only groups of TBD are allowed to select this day. This is recommended.
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Thursday, May 14, 2026 – Day Two of Summer Selection ("Individual Day")
- There will be a limited number of apartments that do not have a “must-fill” requirement. Any vacancies available after day one is open for individual selection. Those selecting as individuals should expect to receive roommates who also participated as individuals.
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Sunday, June 7, 2026 – Summer Housing Opens
- Students may not move into summer housing earlier than this date due to the tight timeline for preparing the facilities for summer move-in. Please plan for your travel and meals accordingly.
- Students whose programs/work begin prior to this date and need to remain in their spring assignment until they can transition to on-campus summer housing will need to submit an extended stay request beginning April 17 and by no later than May 16, 2026. The extended stay fee is not applicable.
- Students who do NOT have a spring term housing assignment for a portion or all of spring term are not eligible for temporary housing or an extended stay prior to summer move in on June 7.
- Students must transition from their spring to summer assignments no later than June 7, 2026, unless otherwise instructed by HRL.
- Swipe access will be activated as early as midnight on June 7. Students may begin moving in then. Hard keys will not be issued unless specifically requested by 91´«Ã½ via email to housing@wlu.edu.
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Sunday, July 26, 2026 – Summer Housing Closes
- All 91´«Ã½ must vacate summer housing by 11:59 PM on July 26. Swipe access will be deactivated at midnight on July 27. Move-out delays will result in a $100.00 fine in addition to $50.00 per day the room is not vacated.
- Summer residents with programs beyond this date (or 91´«Ã½ with other early arrival obligations) will need to submit an early arrival request via  to transition to their fall 2026 housing assignment by no later than July 26. Approved 91´«Ã½ must transition to their fall housing assignment on July 26 unless otherwise instructed by HRL.
- Students are not allowed to store belongings in their fall assignment if they are not an approved early arrival/not physically present on-campus. Students must plan for temporary storage until their return.
Questions about housing dates, early arrival, or extended stay requests? Email housing@wlu.edu.
Updated August 14, 2025
Hannah Phillips, Ed.D.
Associate Director of Housing and Residence Life
Chris Reid, Ed.D.
Assistant Dean and Director of Housing and Residence Life
- P: 540-458-4070
- E: creid@wlu.edu