Throughout the year Kenyon closes for specific periods of time, whether for breaks or the summer. During these periods housing options for students are extremely limited and not guaranteed. Therefore, students should plan travel arrangements accordingly.

While we strive to accommodate all academic year break and summer housing applications, campus limitations (e.g., staffing, maintenance, costs) prevent us from operating our housing facilities on a year-round basis. During all campus closure periods, approved students may be required to relocate to allow for deferred and planned maintenance, deep cleaning, power outages, and safety reasons. 

Academic year break and summer housing are not included in the Kenyon housing contract. Therefore, the college reserves the right to close break housing locations during these time periods. If that becomes necessary, students will be notified immediately in order to provide the opportunity to make alternative plans.

All students hoping to stay for the whole, or part of, any college closure period must submit an application. Application deadlines will be distributed to students throughout the year. In the application students will be asked to specify reasons for housing during break, what type of accommodation is being sought (e.g., late stay, full break, early arrival), and additional context that will inform application decisions. 

All students on campus during a break or summer are bound by Kenyon rules and regulations. During break periods when the residence halls are closed, overnight guests are not permitted. This includes students who are not approved to be on campus for the break. There may be additional, break-specific policies, which apply to these time frames. Failure to adhere to these may result in the immediate loss of break housing and/or additional actions. 

Below you will find additional details on academic year break and summer housing; please review carefully.

Academic Year Break Housing

Academic Year Break Housing refers to the following campus closure periods:

• Thanksgiving Break
• Winter Break
• Spring Break

Halls will close at noon on the first Saturday of each break. Students not approved for break housing are required to vacate their residences by this time. Halls will re-open at noon EST on the last Saturday of each break.

Students who are unable to leave for the break, must leave after the residence halls close, or need to return prior to the official re-opening date must complete the appropriate break housing application by the published deadline. Please note, being in college housing when the college is not in session, without permission from the Office of Residential Life, is a violation of college policy. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action and fees.

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis and approval is not guaranteed. Priority will be given to students who (a) are unable to travel due to border closings, safety concerns, inconsistent travel options, or issues with documentation; (b) do not have access to a stable and/or safe housing environment; (c) have documented economic limitations that prohibit summer travel.

Priority Deadlines:
• Thanksgiving Break, Oct. 27, 2023
• Winter Break, Nov. 28, 2023
• Spring Break, Feb. 12, 2024

If the deadline has passed, students who wish to apply for break housing must complete a late application form. Fees of $25 - $100 will be charged depending on the lateness of the request.

Before leaving for a break, students should:

• Empty all trash and remove all perishable food.

• Empty all personal refrigerators and rental refrigerators of perishable items (refrigerators should remain plugged in).

• Remove all electronics and other valuables from the floor of your room.

• Remove ALL clutter, trash, belongings, etc. from the floor.

• Turn all College-installed blower fans and heating units to low and turn the thermostat to 72 degrees if possible. Do not turn heat off.

• Unplug fans, computers, stereos, etc.

• Unplug or remove batteries from alarm clocks so they do not sound.

• Remove items placed in lounge refrigerators and return vacuums to their appropriate locations.

• Remove personal belongings from community bathrooms.

• Close all windows and blinds.

• Turn off the lights and lock the room door when you leave, and remember to take your key and student ID card with you.

CAs will conduct health and safety inspections at noon on the Saturday of each closing day. They will not check inside closed refrigerators, closets or drawers.  

Although Campus Safety continues to patrol during break periods, the College is not responsible for students' personal property. Please take necessary precautions:

• Lock your room door and apartment/suite door at all times.

• Walk with someone whenever possible or call for an escort (ext. 5000).

• Call Campus Safety (740-427-5000) to report any suspicious people, concerns or problems.

A community advisor (CA) will be on duty to assist students living on campus during the break. To get in touch, call the break duty phone. The phone number will be posted in buildings and emailed to students that are approved to stay for breaks.

Summer Housing

Summer housing refers to all stays occurring after the spring term move out date; this includes non-seniors seeking housing during Senior Week.

In order to receive a housing assignment over the summer, students are required to carefully read all of the information below and submit a Summer Campus Housing Application.

Summer is a busy time on campus and space for students wishing to remain on campus is limited. Maintenance Department staff use this time to repair and replace, paint, update and complete various projects. Many residence halls and apartments are booked for external conferences and other events. 

Any current student seeking housing past the spring term move out date or prior to the start of fall term must submit an application. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Non-seniors applying for Senior Week housing. 
  • Senior Week, Commencement and/or Reunion Weekend student workers applying for housing. 
  • Fall student-athletes applying for early arrival housing. 
  • Summer Science Scholars and Legal Scholars

These are short-term requests that should not extend 10 days beyond the published spring move out deadline.

Any current student seeking short-term housing past the Spring move out date must complete an application by the published deadline. Due to limited space, Residence Life is only able to approve late stay requests in specific situations. Applications are reviewed on an individual basis and approval is not guaranteed. Additionally, for late stays, relocation may be required to allow for deferred and planned maintenance, deep cleaning, power outages, and painting.

Graduating seniors do not need to complete an application. 

Priority will be given to students who (a) have a sibling who is graduating from Kenyon the year of the application; (b) are working 25+ hours for Kenyon during the week prior to and/or after commencement; (c) have unforeseen travel delays due to border closings, safety concerns, or issues with documentation. 

If students withdraw from the program/event that necessitated a late stay they will no longer be eligible for a late stay housing arrangement. If the stay has already started, students must depart within 48 hours of withdrawal. 

Students approved for participation in summer science, legal scholars, or research programs may request summer housing for the duration of their program. Documentation of participation must be submitted with the application; this could include a letter or communication from the sponsoring faculty member or department. 

If accepted for a summer academic program, students must vacate their housing at the end of the program unless given permission by the Office of Residential Life. Additionally, during the program, relocation may be required to allow for deferred and planned maintenance, deep cleaning, power outages and painting.

If students withdraw from the Summer Scholars program they will no longer be eligible for a summer housing arrangement. If the stay has already started, students must depart within 48 hours of withdrawal.

These are long-term requests that could include the entirety of summer session, from the end of the academic year to the beginning of the next academic year.

Any current student seeking extended stay housing past the spring move out date must complete an application by the published deadline. Due to limited space, Residential Life is only able to approve extended stay requests in specific situations. Applications are reviewed on an individual basis and approval is not guaranteed. Additionally, for extended stays, relocation may be required to allow for deferred and planned maintenance, deep cleaning, power outages, and painting.

Priority will be given to students who (a) are unable to travel due to border closings, safety concerns, inconsistent travel options, or issues with documentation; (b) do not have access to a stable and/or safe housing environment; (c) have documented economic limitations that prohibit summer travel. 

Students interning within a 50 mile radius of Kenyon or working an on-campus position for 25+ hours per week for the duration of Summer Session will also be eligible to apply for housing but will not be prioritized. 

If students withdraw from the program/event that necessitated an extended stay they will no longer be eligible for a summer housing arrangement. If the stay has already started, students must depart within 48 hours of withdrawal.

All charges will be assessed on the renter's student account, and the student is responsible for all costs associated with housing. If a sponsor has agreed to pay the weekly housing fee, the sponsor will be billed instead; the student must communicate with their sponsor if they notice any unpaid charges. If a sponsor is paying for a student's summer campus housing, the sponsor will be billed for the amount of time for which they have agreed to pay; additional weeks will be charged to the student.

The cost of summer campus housing is $75 per week for a double room and $90 per week for a single/double as a single room. Rooms are only rented for a full week at a time and will not be prorated by the day. Students will not be credited for vacation time spent off campus. Students are required to pay their summer rent, which will be billed to their student account. These students may begin to pay off their bill through the Student Accounts Office or pay in one lump sum. Cash, checks or credit cards are accepted.

Billing for summer housing will occur weekly from May - August. 

Due to the coordination of custodial services to clean and housing staff to reset living spaces, where applicable, it is important that students move into their next housing assignment by the listed mandatory date.

Custodial service will not be provided during the summer. Students must dispose of garbage daily and keep their residential area clean and orderly. Students may use the online work order request system.

Students granted summer housing must agree to follow behavioral expectations, restrictions on guests and alcohol, and all official housing terms.

Students must move in and move out during the designated periods. During move-out, students must turn in their key(s) using the Express Check-out Form (found in Gund Commons or Campus Safety). Contact reslife@kenyon.edu for more information. Please note that there are fines for improper moving out procedures and/or missing keys.

When moving out, students must leave the space in the same condition that they found it. Rooms should be cleaned, garbage removed, floor vacuumed/swept, furniture returned to its original location, raised beds lowered and furniture tops dusted.

Students will most likely use the on-campus mail center for summer. More details will be provided to students with approved summer housing applications.

Food service is limited in the summer to when conference groups are on campus and only to those paying for meals. Eligible students may receive access to the source and can indicate need through the application process. 

Non-senior students on campus during Senior Week are not permitted to eat in the dining hall using their academic year meal plan; they are responsible for their own meals. Meals may be purchased from AVI with cash at the front register, or meal tickets may be purchased in advance by the student or their sponsor by contacting AVI. Please check with AVI for dates, times and prices.

Staying over the summer is a privilege. It is up to each student to take full ownership over their housing, behavior, conduct and safety. 

Students may not have any overnight guests (non-Kenyon students as well as Kenyon students not staying for the summer) in their housing assignment for more than three days in a period of a month. Students are responsible for the conduct of any overnight guests and Student Handbook policies regarding guests apply during the summer. Students are responsible for their own behavior, and they must agree to comply with all expectations of the Student Handbook and the Office of Residential Life. On-campus housing can be taken away if a student does not comply with all listed expectations. 

Students must live only in their housing assignment, and they may not live in an unauthorized location. Campus Safety will have staff available 7 days per week, 24 hours a day to assist students in residence over the summer. To contact Campus Safety, call 740-427-5000. Campus Safety officers are available for emergency responses and car or parking concerns. 

The Office of Residential Life will be available to handle immediate concerns from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during most weekdays when the College is open for business (limited availability from noon - 1 p.m.). To contact the Office of Residential Life, please call 740-427-5142 or email reslife@kenyon.edu.

In early August, students living on campus must move from their summer housing assignment into their fall housing assignment. ALL students must be out of their summer locations by the designated date.

Residential spaces are transitioned to academic year housing assignments in mid-August. Students not approved to live on campus up until that date cannot move into their fall housing assignment early unless they are included on the list of early arrivals sponsored by a College department.

Students arriving to campus without approval or prior communication will need to seek accommodations at surrounding establishments (e.g., Kenyon Inn, Airbnb, etc.).

These are short-term requests that should not extend 10 days prior to the published fall move-in date.

Any current student seeking to move into their fall housing assignment prior to the published fall move-in date must complete an application. Due to limited space and capacity, Residential Life is only able to approve early arrival requests in specific situations. Applications are reviewed on an individual basis and approval is not guaranteed. Additionally, for early arrivals, relocation may be required to allow for deferred and planned maintenance, deep cleaning, power outages, and painting.

Priority will be given to students who (a) are working 25+ hours, for Kenyon, in a campus opening function position during the week prior to first year move-in; (b) student-athletes who are members of Fall sports teams (c) have unforeseen travel situations due to border closings, safety concerns, inconsistent travel options or issues with documentation. 

If students withdraw from the program/event that necessitated an early arrival they will no longer be eligible for an early arrival housing arrangement. If the stay has already started, students must depart within 48 hours of withdrawal.

A complete list of dates and deadlines for the current academic year and upcoming summer are included in the residential life calendar.