By: David Tuttle
Remember all of the excitement of moving your student into the residence halls last summer? The move-out experience will probably be much different in the weeks ahead. Because of uncommon exam schedules, students trickle out over a period of several days, unlike the tightly scheduled move-in day. There simply can’t be the fanfare, staff availability, and volunteer assistance that was there at move-in. And on the heels of finals, students are tired, not amped up. Be prepared.
As someone who oversaw closing on campus over a period of decades, I can tell you it’s not just the students who are tired and a bit stressed. Aside from RA training, opening, and orientation, nothing is more time consuming than residence hall check-out for the staff. It is grueling. For student staff, they are also dealing with all of the post exam transitions of other students. Plus, they are scheduling check-outs, tracking down students, and performing inventory and damage assessments. It is demanding and exhausting.
So, what can you expect around closing?
Get in their heads
Your student may have just gone through a year of great growth and development. They have learned exciting new things and met dynamic new people. They are transitioning into adulthood. Besides the stress of finals and other projects, they have recently had to make housing arrangements for next year, have had to register for fall classes, and needed to plan what they will be doing this summer – and where. In addition, they may not want to go back home. They may already be there. Students are leaving new friends and their new campus homes. Back to rules, chores, and parental oversight. Relax. It’s not you. It’s them.
They aren’t like you
You are organized and efficient. You plan ahead. You even think about what you will eat this week, oil changes, and retirement. Your student is wondering when they will see their friends for the last time before summer. If they were like you are now, their rooms would be packed and cleaned. What were you like at their age? You can’t blame them in many ways. They have been in survival mode and running on fumes the last couple of weeks. What they see as important and you see as important probably doesn’t match.
Think about the housing folks
Housing and residential life staff love what they do. And they love students. But after a long year of managing crises, maintaining order, and planning events, the break is welcome to them. Their hope (expectation may be too strong) is that students leave rooms as they found them. The campus is likely on a tight schedule to turnaround the buildings for summer occupancy. There is little time for cleaning and maintenance. They definitely prefer to end on a high note with students rather than billing them for damages and cleaning.
How can you encourage your student to have a smooth transition out of the residence halls?
Set some of your own expectations
Let your students know, well in advance, that while it is not a priority for them now, that they need to start thinking about their move-out experience. The big question issue is dealing with all of their stuff (you know, the things you bought them last summer!) Do they need storage? Are they bringing items home? Are they staying in their new town, but need to move items? These things need attention now. And you can help them make some decisions. No doubt, it will be easier for you if they have their acts together. Encourage them, as well, to start packing a little at a time days before check-out. They will need to start scrounging for boxes, pulling out suitcases, and most importantly, start deciding what can be pitched and what they keep. If you aren’t far away, perhaps a trip to campus a week early to move out some items may be worth everyone’s time.
Set some more expectations around cleaning
Trash removal is the most important aspect of closing for students. Ask your student to pay attention to bulletin boards and newsletters that explain where to put their trash (as well as to schedule their check-out times). Often, there will be donation stations and dumpsters placed in the area. It isn’t the staff’s job to clear the room of waste. It also makes it more challenging to assess any legitimate damages. If your student is the first out of the room, they need to take care of business and talk to the remaining roommate about doing the same. When the RA checks them out, their side of the room and public areas should be clean. If your student is the last one out, then they likely bear the burden of having the room in top condition.
A cleaning crew will be going through the building, so it doesn’t require a deep clean. But the expectation will be that it should be clean enough that the custodial staff need not defrost Microfridges, remove tape from the walls, or empty drawers.
They don’t want your money. They want your cooperation.
You have no idea how tedious room damage appeals can be. Often there is a disconnect between what the parent sees on the bill and what the student tells them about how they left their room. Staff does not want to be in conflict with you. They like you! The iPhone has helped alleviate contentious issues in recent years. Pictures sent to an angry parent can often help them in redirecting that anger. In many cases, the cleaning charges are set more as a deterrent than to recover money. Damages are a different story and parts and labor may be charged back to the student. While wear and tear can be expected, repairing blinds, holes in walls, and stained carpets can be tedious to repair, especially with the time crunch. Remember how you expect the rooms to look in the fall? Picture that when thinking of how your student should leave the room in the spring.
In summary, when cooler heads are expected to prevail, you are likely the cooler heads. Students and staff are under pressure, stressed, emotional, and tired. Help your student understand all of these dynamics, set expectations, and see how you can assist with logistics. The smoother the move-out process, the sooner you can focus on their transitions back home for the summer. And that will take some emotional energy.
About the author: David Tuttle spent over 30 years in higher education in Residential Life and Student Affairs and has sent four children to college. He is the proprietor of a student and parent assistance service, PROsper Collegiate, LLC. Contact him here: david@prospercollegiate.com.
