Arrival, Departure, and Break Policies

Residence Hall Arrival, Departure and Break Policies 

Early Arrival 

Overview and Goal

Early Arrival housing is meant to meet the housing needs of Hamilton students who are required to be on campus prior to the opening of Residence Halls at the start of a semester. 

Eligibility

• Early Arrival housing is only available to Hamilton College students who are required to be on campus for employment or athletics and who are sponsored by a Hamilton Faculty/Staff member.
• Early arrival is only available to current students who have a housing assignment for the semester. Students who are on a leave for the applicable semester are not permitted Early Arrival. 
• Early arrival is not available to students who have commitments outside the College in the Clinton area.
• Early arrival is not available to students who want to travel to campus early with the purpose of cheaper travel, or to have extra time on campus prior to classes. 
• Students will only be permitted to arrive one day prior to their on campus commitment.
• Community Living will set the dates permitted for Early Arrival each semester, which will not exceed one week prior to the start of classes. If the date for programs is being set by Hamilton staff, the dates must match the early arrival period. Exceptions will only be made for the following:
  • Athletic practices or competitions (does not apply to club sports or any practice that is not required by conference rules)
  • Approved Orientation leaders
  • Approved Orientation support staff 
  • Approved Community Advisors
  • Approved EMT staff
  • Approved Admission Student Staff
  • Qualifying Summer Housing transition students  
• Students traveling internationally to get to campus may apply to arrive up to 2 calendar days prior to the opening of residence halls in order to accommodate travel arrangements. Students should reach out to Community Living to request an early arrival, and will be required to provide proof that international travel will be required. If a student is already approved for early arrival for participation in a program, they will not be permitted to arrive sooner than that approved date. 

Early Arrival Rules and Regulations

All Early Arrival residents are required to follow the policies and procedures of the student handbook.  The following are additional provisions established specifically for Early Arrival residents:

• Campus is dry for all students from the date of move-in for First Year students until Convocation. This means that all alcohol use is prohibited during this time regardless of age.
• Any violations of the student code of conduct may result in disciplinary action and a student's Early Arrival permissions being revoked, resulting in their immediate removal from campus. 

Late Stay

Overview and Goal

Late Stay housing is meant to meet the housing needs of Hamilton students who are required to be on campus after the closing of Residence Halls at the end of spring semester. 

Eligibility

• Late stay housing is only available to Hamilton College students who are required to be on campus for employment or athletics and who are sponsored by a Hamilton Faculty/Staff member.
• Late stay is only available to current students who have a housing assignment for the semester.
• Late stay is not for students who have commitments outside the College.
• Late stay is not available to students who want to stay on campus in order to delay travel with the purpose of cheaper travel, or to have extra time after finals in order to pack. 
• Late stay is not for students who want to stay on campus to attend Commencement. 
• No faculty or staff member should register a student for travel reasons. If a student asks you to register them for this reason please refer them to Community Living.
• Exceptions may be made in the event that a student must complete coursework beyond the closing date for which their physical presence is required on campus.  Faculty members must submit these requests for consideration directly to Community Living.
• Late stay is not an option at the end of Fall semester. 

Late Stay Rules and Regulations

All Late Stay residents are required to follow the policies and procedures of the student handbook.  The following are additional provisions established specifically for Early Arrival residents:

• Any violations of the student code of conduct may result in disciplinary action and a student's Late Stay permissions being revoked, resulting in their immediate removal from campus.
• Students who are approved for late stay must complete all of their closing responsibilities and properly check out prior to leaving campus. 

Winter Break Housing

Winter Break Housing exists to meet the housing needs of Hamilton students who have no other options for housing during that time. Winter break housing is extraordinarily limited and only available to students with the highest financial need and no alternative options. An application will be made available during the fall semester and a committee will review and determine eligibility of each applicant on a case-by-case basis.  The location for Winter Break Housing may change each year depending on need and availability including locations not on campus. 

Winter Break housing is only available to Hamilton students who are housed on campus for the fall semester preceding Winter Break and the spring semester following Winter Break. The College will accommodate students with extreme and extenuating circumstances. 

If housing is not granted, the College will assist students with the logistics to find alternative housing or to make alternative plans during the Winter Break.