Winter break housing is available for students who demonstrate a need to remain on-campus over winter break. Break housing is only available for students currently living on-campus.
Students must submit an application to be considered for break housing. Fall 2025 housing closes at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, December 19, 2025 and will reopen on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. for the Spring 2026 semester.
Priority will be given to students experiencing financial and/or housing insecurity and students who call another country home. Winter housing is not meant to serve as temporary lodging between a student’s travels.
Winter Break Housing Criteria
Students are responsible for indicating how they meet the break housing criteria in their application.
- Financial Need: Students with demonstrated financial need may be eligible for on-campus housing over winter break. Financial need is defined by your financial aid package and/or other extenuating circumstances.
- International students and students with homes outside of the US.
- Access to Safe Housing: Students who report a lack of safe off-campus housing during Winter Break.
- Medical Needs: Students who need to remain in Portland for access to medical resources.
- Access to Work: Students who need to remain in Portland to continue their on or off-campus work.
- Other: Other extenuating circumstances.
Application Process
Students must complete an application to be considered for winter housing. Students will be required to sign a winter housing contract as part of the winter break application.
Applications will be available through the from October 20, 2025 to October 31, 2025.
Applications will be reviewed by a staff committee chaired by the Director of Residence Life and will include representatives from Financial Aid and International Services.
Cost
Students may be charged on a sliding scale, which is determined by the Committee in collaboration with Financial Aid during application review. Rent is billed approximately two (2) weeks before due. Payments can be made online ( / ) or in person at the cashier window in Eliot Hall. Please contact the Business Office with any questions about payments.
The College is committed to supporting students who are experiencing financial difficulty. Students who are experiencing financial insecurity should contact the Student Life Office.
Timeline for Winter 2025 Break Housing
| October 20, 2025: Applications available through the | |
| October 31, 2025: Applications due by |
|
| November 19, 2025: Students informed of application status via email | |
| November 26, 2025: Accepted students must confirm their acceptance | |
| December 3, 2025: Deadline to cancel winter housing contract | |
| December 22, 2025: Winter housing payment due |
Housing Locations
Students who accept winter housing remain in their academic year room.
Campus Services & Resources
Break access and hours for many offices and departments are more limited than during the semester and details still being determined. An updated comprehensive guide to campus resources and services will be published here by mid-December. Please note in addition to regular weekend closures, the College is also closed December 24, December 25, December 26, December 31, and January 1.
Logistics
Residence Life Staff
Area Coordinators will be available to support students who remain on campus. They are available to assist residents by providing resources, coordinating events, and problem solving any issues residents may encounter.
Winter housing residents can expect to hear from their Area Coordinator as we get closer to the start of winter housing. They will reach out to provide information regarding winter housing, including:
- Community connection, programming, and communication
- Roles of Residence Life staff and methods to contact them
- Campus resources
Food Services
Commons hours are limited during winter break. Commons break hours will be published in December. Students should plan to provide their own food. The ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó Community Pantry is also open during break.
Maintenance Requests
Submitting a maintenance request is the best way to report facilities issues over the break.
Safety
Community Safety is open all winter—24 hours a day, 7 days a week. CSOs will be checking up on residential buildings frequently throughout the winter to ensure safety and security. Please help them out by reporting anything that is out of the ordinary. Dial “0” from any campus phone to reach them or 503-771-1112 from anywhere. There may also be fire extinguisher and house repair checks throughout the winter as well.