Moving Rooms

When you move out of your room or leave the college, there are some important steps to follow. This helps ensure that your new room is clean and can prevent extra fees.

Moving rooms

1. Remove personal items: Take all your belongings out of the room, including food from the fridge and cupboards.

2. Dispose of trash: Empty all garbage into the trash room.

3. Take off tape: Remove all tape and adhesives from walls, doors, and windows without damaging the paint.

4. Arrange furniture: Return the furniture to how it was when you moved in. If you stacked furniture, unstack it. Return any unused bed pegs to the RA Office.

5. Clean: Wipe down furniture, clean out drawers, and sweep under the bed. If you have carpet, please vacuum your side. You might need to bring or borrow a vacuum. Custodial does not clean rooms that still have a roommate left.

6. Secure your room: If your roommate isn’t there, close and lock all windows and your door.

7. Return keys: Hand in any keys to your old room at the Residence Life office during business hours or at Campus Safety anytime.

   • If you forget, mail the keys back as soon as possible. Use a padded envelope and consider using postage with tracking. You will still be responsible for any key charges if they are lost in the mail.
   • Send to: Residence Life, 600 1st St SW, Mount Vernon, IA 52314.

Leaving the residence halls mid-year

Follow the steps above and also:

1. Return other keys: Hand in keys for student jobs or clubs at the Residence Life office or Campus Safety. Missing keys will incur fees.

2. Return or destroy your student id: We can securely dispose of your ID. Please return it along with your keys.

3. Coordinate parking: If you have a large vehicle, storage pod, or will be parked in front of the building, contact Campus Safety (319-895-4299) for parking instructions.

 Abandoned property

All personal student property left behind in residence hall rooms that are not designated by the college as trash, will enter the abandoned property procedure. The college will attempt to contact the student about the property using their Cornell email address. The property will be held for 30 days from the first notice attempt. Under certain circumstances, the student may request the property mailed to them or held for additional time so the student can return for the items. However, students are responsible for the costs including but not limited to postage, college labor, and materials. Costs are due to the college prior to mailing the property. There may be costs to hold property longer than 30 days from the first notice. In the event property is not claimed by the student after 30 days from the first notice, the property will be declared abandoned and disposed of or donated. Items cannot be retrieved once declared abandoned and the college assumes no responsibility for reimbursement or replacement.

 Damage to student rooms

Facilities Services and Residence Life inspect student rooms after the halls close to determine necessary repairs and assess damage and cleaning fees as appropriate. Room damages are billed to student accounts.

RAs are not responsible for assessing damage charges, nor can they provide assurances that a student will not be charged for damages. The best assurance is to return the room to its original condition.  Students concerned about potential charges should contact their assistant director of residence life prior to moving out.