End of Semester Information

Letter from the Department
The semester is beginning to wind down and it is time to prepare for winter break!  Hopefully you have enjoyed your time on campus thus far and are looking forward to another semester in the residence halls.

Because winter break is just around the corner, several preparations will need to be made by you and the Department to make the semester transition go smoothly.  Please take a couple of minutes to read this End of Semester Blog for important information.

If you have questions regarding your Student Housing Contract or any other matter, please allow the Department of Residence Life and Services to help you.  Best wishes for the remainder of the semester and with final exams!

Sincerely,
Department of Residence Life and Services

Important Dates to Remember:

Winter Break Housing

The following residence halls will be closed from 8:00 am Saturday, December 17^th until 8:00 am Saturday, January 14^th: Blair-Shannon House, Freudenberger House, Kentwood Hall, Wells House, and Woods House.  If you need accommodations during this time, Winter Break housing will be available at the University Plaza Hotel at the special rate of $57.07/night for a single person or $68.71/night for two people (tax included).  The rate includes breakfast daily and is offered to Missouri State residence hall students only.  Please contact the University Plaza at 417-864-7333 to reserve your space.

In order to take advantage of the special rate, be sure to say that you are a Missouri State student in need of Winter Break housing.  All charges must be paid directly to the University Plaza and cannot be billed to your student account.

If you would like to share a room with another student and split the $68.71/night rate, you need to make arrangements ahead of time.  Roommates must be determined before check-in at the University Plaza.  If you are having trouble finding someone to share a room with, you may contact Abby Harris in Hammons House 104 at 417-836-4384.  We will try to work with you to find a potential winter-break roommate, but there are no guarantees.

No Mail Service During Winter Break
Please be aware that mail service to all closed residence halls will be suspended, and no mail service will be available until the residence halls re-open in January.  Your mail will not be forwarded during the winter break.  There is also no access to mail during this time as the reception desks are not staffed.  If you are expecting an important piece of mail, please make sure it is mailed to you before your residence hall closes—no later than December 16, 2011—or make other arrangements for delivery.

Computer Registration
During the winter break, Residence Life and Services will reset the computer registration system.  Upon returning to the residence halls, all students will need to re-register personal computers.

BearFare
Your BearFare balance will start over for spring.  If you have any BearFare left from the fall semester, it will carry over as well.  For example, if you have contracted for 15 BearFare for fall, and you have 5 left over from the end of fall, you will start the spring semester with 20 BearFare.

If you are not returning to the residence halls for spring, you will lose any unused BearFare for fall and will not be charged for spring BearFare.

Room Change Requests

Room change requests for Fall 2011 may still be completed online through November 30. If you would like to change rooms for Spring 2012, you will need to speak with your Hall Director starting December 1. No guarantees can be made. If you are approved by the Hall Director to change rooms for Spring 2012, all of your belongings must be moved out of your original room before you leave for break.

Housing Contract Cancellation Forms:

Educational Cancellation Form – For students participating in Internships, Student Teaching, or Study Away programs during the spring semester.  Please submit your form to Hammons House 104 along with appropriate verification documentation from the Study Away Office, your Internship Company, or your Academic Advisor.  All approved Educational Cancellations will receive a refund of the $100 housing deposit minus any damages.

Not Returning Form – For students who are withdrawing from the university, graduating, transferring schools, or not returning as a Missouri State student.  Return this form to the front desk of your Residence Hall.  Students who are withdrawing from MSU or transferring schools will lose the $100 deposit.  Students who are graduating will be refunded the $100 deposit minus any damages.

Breakage Information- For students who wish to request a breakage of their on-campus housing contract but remain a Missouri State student, please contact Abby Harris in Hammons House 104.  Very few breakages are granted and even those approved will be subject to breakage fees and loss of deposit.

Updating Address and Deposit Refunds

If you will not be returning to Missouri State after the fall semester and are eligible for a refund of your deposit, be sure you have updated your permanent address and/or direct deposit information with the University.  If you are signed up for direct deposit, your housing deposit (minus any damages) will be refunded to your bank account.  If you are not signed up for direct deposit, the housing deposit (minus any damages) will be mailed to your permanent address.  Checks that are mailed to incorrect addresses will be returned to Accounts Receivable and held there for the student to retrieve.